Opinion & reviews

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• Podcast with Björn Höcke Reveals Self-Perception as 'Lovable' opinion-review

  The podcast 'Ungeskriptet' features a 4.5-hour interview with Björn Höcke, a prominent AfD politician. Höcke describes himself as 'nice' as a child, 'popular' as a young teacher,…

• Freud's Theory Explains Right-Wing Populism's Appeal opinion-review

  A recent opinion piece in the Süddeutsche Zeitung argues that right-wing populism, as seen with the AfD in Germany, represents a collective regression driven by unconscious…

• The Design Flaw in California's Proposition 65 Warning Labels opinion-review

  Burkey Belser (1947–2023), the graphic designer of the Nutrition Facts Panel, created one of the 20th century's most important designs. But a recent purchase of gluten-free…

• Grüne-Jugend-Chef kritisiert Merz-Regierung für Sozialstaatsabbau opinion-review

  Luis Bobga, Co-Vorsitzender der Grünen Jugend, wirft der Regierung von Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz in einem Gastbeitrag für die Wochenzeitung 'der Freitag' vor, den Sozialstaat…

• Sandra Laugier on free speech weaponization in France and US opinion-review

  Philosopher Sandra Laugier argues in a Le Monde op-ed that free speech has never been more invoked by its enemies in both France and the United States. She points to the recent…

• The Historical Invention of the Future and Its Modern Discontents opinion-review

  Joshua Rothman's latest essay in The New Yorker explores the evolving perceptions of the future from 1517 to 1793, heavily referencing Reinhart Koselleck’s work, 'Futures Past'.…

• Exhaustion as Collective Condition: Art's Role in a Tired Society opinion-review

  82% of Germans perceive the pace of change as too fast, personal optimism is declining, and trust in politics and the economy is eroding, according to the current Ipsos Global…

• Remarkably Bright Creatures film review: Sally Field and an octopus star in sentimental story opinion-review

  A film adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt's novel 'Remarkably Bright Creatures' features Sally Field and a computer-generated octopus in a sentimental narrative. The review, published…

• Elke Heidenreich on Safety vs. Poetry in Life opinion-review

  In the ninth installment of her column "Heidenreichs Fundstücke," author Elke Heidenreich reflects on the increasing safety measures in modern life—such as seatbelt laws, helmet…

• Over 4,700 European film professionals sign open letter defending EU MEDIA programme opinion-review

  More than 4,700 European film professionals have signed an open letter titled 'Cinema, the beating heart of European democracy' in defense of the EU's MEDIA programme. The letter,…

• Schwarze Komiker wehren sich gegen linke Bevormundung opinion-review

  Ein Artikel in der NZZ thematisiert, wie schwarze Komiker sich gegen linke Bevormundung wehren. Der Autor beschreibt, dass Migranten und Flüchtlinge, die keine linke Haltung…

• Tagliapietra's Essay on Shamelessness in Contemporary Society opinion-review

  An essay by Tagliapietra, published on doppiozero, argues that shamelessness has transformed from a vice into a required competence in contemporary society. The text contends that…

• Romería film review: a bold coming-of-age leap opinion-review

  The film Romería receives a positive review, praised as a dazzling coming-of-age tale that takes a bold imaginative leap. The review is published by the Financial Times.

• Ludovic Lagarde stages Martin Crimp's absurdist play at Athénée opinion-review

  Ludovic Lagarde directs Martin Crimp's play "Des hommes endormis" at the Athénée theatre. The production suffers from an excess of absurdity, according to a review. The play…

• Grasset Authors Protest Authoritarianism in French Publishing opinion-review

  In a New York Times opinion piece, authors from the French publishing house Grasset have issued a manifesto against authoritarianism, asserting that a publishing house should not…

• Christiane Rösinger Rejects Longevity, Advocates for Punk Attitude in Aging opinion-review

  Christiane Rösinger, 65, criticizes the longevity trend in a Freitag article, arguing that society's obsession with youth and anti-aging is misguided. She feels comfortable in her…

• Berlin's May Day: Cultural Critique Amidst City's Seasonal Transformation opinion-review

  The article reflects on Berlin's dual identity during the days around May 1st, when the city transforms into 'Sommerberlin'—a vibrant, outdoor-oriented version of itself. This…

• Wild Foxes: Boxing Film Explores Vulnerability opinion-review

  The film 'Wild Foxes' presents a young boxer discovering his vulnerability, where striking hard carries a self-destructive quality. The review, published by Süddeutsche Zeitung,…

• Kokuho film review: maximalist kabuki drama opinion-review

  A film review of Kokuho, described as a maximalist kabuki drama that offers an antidote to micro-dramas. The review is published by the Financial Times.

• Nine artists and curators debate whether art must take a political stance opinion-review

  In a feature on Artribune, nine artists and curators respond to the question of whether art should engage with politics. Marco Trulli argues art must question power systems and…

• AfD-Verbotsdebatte: Wohlstandsverteilung als Schlüssel gegen Rechtsruck opinion-review

  Die Debatte um ein Verbot der AfD gewinnt an Dringlichkeit, da die Partei in Sachsen-Anhalt Umfragewerte von über 40 Prozent erreicht. Der Artikel argumentiert, dass ein Verbot…

• Germany's Military Buildup: A Stress Test for the Zeitenwende opinion-review

  81 years after the surrender of Nazi Germany, the Federal Republic is rising to become the strongest conventional military power in Europe. The article questions whether this can…

• Russia's Venice Biennale return threatens cultural isolation opinion-review

  Russia's planned return to the Venice Biennale risks undermining the event's cultural relevance, according to a Financial Times opinion piece. The article argues that allowing…

• Pulitzer winner Percival Everett on Trump's insecurity and vindictiveness opinion-review

  In an interview with NZZ, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Percival Everett discusses Donald Trump's personality, describing him as insecure and vindictive. The conversation also…

• Nonprofit Arts Organizations Must Prioritize Community Impact Over Ticket Sales opinion-review

  In a critical opinion piece published on ArtsJournal on May 7, 2026, the author argues that while art itself is essential, nonprofit arts organizations often fail to act as…

• Milan's Transformation into a Gated Global City for the Wealthy opinion-review

  Milan has transformed dramatically from an industrial hub into a 'gated city' catering to the global elite, largely due to a flat tax initiative introduced in 2017 that drew in…

• Nonprofit vs. Commercial Culture: Audience Size Nearly Equal, Revenue Gap Is 16x opinion-review

  A new analysis by an arts consultant compares the scale of nonprofit and commercial cultural attendance in the US. Nonprofit live cultural attendance totals about 965 million per…

• AI Economy Turns Human Creativity into Luxury Good opinion-review

  In an era of generative AI, human-made creative output is becoming a premium, artisanal good, analogous to handcrafted items during the Industrial Revolution. Drawing on Thorstein…

• David Haig's 'Magic' explores Conan Doyle and Houdini friendship opinion-review

  David Haig's play 'Magic' examines the unlikely friendship between Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini. The production, reviewed by the Financial Times, delves into the…

• Euphoria Season 3 Accused of Reinforcing Incel-Era Sexist Tropes opinion-review

  The third season of HBO's hit series Euphoria has drawn criticism for its portrayal of women, with commentators arguing that the show now mirrors the sexist fantasies of the…

• Culture contests overshadowed by politics as Venice Biennale opens opinion-review

  The Venice Biennale, Eurovision, and Cannes are increasingly framed as nations representing themselves, yet national identity feels futile in a fractured world. As the Biennale…

• Debate over staying on X: Strack-Zimmermann and the dilemma of platform engagement opinion-review

  The article discusses the dilemma faced by politicians and public figures regarding whether to remain on Elon Musk's platform X (formerly Twitter) or leave it. It uses Marie-Agnes…

• Lindsey Vonn's Met Gala appearance sparks debate on female bodily autonomy opinion-review

  Lindsey Vonn's appearance at the Met Gala has ignited a debate about women's control over their own bodies. The reactions to her outfit reveal a persistent discomfort when women…

• Venezia Salva: A Reflection on the 2026 Venice Biennale opinion-review

  The 2026 Venice Biennale is critiqued through the lens of Simone Weil's "Venezia Salva," a story about a foiled Spanish conspiracy to destroy Venice. The author draws parallels…

• Caravaggio's context: Why removing art from its original setting is amputation opinion-review

  In a piece for The Art Newspaper, an art historian contends that taking artworks out of their original settings for preservation purposes diminishes their significance. While…

• Six critical strategies for Australia's next national cultural policy opinion-review

  Kate Larsen argues that Australia's current national cultural policy, 'Revive', while a necessary first step, has not improved conditions for artists and cultural workers, which…

• Timothée Chalamet's Controversy Sparks Reflection on Cultural Fragility opinion-review

  Timothée Chalamet sparked controversy by dismissing ballet and opera as irrelevant, prompting a debate on the value of non-commercial arts. In response, Will Ferreira Dyke of Art…

• Does great art require solitude? Frieze New York show explores Bettina Grossman's isolation opinion-review

  An article explores the significance of solitude in artistic creation, highlighting Bettina Grossman's upcoming exhibition at Frieze New York. Born in Brooklyn, Grossman resided…

• Viktor Jerofejew's Simplistic Russia Theory Revisited opinion-review

  Viktor Jerofejew's book "Die neue Barbarei" is criticized for its simplistic analysis of Russia, comparing it unfavorably to Iranian opposition's unified political goal. The…

• AMOC Collapse Threat Ignored by Billionaires and Governments opinion-review

  The potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major ocean current system, poses catastrophic risks, yet billionaires and governments promote…