Opinion & reviews

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• Burn-out et dégagisme : la crise des directions de théâtres en France opinion-review

  Une vague de départs anticipés et de drames personnels touche les cadres du secteur culturel, en particulier dans les théâtres, selon Le Monde. Le phénomène est attribué à un…

• Essay Warns That Reliance on Technology Is Deskilling the Human Body opinion-review

  In a recent essay published in Aeon, a woman in her late 40s reflects on her habit of waking at 4 a.m. to check her phone, which she links to a deterioration of physical skills.…

• Philosopher Thomas R. Wells Argues Fixation on European Colonialism Is a Mistake opinion-review

  In an essay for 3 Quarks Daily, Thomas R. Wells, a philosophy instructor in the Netherlands and writer for The Philosopher's Beard, contends that the emphasis on European…

• Pierre Arditi Stars in Florian Zeller's « Le Père » opinion-review

  Pierre Arditi takes on the role of an octogenarian suffering from Alzheimer's disease in Florian Zeller's play « Le Père ». The role was originally created in 2012 with Robert…

• Whalefall Review: Austin Abrams Stars in Underwater Thriller opinion-review

  Austin Abrams portrays a scuba diver who travels through multiple stomachs in Whalefall, an against-the-clock thriller described as untidy. The film is a jaunty update of the…

• Historiker Gil Shohat kritisiert Berliner Antisemitismus-Vereinbarung als einseitig opinion-review

  In einem Beitrag für die Wochenzeitung der Freitag äußert Historiker Gil Shohat scharfe Kritik an der Antisemitismus-Vereinbarung in Berlin. Er argumentiert, dass die Linke, die…

• Art Problems: Do I Need an Agent? opinion-review

  In a recent advice column, an artist inquired about the necessity of hiring an agent or an AI agent for managing studio tasks. The columnist explained that artists typically…

• Alison Hall and Pete Schulte Exhibitions Open Across Grand Street Subway Stop in New York opinion-review

  At the Grand Street subway stop in New York, two solo exhibitions featuring Alison Hall and Pete Schulte are currently showcased. Hall's exhibition, titled "spirits (where the…

• Las cenizas del Museo: Fuego, memoria y resistencia en la era del fascismo terminal opinion-review

  En un ensayo publicado por Esfera Pública, el autor reflexiona sobre la ola de incendios que han devastado patrimonios culturales y naturales en Sudamérica, vinculándolos con…

• Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Mangan Star in Conor McPherson's Comic Chekhov Adaptation opinion-review

  Kristin Scott Thomas plays an unwilling matriarch in a comic adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, appearing alongside Stephen Mangan. The production is adapted by…

• French Filmmakers Warn 2027 Budget Could Erase 80 Films a Year opinion-review

  More than 170 filmmakers have signed an open letter in Le Monde warning that France's 2027 budget could wipe out 80 films annually. The signatories include Jacques Audiard,…

• Cultured Magazine's October 2026 Guide Highlights New York and Los Angeles Gallery Shows opinion-review

  In the October 2026 edition of Cultured Magazine, critic Johanna Fateman showcases notable exhibitions in both New York and Los Angeles. Among her highlights is the Whitney…

• Royal Ballet Revives Kenneth MacMillan's Manon with Francesca Hayward and Marcelino Sambé opinion-review

  The Royal Ballet has revived Kenneth MacMillan's 1974 production of Manon, a work celebrated for its portrayal of debauched love. The opening performance featured Francesca…

• Istanbul's Queer Art Scene Under Siege, Frieze Week Doubts, and Most Forged Artists Revealed opinion-review

  State repression against queer cultural workers in Istanbul has intensified, highlighted by recent raids on LGBTQI+ bars and organizations under the banner "We secure the family."…

• Berlin Coalition Talks Suspended Over Demand to Exclude Pro-Palestinian MP Vanessa Emde opinion-review

  Exploratory talks among Die Linke, SPD, and the Greens in Berlin have been paused because the SPD and Greens insist that Die Linke expel Vanessa Emde, a pro-Palestinian member of…

• Ryan Lanji Reflects on THE HANG Afterparty for Minor Attractions Art Fair opinion-review

  Cultural producer and curator Ryan Lanji wrote a stream-of-consciousness piece for Elephant about THE HANG, the opening party for Minor Attractions, an art fair that creates a…

• Kinderneurologe Florian Heinen und Philosoph Jörg Noller über Handysucht bei Kindern opinion-review

  In einem Interview der Süddeutschen Zeitung diskutieren der Kinderneurologe Florian Heinen und der Philosoph Jörg Noller den Umgang von Kindern mit Smartphones. Im Zentrum steht…

• Roy Lichtenstein Retrospective at Whitney Draws Critical Scrutiny from John Yau opinion-review

  In his critique, John Yau contends that the hand-painted Ben-Day dots of Roy Lichtenstein, which once served as satirical reflections on American consumer culture, have lost their…

• Christian Caliandro: arte e cultura contro l'inevitabilità dei sacrifici e dell'ordine sociale opinion-review

  Christian Caliandro, in an editorial for Artribune, examines austerity political choices, referencing Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF director, who speaks of "very tough political…

• „Whalefall“: Süddeutsche Zeitung rezensiert Actionfilm über einen Mann im Pottwal opinion-review

  Die Süddeutsche Zeitung veröffentlicht eine Kino-Rezension des Actionfilms „Whalefall“. Der Film stellt die absurde Frage, ob es besser ist, sich nach vorn oder nach hinten…

• Wolfcrow Video Essay Explains Why Cleopatra, Ben-Hur, and Lawrence of Arabia Still Look Spectacular opinion-review

  In a video essay named "Why Cleopatra Still Looks Like a Trillion Bucks," Wolfcrow examines the visual excellence of historical films produced by Hollywood. The film Cleopatra,…

• Soziologe Martin Schröder: Zuwanderungssorge statt Wirtschaftslage treibt AfD-Wähler opinion-review

  Der Soziologe Martin Schröder hat die Motive von Wählenden der AfD untersucht und widerspricht der verbreiteten Annahme, wirtschaftliche Benachteiligung sei ausschlaggebend für…

• Evgeny Titov's Dystopian Parsifal Opens at Royal Ballet and Opera in London opinion-review

  Evgeny Titov stages Richard Wagner's Parsifal as a post-apocalyptic bunker drama for a new production that premiered at the Royal Ballet and Opera in London on 1 October and runs…

• Berliner Ensemble Stages «Antigone» and «Der Hauptmann von Köpenick» Under Castorf's «Mephisto» Banner opinion-review

  Two productions currently occupy the Berliner Ensemble programme, both deliberately avoiding direct social or political commentary. Instead, they rely on the strength of their…

• Belarusian Artists, Publishers and Scientists Face Persecution as Alleged Extremists opinion-review

  Independent Belarusian artists, publishers and scientists are being persecuted as alleged extremists, according to an analysis by author Felix Ackermann. The vast majority of…

• Le Monde Cinema Critics Review New Releases Including Andrey Zvyagintsev's Minotaur opinion-review

  In its weekly Wednesday film review column, La Matinale of Le Monde presents critics' takes on current theatrical releases. Among the featured titles are Minotaure, Le Corset, Le…

• Essay Argues AI Writing Detection Turns Readers and Writers Into Adversaries opinion-review

  A piece published by The Walrus contends that readers who believe they can reliably identify AI-generated writing are mistaken, and that the attempt to do so is reshaping reading…

• Patricia McIlreavy Urges Inclusion of Arts in Disaster Recovery Plans opinion-review

  In a piece for The Art Newspaper, Patricia McIlreavy, the president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, highlights the crucial role of arts and culture in the aftermath of…

• Guardian Readers Recall Cinema's Healing Power and a 1966 Hastings Art School Rivalry opinion-review

  In letters responding to a Guardian piece published on 12 October about cinema's capacity to comfort the bereaved, Geoffrey Meenan of London writes that the deaths of his only…

• Arthurian Legend Endures in Pop Culture, From Troye Sivan to Far-Right Symbolism opinion-review

  The enduring legacy of Arthurian legends is set to shape contemporary media, with Troye Sivan's music video "Party" debuting in 2026, featuring an Arthurian backdrop. In the same…

• Seattle Artists Seek $8M from Police Budget for Arts as Public Safety Infrastructure opinion-review

  A group of 365 artists and 61 arts organizations has sent an open letter to Seattle's Mayor Katie Wilson and the City Council, asking them to shift $8 million from a planned $68…

• Larger Than Life at Lightroom London: Aardman Immersive Show Reviewed opinion-review

  Larger Than Life, an immersive exhibition at Lightroom in London, pays tribute to Aardman Animations, the minds behind Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep. The event showcases…

• German Museum Boom, Elbtower Museum Standoff, Prune Nourry's Visionaries, Beltracchi Claim, and London's Divided Market opinion-review

  Germany's cultural institutions are flourishing, as evidenced by the Neue Nationalgalerie's impressive 608,000 visitors in 2025, making it the top art museum in terms of…

• Bärbel Bas tritt von allen Ämtern zurück und kritisiert öffentliches Mobbing opinion-review

  Die SPD-Vorsitzende Bärbel Bas hat sich von allen ihren Ämtern zurückgezogen. In der Aufregung um diesen Rückzug ging laut dem Freitag-Autor Philip Grassmann teilweise unter, dass…

• Ostdeutsche Mentalität: Warum ein aufgesetztes Lächeln nicht unehrlich ist opinion-review

  Der Beitrag setzt sich mit dem verbreiteten Klischee auseinander, Westdeutsche neigten zu einer Verkäufermentalität, während im Osten Offenheit und Ehrlichkeit – auch durch…

• Ted Larsen's 'Meaning Comes After' at Conduit Gallery, Dallas: Salvaged Steel Sculptures and Reliefs opinion-review

  Ted Larsen's exhibition titled 'Meaning Comes After' is currently on display at Conduit Gallery in Dallas until October 17. The show includes five wall sculptures and various…

• Junge Pianisten zwischen Virtuosität und Publikumssuche opinion-review

  Eine Hörprobe bei jungen Pianisten wie Nikola Meeuwsen und Lukas Sternath steht im Zentrum eines Beitrags der Süddeutschen Zeitung. Der Artikel fragt, wie Pianisten heute ihr…

• Benedict Cumberbatch spielt trauernden Vater in „Das Ding mit den Federn“ opinion-review

  In dem Film „Das Ding mit den Federn“ übernimmt Benedict Cumberbatch die Rolle eines trauernden Vaters. Die Handlung wird dadurch ausgelöst, dass ihm unerwartet eine riesige Krähe…

• Hanna Hur's 'Annunciation' at Greene Naftali: Grids, Pigment, and the Limits of Figuration opinion-review

  Hanna Hur's exhibition titled 'Annunciation' is on display at Greene Naftali in New York from 10 September to 31 October. The artwork delves into the complexities of the grid,…

• FPÖ-Regierung in der Steiermark: Kultur unter Druck seit 2024 opinion-review

  Seit 2024 wird die Steiermark erstmals von der extrem rechten FPÖ regiert. Landeshauptmann ist Mario Kunasek. Die Kulturpolitik unter dieser Regierung wird in einem Beitrag der…