Opinion & reviews

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

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Lazarus review: poignant play is a rallying cry for justice opinion-review
A review of the play Lazarus, which tells the true story of Taungurung Elder Larry Walsh, a member of the Stolen Generations who was given a criminal record as a toddler. The…
What's a human worth? Art's value debated amid AI, market, and funding crises opinion-review
A roundup of stories questioning the value of art and human creativity. Michael Rushton revisits Pierre Bourdieu's claim that aesthetic taste is class signaling, arguing it…
Bourdieu's Cultural Capital and the Crisis of Arts Funding opinion-review
In a blog entry on ArtsJournal, Michael Rushton evaluates Pierre Bourdieu's concepts from his 1979 work, 'Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste,' particularly…
Howard Sherman's Practical Advice for Emerging Artists opinion-review
In his Houston studio, artist Howard Sherman welcomed MFA candidates from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, offering candid insights into the challenges of a full-time…
Blue Dot Fever: Why Concert Tickets Aren't Selling in 2025 opinion-review
A phenomenon called 'blue dot fever' is sweeping the live music industry, as unsold seats on Ticketmaster appear as blue dots across tours by artists like Meghan Trainor and Post…
Why Capping Politician Salaries Would Backfire for Germany's Left Party opinion-review
Salim Hemeed argues in a guest commentary for Der Freitag that parts of the German Left Party (Die Linke) are pushing to cap parliamentary salaries at the level of skilled…
Live music's democratic dream is over opinion-review
Concert tickets have become inaccessible to most fans due to dynamic pricing, exclusive presales, and a shift to live shows as artists' primary revenue source. In 2024, Spain's…
Güner Balci Calls for New German Patriotism Based on Democratic Values opinion-review
In a recent opinion piece for Süddeutsche Zeitung, writer Güner Balci argues that Germany needs a new form of patriotism rooted in the values of a free democratic society, rather…
Biennale di Venezia 2026: proteste, dimissioni e cortocircuiti tra arte e politica opinion-review
La Biennale di Venezia 2026 è stata segnata da molteplici tensioni. Il presidente Pietrangelo Buttafuoco ha annunciato a marzo l'apertura a Russia, Iran, Israele, Ucraina e…
The Mandalorian and Grogu Criticized as AI-Generated Nostalgia opinion-review
The Mandalorian and Grogu, the first Star Wars theatrical release in six years, has been criticized for feeling like an AI-generated movie due to its heavy reliance on references…
The Story Museum in Oxford offers a child-friendly cultural experience opinion-review
The Story Museum in Oxford, located in a former post office and telephone exchange on Pembroke Street, provides a family-oriented museum experience that rejects 'don't touch'…
Prima Facie Returns to Australian Stage with Sheridan Harbridge opinion-review
Suzie Miller's play Prima Facie, a one-woman show about sexual assault and the legal system, has returned to Australian stages seven years after its debut. The production,…
AI-Generated Story Wins Commonwealth Prize, Sparking Debate on Literary Authenticity opinion-review
The Commonwealth Prize's Caribbean region section has been awarded to a short story called 'The Serpent in the Grove,' penned by Trinidadian author Jamir Nazir. However, the piece…
Vox pops are mostly useless, says Cardiff University study opinion-review
A Cardiff University study criticizes broadcasters' over-reliance on vox pops during the UK's recent local elections, noting they take up airtime at the expense of policy coverage…
The Tortured Artist Trope: Myths and Realities of Creativity and Mental Illness opinion-review
Sam Kissajukian, a celebrated visual artist and comedian, challenges and reinforces the myth of the tortured artist in his acclaimed show, 300 Paintings, through humorous…
Miquel Lacasta on 'Simplejidad' and Álvaro Siza's 1998 IberFad Win Over Gehry opinion-review
Miquel Lacasta explores a new concept called 'Simplejidad,' or simplexity, which connects complexity and simplicity in a complementary way, influenced by General Systems Theory,…
Canon's Product Segmentation Between V and C Series Cameras Criticized opinion-review
A PetaPixel opinion piece criticizes Canon's product segmentation strategy, focusing on three new cameras sharing a 32-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor: the EOS C50, EOS R6 Mark…
Eva Lewarne's Polemic on Tech, Patriarchy, and Art opinion-review
In a blog post titled "Humanity is dead and metallic stuff rules our lives..." on her website, artist Eva Lewarne argues that technology and social media have replaced critical…
Fakewhale analiza el sesgo entre galerías e instituciones en el arte contemporáneo opinion-review
El colectivo Fakewhale publicó un texto en su plataforma digital donde analiza el sesgo que lleva a asociar el valor de un artista más con el contexto de presentación que con la…
Joe Rogan's Podcast Drift: From Free Speech to Unchallenged Pseudoscience opinion-review
The author critiques the evolution of The Joe Rogan Experience, arguing that the show has shifted from defending independent thought during the COVID-19 pandemic to hosting…
Glasstire Explores the Fluid Definition of a Texas Artist on Its 25th Anniversary opinion-review
For Glasstire's 25th anniversary, art historian Amy Von Lintel reflects on what it means to be a "Texas artist." She points out that many artists thought to be from Texas are…
Cannes 2026: A Glacial Festival Trapped in Ritual, Hope Wins Symbolic Palme opinion-review
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival is described as a sad, glacial edition lacking the spark and desire that defined its mythology. Critics and attendees expressed widespread boredom,…
Valuing Cultural Heritage Beyond Accounting: A Conceptual Framework opinion-review
Stefano Monti argues that Italy's public accounting reforms require a non-accounting reflection before establishing criteria for valuing cultural heritage. He distinguishes…
Tom Fontenille warns Bolloré takeover threatens independent cinema opinion-review
In an interview with Le Monde, filmmaker Tom Fontenille, whose documentary 'Cœur secret' premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, warns that if Vincent Bolloré's media conglomerate…
Hardback books: 'great beauty' or dying format? opinion-review
The debate over hardback versus paperback books continues, with arguments on cost, aesthetics, and sustainability. Columnist Larry Ryan recently called for ditching hardbacks due…
Serbia's President Urges EU to Embrace China Partnership opinion-review
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, in an opinion piece for the South China Morning Post, argues that the European Union should follow Serbia's example and pursue open partnership…
Jakob Augstein and Jörg Baberowski Discuss Populism and Democracy opinion-review
In an interview published in Der Freitag, journalist Jakob Augstein speaks with historian Jörg Baberowski about populism and democracy. Baberowski explains that populism succeeds…
Israeli Army's Humiliating Poses in Flotilla Raid Photos opinion-review
Marco Belpoliti analyzes the symbolic meaning of the posture of detainees in photos released by the Israeli army after the assault on the humanitarian mission "Flotilla." The…
Hollywood Reinvents While Non-Profit Arts Stagnates: A Systemic Crisis opinion-review
ArtsJournal's weekly analysis contrasts Hollywood's sixth reinvention with the non-profit arts sector's single model from 1965. Hollywood faces a production crisis—half of all…
Gallery Feedback as Market Research: Balancing Sales and Creative Vision opinion-review
A gallery owner advises artists to treat sales data as objective market research rather than a threat to creative autonomy. The author argues that no good gallery wants to stifle…
Massive Group Shows: A Critical Look at Two San Antonio Exhibitions opinion-review
An essay examines the phenomenon of massive group shows through two San Antonio exhibitions: 'Fan of a Fan 3' at C7 Space and 'A Postmodernist Says ¿Que?' at Centro de Artes. The…
Le Monde Critics Dream Up Cannes 2026 Prizes opinion-review
Ahead of the 79th Cannes Film Festival jury decisions, presided over by Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, critics Mathieu Macheret and Jacques Mandelbaum from Le Monde have…
Weight-loss drugs may redefine beauty in art, experts say opinion-review
Experts anticipate that weight-loss medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro will alter beauty standards in art, leading to a trend termed 'GLP-1 face,' characterized by emaciated…
Guttuso's Bucranio e noci: Art as Intellectual Challenge opinion-review
An article on Segnonline critiques superficial art appreciation, using Renato Guttuso's 1954 painting 'Bucranio e noci' as a case study. The author argues that many viewers reduce…
Mortal Kombat 2 film review: violence and spectacle opinion-review
Simon McQuoid's Mortal Kombat 2, released in theaters on May 23, 2026, follows Johnny Cage as he joins a tournament to defeat the tyrant Shao Kahn. The sequel improves on the 2021…
Brett Scott: Bitcoin ist ein libertärer Fetisch, der zu Trump passt opinion-review
Der Anthropologe und ehemalige Broker Brett Scott kritisiert Bitcoin als libertären Fetisch, der mit Freiheitsversprechen und Anti-Establishment-Mythen überhöht werde. Im…
Robert Guédiguian warns art world against self-congratulatory radicalism opinion-review
In a guest column for Le Monde, filmmaker Robert Guédiguian argues that the cultural battle against the far right must be fought but must avoid the trap of insularity. He…
Patrick Bruel case exposes power dynamics in entertainment industry, says lawyer opinion-review
In a guest column for Le Monde, lawyer Elodie Tuaillon-Hibon argues that reducing the Patrick Bruel sexual violence allegations to a sordid news item would prevent a proper…
AI threatens 'skill death' in classical music composition opinion-review
A Financial Times opinion piece argues that while composers have historically embraced new technology, generative AI poses an existential threat to classical music by enabling…
Bob Dylan's Song Art: Too True to Be Beautiful opinion-review
A critical review examines Bob Dylan's songwriting, arguing that his lyrical truthfulness undermines conventional beauty. The article contrasts Dylan with Paul McCartney, whose…

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