Opinion & reviews

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

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Freitag Editor Reflects on Günter Gaus's Definition of Leftism opinion-review
In a recent editorial for the German weekly newspaper der Freitag, Michael Angele, writing in the 'Endlich Freitag!' column, reflects on the meaning of leftism, drawing on a…
US and China urged to cooperate on maritime trade route security opinion-review
An editorial in the South China Morning Post emphasizes the necessity for cooperation between the United States and China to maintain the safety and reliability of vital maritime…
Warum gibt es so wenige Pazifisten? Ein Essay über Gewaltlosigkeit opinion-review
Auf der Website von Freitag wird in einem Essay die seltene Perspektive des Pazifismus beleuchtet und die Gründe, warum nur wenige Menschen diese extreme Haltung einnehmen. Der…
Kusama's Death Sparks Debate: When Avant-Garde Becomes a Logo opinion-review
The death of Yayoi Kusama at 97 has reignited a longstanding debate about the commodification of avant-garde art. The discussion was prompted by her 2023 collaboration with Louis…
Dating Profiles as Curated Self-Portraits: A Study in Visual Culture opinion-review
A recent article on FAD Magazine examines the modern dating profile as a form of visual self-portraiture, governed by conventions of lighting, cropping, sequencing, and tone. The…
Artists Adapt as Newspaper Critics Disappear: Social Media and Substack Fill the Void opinion-review
The recent firing of art critic Sebastian Smee by The Washington Post in early February 2023 underscores the diminishing presence of newspaper art criticism, leaving artists…
Dolly Parton's Trash Aesthetic Celebrated in New Critical Essay opinion-review
In a recent opinion piece for Ocula Magazine, critic Nathalie Olah argues that Dolly Parton's unapologetic embrace of her own lowbrow style has had a liberating effect on her…
Kinderarmut in Deutschland: Mutter träumt von Geschenken für ihre Kinder opinion-review
In einem persönlichen Essay für die Wochenzeitung der Freitag beschreibt eine Autorin die Herausforderungen der Kinderarmut in Deutschland. Sie berichtet, wie der Beginn des neuen…
Miquel Lacasta Contrasts Urbanism of Uses with Infrastructure-Driven Urbanism opinion-review
In a recent essay about Verdes, architect Miquel Lacasta examines various urban planning models: 'urbanismo de tejidos' (fabric urbanism), 'urbanismo de tubos' (tube urbanism),…
College Writing Instruction Underfunded Despite AI Era Rhetoric opinion-review
In an article for Inside Higher Ed, John Warner emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced writing education in higher education, especially amid the rise of AI tools. He references…
Warhol's Dolly Parton Portraits Criticized as Lacking opinion-review
A recent review in The New York Times criticizes Andy Warhol's portraits of Dolly Parton, suggesting they do not match the quality of his best society portraits and fail to…
Orchestral Excellence Does Not Ensure Institutional Stability opinion-review
A recent Washington Post article, republished on MSN, argues that artistic greatness does not guarantee the institutional stability of orchestras. The piece emphasizes that even…
Juliane Marie Schreiber: Das Prinzip des ehrlichen Ossis opinion-review
Juliane Marie Schreiber, a bestselling author and child of the post-reunification era, explores why East Germans are less adept at self-promotion compared to West Germans,…
Jane Schoenbrun's 'Camp Miasma' Reviewed: A Queer, Meme-Ready Slasher Manifesto opinion-review
In a review for ArtReview, critic Philippa Snow examines Jane Schoenbrun's latest film, 'Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma' (2026), describing it as a visually dazzling and…
Berlin Freibad Debate: Ethnographic Research Reveals Swimming Pools as Ideological Battlefields opinion-review
In a recent newsletter, journalist Barbara Schweizerhof discussed the opening of the 'Volksbad' in front of the Berlin Volksbühne, but the project quickly became the subject of a…
Sibylle Berg on Left Identity, Wokeness, and Rearmament opinion-review
In a recent interview with the German newspaper Der Freitag, Swiss-German writer and politician Sibylle Berg (a member of the satirical party Die Partei) discussed her political…
Faraz Shariat's 'Staatsschutz' Criticized for Schematic Depiction of Nazi-Infiltrated System opinion-review
The German film 'Staatsschutz' (State Protection), directed by Faraz Shariat, is the subject of a critical review published by Süddeutsche Zeitung. The review, authored by an…
Debate: The Real Dangers of AI Development Beyond Bill Gates' Warnings opinion-review
The article from Süddeutsche Zeitung, titled 'Debatte: Warten auf den Knall' (Debate: Waiting for the Bang), discusses the potential existential threats posed by artificial…
Filipino American Writer Leaves Cambridge PhD Citing Racism opinion-review
In a first-person essay for Vogue, writer and former Cambridge University PhD student recounts her decision to leave the institution in 2023 due to pervasive racism. The author, a…
Debate: The Cocaine Society and the War on Drugs opinion-review
A recent opinion piece in the Süddeutsche Zeitung ignites a debate on cocaine consumption, highlighting the stark contrast between its recreational use in Western societies and…
Historian Hubertus Knabe Criticizes Berlin's Move to Make DDR History Optional in Schools opinion-review
In Berlin, upper secondary schools are set to make history lessons about the German Democratic Republic (DDR) no longer mandatory. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from…
Miss Piggy's Evolution: A 50-Year Reflection of Women's Changing Roles opinion-review
As The Muppet Show marks its 50th anniversary, an exploration of Miss Piggy highlights her character's development in tandem with evolving societal expectations for women.…
Nolan, i classici e Troia che brucia: un'analisi critica opinion-review
In un pezzo pubblicato su doppiozero il 27 agosto 2026, Andrea Rodighiero e Anita Romanello esaminano il legame tra il regista Christopher Nolan e i classici, con particolare…
Por que é tão difícil aceitar um novo suporte? opinion-review
A curadora da exposição imersiva 'O Brasil de Tarsila', no Nubank Arte Lab, defende o formato imersivo contra o preconceito do circuito acadêmico e curatorial. Ela argumenta que o…
AI's Impact on Art and Culture: The Real Costs of Being Real opinion-review
In a recent essay on ArtsJournal, Doug McLennan reflects on the growing difficulty of distinguishing real from artificial in the age of AI, based on 127 stories collected that…
Critic Slams Emma Cline and Hernan Diaz Openings as Boring Literary Fiction opinion-review
In a Substack essay, writer Devon Halliday critiques the opening pages of two forthcoming literary novels, Emma Cline's 'Switzy' (Random House, Sept 8) and Hernan Diaz's 'Ply'…
Art Market Myths Debunked: Persistence and Diversification Over Negativity opinion-review
The art market is often perceived as monolithic, but in reality it is fragmented, with some sectors and regions contracting while others flourish. This opinion piece, published on…
Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator II' Criticized as Uninspired Retread opinion-review
In a review published by NZZ, the film 'Gladiator II' is described as an uninspired variation of the original story, with the critic suggesting that Ridley Scott, at 86 years old,…
Freedom as Practice: Reflecting on the 19th Amendment's Legacy opinion-review
The 19th Amendment to the US Constitution, which granted women the right to vote, was enacted on 26 August 1920. An article from SLEEK magazine posits that this milestone should…
Global Economy Needs Helsinki-Style Rules for Geoeconomic Security opinion-review
An opinion piece in the South China Morning Post argues that the global economy, now obsessed with security, needs a Helsinki-style process to manage the risks of weaponised…
Strategies for Finding Art Collectors: Insights from Carolyn Edlund opinion-review
In a piece for Artsy Shark, Carolyn Edlund explores strategies for artists to connect with art collectors. She recommends immersing oneself in art communities and participating in…
Plagiarism Ban Essential in AI Era, Says Nida Rümelin opinion-review
In a recent opinion piece for the Süddeutsche Zeitung, philosopher Julian Nida-Rümelin argues that the prohibition on plagiarism must be upheld even as artificial intelligence…
Ost-West-Streit im Spiegel: Blome gegen Rennefanz verdeckt tiefere Wahrheit opinion-review
Der Streit zwischen Nikolaus Blome und Sabine Rennefanz über Ostdeutsche im Spiegel verdeckt eine tiefere Wahrheit über die deutsche Einheit. Auslöser ist ein FAZ-Beitrag von…
Bernie Bros and the Green Men's Manifesto: A German Perspective on Political Masculinity opinion-review
A German article from Der Freitag discusses the concept of the "Bernie Bros" and their alleged role in Donald Trump's 2016 election victory, drawing parallels to a new green…
Fantozzi's Satire: Caricature, Hyperbole, and Pirandello's Humor opinion-review
An article by Andrea Romagna for MifacciodiCultura, published on Artspecialday, examines the satirical nature of the character Fantozzi, created by Paolo Villaggio. The piece…
China's Sustained Engagement in Africa Contrasts with US Strategic Utility opinion-review
An opinion piece in the South China Morning Post critiques the US approach to Africa, highlighting a recent US State Department presentation at the Aids 2026 conference in Rio de…
Oceania Live Action: Disney's Creative Dilemma opinion-review
Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of 'Oceania' (Moana), set for Italian release on August 19, 2026, has reignited debate about the creative value of Disney's live-action…
Poetry as a Tool for Climate Communication and Ecological Awareness opinion-review
An article published in The Conversation posits that speculative climate poetry plays a crucial role in fostering ecological awareness by transforming abstract climate scenarios…
Creatives Selling to AI: Rights Expert Katarina Feder on Voice, Likeness, and Contracts opinion-review
In the 'Know Your Rights' section of CULTURED, Katarina Feder, who serves as the vice president of the Artists Rights Society, explores the rights of artists in today’s digital…
Nonprofit Arts Face 'Worst Year' Amid Federal Grant Rescissions opinion-review
In a report for SF Classical Voice, senior editor Michael Zwiebach highlights that nonprofit arts organizations in the Bay Area are experiencing "the worst year for classical arts…

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