Opinion & reviews

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• Paul Carey-Kent Analyzes David Hockney's 'My Parents' (1977) opinion-review

  In his 'Work of the Month' feature for FAD, Paul Carey-Kent analyzes David Hockney's 1977 artwork 'My Parents', which was acquired by Tate in 1981. This piece depicts a double…

• Death as an enduring theme in art collecting opinion-review

  A Financial Times article explores how death has been a persistent subject in art, drawing collectors to reminders of mortality. From 16th-century vanitas paintings to the morbid…

• Jan Fleischhauer criticizes public broadcasters' immunity from criticism opinion-review

  In an interview with NZZ, author Jan Fleischhauer argues that public broadcasters like ARD, ZDF, and SRG have made themselves immune to criticism by framing any critique as…

• Weekly film reviews from Le Monde: Jim Queen, War Requiem, Shana, Toy Story 5 opinion-review

  Every Wednesday, the cinema journalists of Le Monde publish their reviews of films currently in theaters in the Matinale newsletter. This week's edition features critiques of Jim…

• AI Writing's Blandness Opens Door for Human Literature, Critics Argue opinion-review

  A growing body of commentary argues that AI-generated writing, while fluent, lacks the depth and intentionality of human literature. The Atlantic contends that as AI produces…

• Critics Debate Creative Dead End as Abundance Overwhelms Curation opinion-review

  Lately, there's been a lot of chatter about how modern culture feels stuck. W. David Marx’s book, *Blank Space*, argues that the period from 2000 to 2025 will be viewed as a…

• Backrooms Film Signals Nostalgia's Decline at Box Office opinion-review

  Kane Parsons' 20-year-old director of A24's horror hit 'Backrooms' explores the decay of nostalgia culture, contrasting its success with the weak performance of 'The Mandalorian…

• Professors Despair as AI Erodes Student Learning and Trust opinion-review

  A growing number of college professors across the United States report that generative AI is fundamentally undermining teaching and learning. In a New Yorker article, multiple…

• AI Writing's Structural Limits Reveal Opportunity for Human Literature opinion-review

  Jasmine Sun and Walt Hunter argue that AI writing, while increasingly fluent, lacks the capacity for genuine novelty because it operates solely on linguistic patterns without…

• Pixar's 'Toy Story 5' Criticized as Uninspired Amid AI Boom opinion-review

  A review in Le Monde criticizes Pixar's upcoming 'Toy Story 5' as creatively stagnant, contrasting with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The studio, once a…

• Tragicomedy as the Defining Aesthetic of Our Era opinion-review

  The piece contends that tragicomedy has made a comeback as the aesthetic that resonates with today's society, merging elements of horror and absurdity. It traces the evolution of…

• Sarasota Opera Director Resigns Over Board Budget Delays opinion-review

  Victor DeRenzi, longtime artistic director of Sarasota Opera, has resigned and published an op-ed in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune explaining his departure. DeRenzi, who led the…

• Google's AI Search Takeover and the Fight for an Open Web opinion-review

  A programmer and author reflects on a decade-long effort to build an alternative to Google's search monopoly, which has now been compounded by the company's shift to AI-powered…

• Former French diplomat compares EU decline to Qing China's fall opinion-review

  A former French diplomat, Vassy, has sparked debate by comparing the European Union's economic decline to that of Qing China. Writing in Le Grand Continent, he noted the EU's…

• Anna Coliva breaks silence on Galleria Borghese expansion controversy opinion-review

  Anna Coliva, director of Galleria Borghese from 1998 to 2020, has finally spoken out against the proposed expansion of the museum, funded by Proger Spa with €875,750.19 for a…

• Edwin Heathcote on the architectural horror of Backrooms and Junkspace opinion-review

  Edwin Heathcote, architecture critic for the Financial Times, explores the cultural fascination with endless corporate spaces as seen in the A24 horror film Backrooms. The movie,…

• Icelandic Divorce Drama Explores Family Bonds opinion-review

  The film 'The Love That Remains' (original title: 'Scheidung auf isländisch') is a drama about a couple with children who separate, exploring how a family can remain united…

• China 'overcapacity' claim masks Western protectionism in green tech opinion-review

  Western accusations of Chinese 'overcapacity' in green energy and steel are a smokescreen for protectionism, argues a recent opinion piece. The claim that China's output distorts…

• Spielberg's Disclosure Day: A Cinematic Masterpiece of Alien Contact and Human Redemption opinion-review

  Steven Spielberg's new film Disclosure Day premieres, described as a monumental work that blends science fiction with deep human emotion. The film, running 145 minutes (135 plus…

• How Food Shapes Architecture: A Reversal of the Standard Narrative opinion-review

  A recent article on ArchDaily challenges the conventional history of architecture and food, arguing that food systems—not architects—are the primary shapers of the built…

• Mold as Architecture's Unwanted Living Document opinion-review

  In an essay on ArchDaily, Daniela Andino discusses how mold, as a living entity, reveals flaws in how contemporary architecture interacts with organic materials. Innovations like…

• Evian's Dark History: 1961 Murder Aimed to Derail Algerian Independence opinion-review

  The article examines Evian's recurring role as a site of historical tragedy, linking the 1938 Evian Conference, where the international community failed to aid Jews fleeing Nazi…

• Tech billionaires' bunker obsession reveals feudal mindset, says Rushkoff opinion-review

  Media theorist Douglas Rushkoff argues that tech billionaires' fascination with doomsday bunkers and secluded islands reflects a feudal mindset. In an interview, he states that…

• Kennedy Center's Future Debated Amid Trump Takeover and Cultural Relevance opinion-review

  The cultural significance of the Kennedy Center is under scrutiny following Donald Trump's acquisition, igniting debates among figures such as Douglas McLennan from ArtsJournal…

• UK under-16 social media ban won't make Big Tech safer opinion-review

  The UK government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a ban on social media access for under-16s, expected to begin in early 2027, affecting platforms including TikTok,…

• Biennale 2026: Protest, Death, and the Rise of Luxury Sponsorship opinion-review

  Mariagrazia Muscatello's critical review of the 2026 Venice Biennale describes an edition marked by death—both literal, with the passing of curator Koyo Kouoh, and symbolic—and a…

• Navigating Transactional Friendships in the Art World opinion-review

  An artist-curator struggles to distinguish genuine friendships from transactional ones, as peers seek exhibition opportunities. The advice column explores power dynamics,…

• Music as a resource, not a treatment, in dementia care opinion-review

  A certified music therapist argues that framing music solely as a treatment for dementia symptoms limits its broader benefits and reinforces stigma. The author, drawing on…

• CDU's Firewall Against AfD Is Burning: Why Not Tear It Down? opinion-review

  Georg Seesslen argues that the CDU's official policy of excluding the far-right AfD is undermined by secret cooperation, calling the 'Brandmauer' (firewall) a deceptive metaphor.…

• From Skeptic to Fan: A Korean American's Journey into BTS Fandom opinion-review

  A Korean American writer recounts her transformative experience attending BTS's Arirang tour at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in May 2026, shifting from skepticism to deep…

• Iran deal won't end normalized war for millions in Middle East opinion-review

  The article argues that even if a US-Iran agreement is reached, the normalization of war has already transformed life across the Middle East. Israeli and US bombings have…

• What the Kennedy Center Might Have Become: A Vision for a National Cultural Center opinion-review

  Joseph Horowitz ponders the unfulfilled promise of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, speculating on how it might have thrived with different leadership. He recalls that…

• Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' Defended as Cinematic Masterpiece in Italian Review opinion-review

  An ArtsLife review from Italy defends Steven Spielberg's film 'Disclosure Day' against critics on YouTube who dismiss it as 'old' and 'infantile.' The reviewer describes it as a…

• NPR Panel Explores Enduring Fascination with Alien Films opinion-review

  In a segment on NPR's Cineplexity, host Adrian Florido, producer Marc Rivers, and Pop Culture Happy Hour host Glen Weldon discuss the persistent appeal of alien movies, from…

• Bookstore Boom Amid Literacy Decline Highlights Cultural Divide opinion-review

  A paradox emerges in the publishing world: independent bookstores are thriving while literacy rates decline. According to a LitHub article, the bookstore boom is driven by an…

• Katie Cadwell: Designers Must Become Critics of AI, Not Competitors opinion-review

  In a Creative Career Conundrums column for If You Could Jobs, branding studio co-founder Katie Cadwell argues that AI is not diminishing design thinking but changing how design is…

• Frederic Church's America: An Aspiration, Not an Entity opinion-review

  The Atlantic examines Frederic Church's emergence in the American art scene of the 1840s, characterizing it as more of a goal than a reality. At that time, exceptional painting…

• Friedensgutachten 2025: 69% der Ukrainer fordern Verhandlungen opinion-review

  Das Jahresgutachten der Friedensforscher 2025 zeigt eine Diskrepanz zwischen öffentlicher Meinung und politischer Beratung: 69% der Ukrainer befürworten eine Verhandlungslösung,…

• Fassbinder's Cinema of Power and Desire Still Resonates opinion-review

  Over forty years after his death, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films remain startlingly relevant, dissecting toxic relationships, power asymmetries, and emotional dependency. His…

• First Nations Dance Authority: Who Inherits the Future? opinion-review

  The Australian Dance Biennale, a segment of RISING 2026 in Melbourne, has highlighted a shift in leadership within Australian dance. While First Nations choreography gains…