Opinion & reviews

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

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The Legitimacy Crisis of Technocratic International Organizations opinion-review
An essay published by Aeon argues that international civil servants, contrary to popular belief, do not escape power but rather rearticulate it with the assistance of technical…
Marialuisa Ernst's 'El lugar de la ausencia' Reimagines Mourning as Political Act opinion-review
In her hybrid essay-documentary 'El lugar de la ausencia' (2025), filmmaker Marialuisa Ernst confronts the legacy of forced disappearance and migration across the Americas. The…
Emily Wilson Defends Her Scathing Review of Nolan's 'The Odyssey' opinion-review
Emily Wilson, renowned for her translations of Homer's works, recently described Christopher Nolan's script for 'The Odyssey' as “abysmal.” In response to the backlash from her…
Alejandro Zaera-Polo Responds to Ecuador's Culture Minister Over Museo Nacional de Quito Competition Controversy opinion-review
Architect Alejandro Zaera-Polo, a member of the international jury for the Museo Nacional de Quito (MuNa) competition, addressed Ecuador's Minister of Culture, Luque, in an open…
Jago's Medusa at Villa Lysis and Colbert's Lobsters at Pompeii: The Summer of Kitsch opinion-review
Italian artist Jago has opened his second personal museum, the Jago Museum Capri, inside the historic Villa Lysis on Capri, a Liberty-style residence from the early 1900s that…
Critics Call to Halt NYC's Empire Bins Dumpster Plan opinion-review
This week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled the 'Empire Bins' initiative, which seeks to substitute black trash bags with large dumpsters by 2031. Matt Shaw, a critic from New York…
9 Art Advisors Share Strategies for Navigating a Down Art Market opinion-review
CULTURED magazine recently showcased insights from nine Power Advisors for 2026 on how to navigate the art market during challenging times. Advisors from key cities, including Los…
Protest Is Economical: A Response to 'Gen Z Is Not Killing Architecture' by Shubhayan M opinion-review
In a critical response to the article 'Gen Z Is Not Killing Architecture' by Shubhayan M, the piece 'Protest Is Economical' argues that protest is a cost-effective form of…
Debate on Spahn's Surrogacy Misses the Point: It's About Power and Capital opinion-review
The debate surrounding Jens Spahn's use of surrogacy abroad has been framed around the wrong questions, according to a commentary by Shila Behjat in Der Freitag. The discussion…
Sandra Wollner's 'Everytime' Overwhelmed by Artistic Ambition opinion-review
Austrian filmmaker Sandra Wollner, celebrated by juries for her directorial talent, has released a new film titled 'Everytime,' which follows a grieving mother. However, the film…
AI Slop: The Aesthetic Homogenization of Digital Culture opinion-review
The phrase 'AI slop' (known as 'sbobba AI' in Italian) describes the low-quality, repetitive visuals and clips produced by AI across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram,…
US Power Fails to Deliver Welfare or Military Dominance opinion-review
The United States, despite its immense power and wealth, is failing to provide basic welfare benefits to its citizens, while its military cannot achieve world domination.…
Debate Over CSD Attack in Berlin: Calls for Action Ignore Reality of Vulnerable People opinion-review
Following the attack on the Christopher Street Day (CSD) parade in Berlin, a wave of commentary and demands has emerged, but these responses often adhere to familiar narratives…
Kabarettist Florian Schroeder kritisiert Linke nach CSD-Anschlag opinion-review
Nach dem Angriff auf den Christopher Street Day (CSD) hat der Kabarettist Florian Schroeder in einem TikTok-Video Teilen der Linken vorgeworfen, den politischen Islam über Jahre…
Daisy One Headphones Review: Design-First Audio Falls Short on Sound opinion-review
Daisy, a California-based company founded by former Harman Professional Solutions engineers, has released its first pair of headphones, the Daisy One, priced at $349. The…
MIRA in Messina: Italy's New Mediterranean Institute and Its Neocolonial Entanglements opinion-review
The MIRA-Mediterranean Institute for Research and Arts launched in Messina, Sicily, on July 2, 2026. This facility is a collaboration involving Italy's Ministry of Culture, the…
Neuroscience and the Battle for Mental Privacy and Autonomy opinion-review
The article explores the ethical implications of neurotechnology, which is increasingly capable of reading and modifying brain activity, threatening mental privacy and autonomy.…
SoundCloud's Nina Protocol Acquisition Signals End of NFT Music Fantasy opinion-review
SoundCloud has acquired NFT music platform Nina Protocol, marking a symbolic end to the blockchain utopianism in the arts, according to Robert Barry in ArtReview. Nina Protocol,…
Elke Heidenreich on Annoying German Proverbs opinion-review
In a recent article for Süddeutsche Zeitung, German author and literary critic Elke Heidenreich criticizes overused German proverbs such as 'Gut Ding will Weile haben' (good…
Kowalczuk's New Book on East German Fascism Criticized for Overlooking Key Factors opinion-review
Historian Ilko-Sascha Kowalczuk's new book, 'Faschismus ist keine Meinung' (Fascism is Not an Opinion), harshly criticizes East Germans for their political attitudes, but a review…
Adorno's Odyssey: How an Ancient Myth Explains the Logic of War opinion-review
Theodor W. Adorno, the Frankfurt School philosopher, never explicitly addressed war and peace, but his lifelong engagement with violence and terror, particularly the Holocaust,…
Escher's Illusions Reveal the Deformations of Vision opinion-review
In a recent analysis published on doppiozero.com, Giuseppe Di Napoli and Anita Romanello explore the work of M.C. Escher, arguing that his visual illusions are not depictions of…
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's Historical Mystery 'The Samurai and the Prisoner' Reviewed opinion-review
The New Yorker reviews Kiyoshi Kurosawa's film 'The Samurai and the Prisoner,' a historical mystery set during Japan's Sengoku period. The film follows warlord Murashige Araki…
Europe's August shutdown: a model for work-life balance? opinion-review
Emily Bryce-Perkins argues that the European tradition of shutting down for August offers a model for a healthier relationship with work. She contrasts this with the UK and US,…
Arequipa's Locked Parks: A Crisis of Public Space Privatization opinion-review
In Arequipa, Peru, a silent urban crisis has normalized the de facto privatization of public parks. Many parks are locked and accessible only through a key held by a neighborhood…
Four Outdated Art Market Assumptions Collectors Should Rethink in 2026 opinion-review
Elliot Swiers, Digital Sales Director at U.K.-based gallery and advisory Lougher Contemporary, identifies four common misconceptions that collectors routinely hold in 2026. First,…
Aeon Essay Proposes Art Invented Humanity, Not Vice Versa opinion-review
An essay published on Aeon challenges the conventional view that humans invented art, arguing instead that art invented humanity. The piece contrasts the ordinary 'truth of…
The End of Being Chosen: Decentering Men in Modern Culture opinion-review
The article explores the cultural shift away from the narrative that a woman's worth depends on being chosen by a man, using examples from TV shows like 'Sex and the City' and…
Sarah Kane's 'Cleansed' at Almeida Theatre: Brutal and Unforgiving opinion-review
A new production of Sarah Kane's 'Cleansed' at London's Almeida Theatre confronts audiences with unflinching depictions of human cruelty. The play, known for its extreme violence…
Einsamkeit als Einstieg in Extremistenpropaganda opinion-review
Der Soziologe Özgür Özvatan stellt die These auf, dass es Einsamkeit ist, die der Online-Radikalisierung vorausgeht, und nicht der Islam, wie im Fall des mutmaßlichen Attentäters…
Debate on CSD Attack: Lies, Certainty, and a Death opinion-review
One week after the terrorist attack in Berlin's Tiergarten, news cycles continue to spin. The article debates the aftermath: what now? The attack targeted Christopher Street Day…
Debate: The Situation Is Too Precarious Not to Fight Against the AfD opinion-review
In a guest article for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, historian Norbert Frei argues for a ban on the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which is classified as a 'partially proven right-wing…
Gender Inequality in Art Institutions and Cancel Culture Study opinion-review
A research article published in Nature by Xindi Wang, Alexander Gates, Magnus Resch, and Albert-László Barabási investigates gender disparity in the art sector, analyzing data…
Marco Giusti reflects on Striscia la notizia's legacy and its kinship with Blob opinion-review
In a personal essay on Artribune, Marco Giusti recounts the origins and cultural impact of Antonio Ricci's Striscia la notizia, the long-running Italian satirical news program on…
Funeral Flowers: Emma Dennis-Edward's play premieres in Melbourne opinion-review
Emma Dennis-Edward's one-woman play, Funeral Flowers, is debuting in Australia at Red Stitch Actors' Theatre in Melbourne, with performances scheduled until 23 August. The…
Orchestra Gap Debate: Musicians and Educators Weigh In on Declining Engagement opinion-review
An anonymous entry on ArtsJournal addresses the 'Orchestra Gap,' highlighting four public reactions to an earlier post. The writer observes a decline in motivation among younger…
Albanese's AI pledge fails to quell creative sector job fears opinion-review
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's July speech outlining Australia's AI approach has not alleviated anxiety among artists, writers, and journalists, who face job losses and reduced…
AI disrupts the 20th-century labour contract in Asia opinion-review
As artificial intelligence reshapes the workforce, the conventional practice of tracking hours worked is losing relevance, especially in Asia's modern economies. Across cities…
Lori Woodward on Why Art Isn't Selling and How to Fix It opinion-review
Artist and marketing writer Lori Woodward argues that poor sales often stem from artwork quality and market fit, not marketing. She advises artists to build a cohesive body of at…
Study Finds Sexual Assault Allegations Cancel Artists More Than Murder opinion-review
A recent psychological study on 'cancel culture' revealed that participants were more inclined to impose harsher consequences on an artist facing sexual assault allegations than…

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