Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

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Alain Chenevez argues culture should not have to prove its utility opinion-review
In a June 3, 2026 op-ed for Le Monde, sociologist Alain Chenevez argues that culture should not be forced to defend itself on the grounds of performance or profitability. He calls…
Collectors, Amateurs, and the Rise of Provocation as Aesthetic Value opinion-review
In a thought-provoking piece on ArtsLife, the writer delves into the fascination with valuable items, categorizing collectors into two groups: the "collezionista," who pursues…
Mark Jenkin's 'Bait' Reviewed in Le Monde's Weekly Film Column opinion-review
Le Monde's weekly film column 'La Matinale' features reviews of new releases, including British director Mark Jenkin's 'Bait', which captures a muted class struggle. The column…
Nick Mamatas Explains the Real Economics of Book Publishing opinion-review
Nick Mamatas, a veteran editor and author, offers a blunt insider's critique of the publishing industry, arguing it operates as a 19th-century production-driven manufacturing…
Kane Parsons's 'Backrooms' and the Death of Liminal Space opinion-review
Kane Parsons's directorial debut 'Backrooms' (2026) has grossed $118 million, but critic Lewis Gordon questions whether it represents 'prestige slop'. The film adapts an…
Jack White's art show at Newport Street Gallery panned as 'nonstarter' opinion-review
A review of Jack White's exhibition 'These Thoughts May Disappear' at Damien Hirst's Newport Street Gallery in London dismisses the musician's visual art as amateurish, comparing…
Catholic author welcomes Pope's AI skepticism in new encyclical opinion-review
A Catholic author and early AI skeptic expresses relief over Pope Leo's new encyclical, which calls for the disarmament of artificial intelligence and acceptance of human…
Naomi Osaka's French Open Outfit Sparks Debate on Fashion in Sports opinion-review
At the 2026 French Open, Naomi Osaka wore a three-part outfit by Swiss couturier Kevin Germanier: a voluminous black tulle skirt over a caramel-brown sequined top and shorts.…
Marilyn Monroe's skirt moment and the male gaze in cinema opinion-review
The article examines Marilyn Monroe's iconic skirt scene through the lens of upskirting, voyeurism, and gender power dynamics. It notes that upskirting became a criminal offense…
Sinologist Manya Koetse Criticizes Western Stereotyping of China in Op-Ed opinion-review
Sinologist Manya Koetse published an op-ed in response to a piece by Dutch philosopher Sebastien Valkenberg in Het Financieele Dagblad, who cited her as an example of a 'hip…
L'astensionismo record e il declino del voto consapevole in Italia opinion-review
A ottant'anni dal referendum del 2 giugno 1946 che sancì la nascita della Repubblica Italiana, l'articolo analizza la crisi della partecipazione elettorale. Alle elezioni europee…
Hate as a Unifying Force in Russia-Ukraine War opinion-review
The article argues that after over four years of war, hatred remains one of the few things connecting Ukrainians and Russians. This is dangerous because violence cultivated on…
Arab Design Criticism Lacking as Minimalist Aesthetics Dominate opinion-review
Mahmoud Elhossieny, a designer based in Cairo and the founder of the Arabic Design Archive, contends that the lack of design criticism in the Arab world has diminished the…
Biennale di Venezia 2026: Un'edizione per minoranze e ingiustizie, ma non per tutti opinion-review
Nicola Mafessoni, gallerista e curatore, riflette sulla 53ª edizione della Biennale di Venezia, intitolata 'In Minor Keys' e curata da Koyo Kouoh, scomparsa dopo la nomina. La…
Islamist Violence in Europe Cannot Be Explained Away as Pathology opinion-review
The article argues that Islamist violence in Europe is not a symptom of mental illness but a direct consequence of ideological and religious extremism. It contrasts the regulation…
Why Saint Sebastian Became a Gay Icon opinion-review
Saint Sebastian, a Christian martyr and captain in the Praetorian Guard, is considered the earliest known gay icon despite his historical role as patron of soldiers and athletes.…
Germany's Bürgergeld Debate Blames Unemployed for Economic Woes opinion-review
The article criticizes the German government under Friedrich Merz for scapegoating unemployed Bürgergeld recipients amid economic downturn. It argues that populist rhetoric about…
El Califa de León: Authenticity as Urban Spectacle in Mexico City opinion-review
The article examines how El Califa de León, a taco stand on Avenida San Cosme in Mexico City, became a symbol of 'authentic' gastronomy after receiving a Michelin star in 2023.…
Aleshea Harris's 'Is God Is' Sparks Blasphemy Debate opinion-review
Aleshea Harris's film 'Is God Is,' a revenge parable about the breaking of the Black family, has ignited controversy over its depiction of God as female and murderous. The film…
Laura Raicovich on Reintegrating Art and Life Through Alternative Cultural Spaces opinion-review
Laura Raicovich, former director of the Queens Museum, argues for the reintegration of art and daily life as a form of resistance to rising fascism and social polarization. She…
Reinier de Graaf argues architects must find meaning in how they work, not where opinion-review
Reinier de Graaf, a partner at OMA and author of 'Architecture Against Architecture' (Verso Books, 2026), argues that architects should not define their morality by choosing to…
Female Pop Stars Channel Rage Through Trash Aesthetics in 2026 opinion-review
In 2026, amid war, AI, and climate crisis, female pop stars like Slayyyter, Amara ctk100, and Cobrah are defying expectations of feminine perfection with aggressive electro-pop,…
Artist-Run Exhibitions: Weighing Exposure Against Studio Time opinion-review
The article examines the tradeoffs for artists who organize and curate their own exhibitions. It highlights a "Box Truck Gallery" pilot and an eight-artist show curated by an…
SPD's tech fetish without capitalism critique is doomed opinion-review
Leander Scholz recently argued in Der Freitag that the SPD should embrace automation and AI as liberation from work, and break free from the Green Party's ecological concerns.…
Three Top US Art Critics Retire, Marking End of an Era opinion-review
At the conclusion of 2025, Christopher Knight stepped down as the art critic for the Los Angeles Times, following Roberta Smith's retirement from The New York Times in 2024 and…
BIANCOSCURO #76: Geopolitics and Art at Venice Biennale and Art Basel opinion-review
In the editorial for BIANCOSCURO #76 (June/July 2026), director Vincenzo Chetta reflects on the politicization of the Venice Biennale, where national pavilions have become sites…
Kennedy Center's downfall blamed on opportunists, not collaborators opinion-review
In an op-ed for The Art Newspaper, artist Philippa Pham Hughes argues that opportunists, not collaborators, are responsible for the Kennedy Center's decline under Donald Trump's…
NYT Opinion: Reading Crisis Solutions Go Beyond Phones opinion-review
A New York Times opinion piece argues that the perceived reading crisis is not caused by smartphones but by structural barriers. The author calls for building new libraries and…
Trump's Kennedy Center takeover may still devastate institution despite name removal opinion-review
A Washington Post article argues that even if Donald Trump's name is removed from the Kennedy Center, the damage from his takeover may be irreversible. The piece describes Trump's…
Hyperallergic: Pollock's $181M Sale Masks Market Fragility opinion-review
Marc Straus, a gallerist, contends that the $181.2 million auction of Jackson Pollock's 'Number 7A, 1948' at Christie's spring event is deceptive. Despite impressive headline…
How Art and Culture Expose Power Dynamics at Society's Summit opinion-review
Alessandro Paolo Lombardo's essay on Artribune examines how elite power structures use symbolic capital, mysticism, and transgression to maintain dominance. The Epstein files,…
DJ Seinfeld criticizes algorithm-driven DJ industry opinion-review
Swedish house DJ Armand Jakobsson, known as DJ Seinfeld, critiques the current state of the DJ industry in an interview. Despite headlining major festivals like Coachella and…
Film Review: 'Verflucht normal' Fails to Break Tourette Stereotypes opinion-review
John Davidson, a British man, becomes nervous and says things that get him into trouble. The film 'Verflucht normal' (Damn Normal) tells the story of his life with Tourette…
French Artists Boycott Centre Pompidou Hanwha Over Israel Arms Ties opinion-review
More than 100 artists, researchers, and art professionals from France have endorsed an open letter advocating for a boycott of the Centre Pompidou Hanwha in Seoul, which is…
Identity and Belonging in Post-Reunification Germany opinion-review
The author reflects on growing up in Leipzig with an East German mother and a West German father, and how their perspectives shaped his understanding of German reunification.…
The Power of Human Creativity in an AI World opinion-review
In an era captivated by artificial intelligence, the most potent force remains the human urge to create and connect. This opinion piece argues that despite AI's advances,…
Australian cultural policy must prioritize artistic freedom over social cohesion, argue academics opinion-review
Scholars from Griffith University contend that the forthcoming national cultural policy of Australia, Revive 2.0, should emphasize artistic freedom rather than 'social cohesion.'…
Óscar Tenreiro Degwitz critiques a book on Wittgenstein as architect opinion-review
Óscar Tenreiro Degwitz, in a blog post on veredes.es, critiques the book "Wittgenstein, arquitecto" (Galaxia Gutenberg, Barcelona 2020) by Bernardí Roig, Fernando Castro Flórez,…
The Myth of Intent in Photography: AI and the Decisive Moment opinion-review
David M. M. Taffet argues that photography's value lies not in the instant of exposure but in the later act of curation, challenging the romanticized 'Decisive Moment' myth. He…
Vulture's Emmy Snubs: Underrated Performances Deserving Recognition opinion-review
Vulture critics highlight overlooked Emmy-worthy performances across TV, arguing that awards season narrows too quickly around a dozen shows. They list actors like Malin Akerman…

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