Opinion & reviews

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

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University of Hull Bureaucrat Orders Academic to Remove Books as Fire Hazard opinion-review
A university administrator at the University of Hull conducted a standard workplace safety check and ordered Dr. Christopher Fear, a lecturer in politics, to remove books from his…
You Become What You Consume: On Repetition and Media Influence opinion-review
The article explores how repetition in media consumption shapes perception and behavior, drawing on philosophical and scientific frameworks. It begins with everyday examples like…
Designer Responds to GLP-1 Drugs Reshaping Home Interiors opinion-review
Architectural Digest's feature on how weight-loss drugs like Ozempic are influencing home design prompted a designer's response. The article explores the shift from homes as…
The End of Art? AI and the Crisis of Creativity opinion-review
Sam Kahn's essay on Substack explores the theoretical argument that art may be finished, drawing on Francis Fukuyama's interpretation of Alexandre Kojève's Hegelian end of…
A Collector Confesses: Buying a Cattelan Edition opinion-review
The author confesses to purchasing a Maurizio Cattelan edition, delivered in an elegant box with white gloves and a signed certificate of authenticity from Avant Arte, the…
George Scialabba on Chickenshit Jobs vs Bullshit Jobs for Creatives opinion-review
In a personal essay, critic George Scialabba reflects on David Graeber's concept of 'bullshit jobs' and proposes 'chickenshit jobs'—modest, undemanding part-time work that allows…
Gender Theory Blamed for Blocking View of Islamist Violence in Berlin opinion-review
A commentary in the Neue Zürcher Zeitung argues that gender theory obscures the role of Islamist violence in attacks on LGBTQ+ people in Berlin. The article cites the case of Beni…
Why Artists Should Standardize Artwork Presentation to Cut Costs and Boost Sales opinion-review
A gallery owner advises emerging artists to adopt a single, consistent presentation format for their artwork—such as MDF frames, float frames, or gallery-wrapped canvases—to…
Bernard Arnault Denies Family Succession Feud, Defends Tax Breaks for Arts Patronage opinion-review
Bernard Arnault, France's richest man and a major art patron, has publicly refuted a Le Monde investigation that accused him of using arts philanthropy for tax advantages and…
Green Party's 'Men's Manifesto' Sparks Internal Backlash, Criticized by Influencer Simon David Dreßler opinion-review
A 'Men's Manifesto' drafted by 13 members of Germany's Green Party aimed at winning back young male voters drifting to the right has ignited internal party conflict. The document,…
Art on Cushions: Sophie Parkin on the Rise of Museum Merchandising opinion-review
Sophie Parkin critiques the trend of reproducing fine art on cushions and homeware, tracing its origins from 17th-century embroidery to Victorian ornamentation and the 1930s…
KI-generierte Speisekarten: Wenn Restaurants auf Algorithmus-Ästhetik setzen opinion-review
Ein Kommentar in der Zeitschrift Monopol kritisiert den zunehmenden Einsatz von KI-generierten Bildern in der Gastronomie. Der Autor beobachtet, dass viele Restaurants aus…
An Angeleno's Six-Week Bender Through New York's Underground Art Scene opinion-review
Sammy Loren, an LA-based curator and writer, documents a six-week immersion in New York's underground art and literary scenes from June 6 to mid-July 2026. Highlights include the…
Pedro Almodóvar's New Film 'Bitteres Fest' Tackles Underwear Casting opinion-review
Pedro Almodóvar's latest film, 'Bitteres Fest,' explores the process of casting for underwear advertising. The film is described as a grand, at times abysmal, amusement. It…
Reframing Art Marketing as Connection, Not Self-Promotion opinion-review
Carolyn Edlund argues that artists can market effectively without resorting to self-promotion. She reframes marketing as helping the right people discover work they will…
13 Artists and Curators on the Role of Art Criticism Today opinion-review
Artribune published insights from 13 artists and curators regarding the current significance of art criticism. Participants included Chenxiao Du (Beijing), Sara Tacchi (San…
Six art suggestions for UK PM's new No. 10 North hub in Manchester opinion-review
The Art Newspaper has put forward six art pieces for Manchester’s new government hub, No. 10 North, which was opened by Andy Burnham. This collection aims to bring summer joy and…
Orwell's Animal Farm: Satire Without Laughter? opinion-review
George Orwell wrote Animal Farm between November 1943 and February 1944 as a satirical allegory of Stalinist Russia, using animal characters to critique the Soviet regime. The…
Mohammed Z Rahman on How Crabs and Cooking Taught Him to See Color opinion-review
In the third installment of a series on learning to look at paintings, artist Mohammed Z Rahman shares how a childhood visit to the National Gallery in London and time spent…
Circe's Pig Transformation Scene in Nolan's The Odyssey Analyzed opinion-review
In Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey, the scene where Circe transforms Odysseus's men into pigs is highlighted as the most disturbing and powerful. The sequence uses practical…
Weekly film reviews: 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day', 'Les Matins merveilleux', 'I Want Your Sex', 'Tommy Guns' opinion-review
Every Wednesday, Le Monde's cinema journalists publish their reviews of films currently in theaters. This week's selection includes a politically charged aesthetic work set…
Phin Jennings Questions Whether Galleries Are Still Essential for Artists opinion-review
In a new opinion column for Ocula, writer Phin Jennings examines the viability of artists bypassing the traditional gallery system to self-represent. The article probes whether…
Isaac Asimov and Artificial Intelligence: A Critique of Anti-SF Sentiment opinion-review
An article by Carlo Pagetti and Anna Stefi on Doppiozero responds to a 28 June 2026 piece in La lettura del Corsera titled "Contro la fantascienza," which criticizes science…
Netflix's 'Little House on the Prairie' Adaptation Lacks Cozy Charm opinion-review
Netflix's fresh take on Laura Ingalls Wilder's 'Little House on the Prairie,' helmed by Rebecca Sonnenshine, has secured a second season. In contrast to the 1974 series featuring…
Manhattan Art Review's 2026 Institutional Critique Roundup opinion-review
In 2026, the Manhattan Art Review featured a collection of critiques exploring the dynamics between artists and institutions. Among the highlighted exhibitions are Sam Contis's…
Art Problems Column: Navigating Toxicity in the Art World opinion-review
In a Hyperallergic advice column, Paddy Johnson responds to a reader's question about the prevalence of toxic people in the art world and how to protect oneself. Johnson argues…
Andy Burnham's £80 T-shirt sparks debate on British manufacturing opinion-review
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has come under fire from right-leaning media for donning an £80 T-shirt produced by Private White VC, Manchester's last independent clothing…
Nolan's 'Odyssey' Reframes Trojan Horse as Metaphor for Fake News Era opinion-review
Christopher Nolan's upcoming film 'The Odyssey' reimagines the Trojan Horse as a civilization-destroying device akin to the atomic bomb, according to a commentary in the German…
ZDF bans Danger Dan and Igor Levit performance over anti-fascist song opinion-review
German broadcaster ZDF prohibited pianist Igor Levit and rapper Danger Dan from performing the song "Keine Angst" on television, citing concerns about excessive anti-fascist…
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review — A Crisis of Identity opinion-review
The latest Spider-Man film, "Brand New Day," marks a tonal shift from its predecessors, offering a less comedic narrative. The superhero must navigate life without his support…
US Backs South China Sea Ruling While Opposing ICC opinion-review
The United States has signed a statement supporting the Permanent Court of Arbitration's 2016 ruling on the South China Sea, which invalidated most of China's maritime claims…
Italian identity, overtourism, and the commodification of culture opinion-review
The article explores the tension between authentic Italian identity and its commercialized export, driven by overtourism and the global appetite for 'Italianness.' It traces how…
Emily Wilson's Scathing Review of Nolan's 'Odissea' opinion-review
On Monday, Emily Wilson, known for her translation of Homer's Odyssey, released a scathing critique of Christopher Nolan's film 'Odissea.' She characterized the movie as lacking…
Rory Olcayto argues Mackintosh Building should be rebuilt without Glasgow School of Art opinion-review
Rory Olcayto, an architecture critic, advocates for the faithful reconstruction of the Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art, which suffered devastating fires in 2014…
Emily Wilson Slams Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Adaptation opinion-review
In the London Review of Books, Emily Wilson, whose 2017 translation of Homer's Odyssey inspired Christopher Nolan, has delivered a harsh critique of the director's latest film.…
Gunther von Hagens: The Showman Who Made Damien Hirst Look Tame opinion-review
Gunther von Hagens, the German scientist who invented plastination, turned preserved human corpses into a global spectacle with his Body Worlds exhibitions. Starting in the late…
Archaeologist defends museum exhibitions after theft of treasure in Châtillon-sur-Seine opinion-review
A theft at the Musée de Châtillon-sur-Seine in Côte-d'Or on July 24 has raised concerns about heritage protection. Archaeologist Anne Lehoërff argues in a Le Monde op-ed that such…
Hungarian writer György Dalos on Orbán's defeat and Eastern writers' archives in Berlin opinion-review
Hungarian writer György Dalos reflects on Viktor Orbán's electoral defeat, calling it his most humiliating loss after sixteen years in power. Dalos credits challenger Péter Magyar…
Iranian Women's Irreversible Revolution Shakes Theocracy's Foundation opinion-review
An opinion piece argues that Iran cannot be reformed against the overwhelming power of the Revolutionary Guards, who emerged strengthened from war. Despite the mullahs' regime,…
Gen Z Revives Cinema, Rejecting Franchises and AI Slop opinion-review
A new wave of Gen Z audiences is revitalizing cinema, driven by fatigue with endless franchises and AI-generated content. This trend signals a shift away from Hollywood and…

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