Opinion & reviews

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

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Biennale 2026: Protest, Death, and the Rise of Luxury Sponsorship opinion-review
Mariagrazia Muscatello's critical review of the 2026 Venice Biennale describes an edition marked by death—both literal, with the passing of curator Koyo Kouoh, and symbolic—and a…
Navigating Transactional Friendships in the Art World opinion-review
An artist-curator struggles to distinguish genuine friendships from transactional ones, as peers seek exhibition opportunities. The advice column explores power dynamics,…
Music as a resource, not a treatment, in dementia care opinion-review
A certified music therapist argues that framing music solely as a treatment for dementia symptoms limits its broader benefits and reinforces stigma. The author, drawing on…
CDU's Firewall Against AfD Is Burning: Why Not Tear It Down? opinion-review
Georg Seesslen argues that the CDU's official policy of excluding the far-right AfD is undermined by secret cooperation, calling the 'Brandmauer' (firewall) a deceptive metaphor.…
From Skeptic to Fan: A Korean American's Journey into BTS Fandom opinion-review
A Korean American writer recounts her transformative experience attending BTS's Arirang tour at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas in May 2026, shifting from skepticism to deep…
Iran deal won't end normalized war for millions in Middle East opinion-review
The article argues that even if a US-Iran agreement is reached, the normalization of war has already transformed life across the Middle East. Israeli and US bombings have…
What the Kennedy Center Might Have Become: A Vision for a National Cultural Center opinion-review
Joseph Horowitz ponders the unfulfilled promise of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, speculating on how it might have thrived with different leadership. He recalls that…
Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' Defended as Cinematic Masterpiece in Italian Review opinion-review
An ArtsLife review from Italy defends Steven Spielberg's film 'Disclosure Day' against critics on YouTube who dismiss it as 'old' and 'infantile.' The reviewer describes it as a…
NPR Panel Explores Enduring Fascination with Alien Films opinion-review
In a segment on NPR's Cineplexity, host Adrian Florido, producer Marc Rivers, and Pop Culture Happy Hour host Glen Weldon discuss the persistent appeal of alien movies, from…
Bookstore Boom Amid Literacy Decline Highlights Cultural Divide opinion-review
A paradox emerges in the publishing world: independent bookstores are thriving while literacy rates decline. According to a LitHub article, the bookstore boom is driven by an…
Frederic Church's America: An Aspiration, Not an Entity opinion-review
The Atlantic examines Frederic Church's emergence in the American art scene of the 1840s, characterizing it as more of a goal than a reality. At that time, exceptional painting…
Friedensgutachten 2025: 69% der Ukrainer fordern Verhandlungen opinion-review
Das Jahresgutachten der Friedensforscher 2025 zeigt eine Diskrepanz zwischen öffentlicher Meinung und politischer Beratung: 69% der Ukrainer befürworten eine Verhandlungslösung,…
Fassbinder's Cinema of Power and Desire Still Resonates opinion-review
Over forty years after his death, Rainer Werner Fassbinder's films remain startlingly relevant, dissecting toxic relationships, power asymmetries, and emotional dependency. His…
First Nations Dance Authority: Who Inherits the Future? opinion-review
The Australian Dance Biennale, a segment of RISING 2026 in Melbourne, has highlighted a shift in leadership within Australian dance. While First Nations choreography gains…
Germany's Irrational Fear of Nuclear Energy After Chernobyl opinion-review
The Chernobyl disaster has created a lasting taboo in Germany that prevents rational discussion about returning to nuclear energy, despite the goal of carbon-neutral…
Hong Kong education system under scrutiny after parent-child suicide opinion-review
A parent and child died by suicide in Hong Kong, prompting renewed calls for policymakers to address the intense academic pressure in the city's education system. The incident has…
Monocle editor argues journalists must prove their worth in AI era opinion-review
Josh Fehnert, editor of Monocle, argues that AI will not replace journalists who excel at human-centric skills like interviewing, interpretation, and storytelling. He acknowledges…
Bologna anti-graffiti plan launched by Borgonzoni amid political irony opinion-review
Italy's Undersecretary of Culture Lucia Borgonzoni presented a new data-sharing system in Bologna's Prefecture to speed up sanctions against graffiti on protected buildings. The…
Aristotle Would See Nietzsche as a Dangerous Moral Destroyer opinion-review
A philosophical thought experiment imagines how Aristotle would react to Friedrich Nietzsche's ideas. Aristotle, who championed virtue as a golden mean between extremes and saw…
Ella Baron's Guardian cartoon satirizes David Hockney opinion-review
Ella Baron created a cartoon for The Guardian's Opinion section, published on June 14, 2026, depicting artist David Hockney. The illustration is part of the Guardian Opinion…
Luxury brands use 'no AI' claims as marketing strategy amid public backlash opinion-review
In response to consumer backlash against generative AI, luxury and fashion brands are stressing that their offerings are crafted without AI involvement. This shift comes after…
Navigating Imposter Syndrome in the Art World opinion-review
A personal essay explores how to feel comfortable in elite art spaces despite economic disparities. The author recounts visiting Christie's in New York for an auction preview,…
German Reform Debate: Grand Hotel Abgrund opinion-review
The article critiques Germany's reform efforts, arguing that key figures in parliament, media, and associations are failing to change their communication strategies, thereby…
David Hockney's 'A Bigger Splash' becomes queer domestic icon opinion-review
The 1967 artwork 'A Bigger Splash' by David Hockney has become a familiar image in many gay households, with its reproductions found on various items like posters, prints,…
Humor as Resistance: YouTube Revives Political Jokes in Hungary opinion-review
The article draws a parallel between the suppression of free speech under Trump and the experience of the author's family in communist Hungary. It argues that humor, particularly…
Luxury, publishing face structural crisis as 'Devil Wears Prada' returns opinion-review
The return of 'The Devil Wears Prada' sequel coincides with a structural transformation in luxury, publishing, and digital platforms. In Q1 2025, LVMH's Fashion & Leather Goods…
10 ways David Hockney transformed art from perspective to iPads opinion-review
A Guardian retrospective outlines ten key ways David Hockney changed art, from his working-class origins in Bradford to his technological innovations. Hockney synthesized…
London commuters rage against backpack wearers on the Tube opinion-review
A Monocle columnist laments the inconsiderate behavior of backpack-wearing passengers on the London Underground, describing them as lacking style and spatial awareness. The author…
David Hockney’s Relentless Work Ethic Revealed in Personal Account opinion-review
In a personal reflection, Lawrence Weschler recounts first meeting David Hockney in 1982, a pivotal midpoint in the artist's career. Weschler had long followed Hockney from his…
Italian cultural sector fails to leverage graduate talent, driving brain drain opinion-review
Italy's cultural sector suffers from a severe mismatch between university training and job market demands, particularly in museum management. For years, Italian universities have…
Selen Kara on 'New German Theater' and the Legacy of Postmigrant Theater opinion-review
In an interview with der Freitag, Selen Kara, artistic director of Schauspiel Essen, discusses her concept of 'Neues Deutsches Theater' (New German Theater) and its relationship…
Digital revolution and AI signal end of book civilization opinion-review
A Le Monde opinion piece argues that while anxieties about technology weakening mental faculties are not new, the digital revolution and artificial intelligence now portend the…
David Hockney's 'A Bigger Splash' analyzed as painting about absence opinion-review
A critical essay by Stefano Jossa and Anita Romanello on doppiozero.com examines David Hockney's 1967 painting 'A Bigger Splash' (acrylic on canvas, Tate Britain, London). The…
Barry Lyndon at 50: Kubrick's Film and Its Lasting Impact opinion-review
A personal reflection on Stanley Kubrick's 1975 film Barry Lyndon, marking its 50th anniversary. The author recalls a friend who frequently quotes a line from the movie, and…
Olivia Rodrigo's Third Album Reviewed by Vogue opinion-review
Vogue published a first-person review of Olivia Rodrigo's third studio album, 'You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So in Love,' released in 2025. The reviewer, a 33-year-old fan,…
Philippines' South China Sea stance diverges from ASEAN-China economic pragmatism opinion-review
In May, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared to Japan's National Diet that Manila would commemorate the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration…
Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' Criticized as Outdated UFO Drama opinion-review
Steven Spielberg's latest film 'Disclosure Day' has been criticized as out of touch with modern media realities. The movie depicts a grand conspiracy involving alien abductees…
Maniscalco Gallery Essay Laments Societal Collapse Under Trump opinion-review
In a lengthy essay published on the Maniscalco Gallery website, the author reflects on the state of American society under President Donald Trump, describing it as a descent into…
Nikon Should Release a Heritage Series of Classic Lenses for Z Mount opinion-review
Jaron Schneider advocates for Nikon to introduce a Heritage Series featuring vintage lenses adapted for the Z mount, including popular options like 28mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/2. He…
A Defense of Curatorial Gatekeeping in the Digital Age opinion-review
An opinion piece in The Walrus argues for the return of cultural gatekeepers, reframing them not as patriarchal figures but as essential curators who filter and refine public…

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