The Year of the Broken Mirror

"Many of this year's most talked-about releases were, in some sense, diagnostic: from Ryan Coogler's "Sinners" to Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another," films offered up assessments of the nation's ills. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss these and other reflections of American life, which arrive at a time when reality itself feels more nebulous than ever."

"Then, the hosts consider the "broken mirror" of A.I., and how the second Trump Administration's effort to erase unflattering chapters of U.S. history has further muddied the distinction between fact and fiction. Despite these dark developments, the art that's emerged from this moment, much of it focussed on activists and renegades seeking change, also functions as a warning against stasis."

"Despite these dark developments, the art that's emerged from this moment, much of it focussed on activists and renegades seeking change, also functions as a warning against stasis. Cunningham says, of the cultural shift: "This fixation on democracy on the ground-whether it's violent or not, whether it's misguided or not-I hope describes a yearning for more action. A move away from the mirror, and out into the streets.""

Many recent films act as diagnostic assessments of the nation's ills, citing works like Sinners and One Battle After Another. Reality feels nebulous as artificial intelligence creates a "broken mirror" and political power seeks to erase unflattering historical chapters, blurring fact and fiction. The second Trump Administration's efforts to remove difficult history further muddle public memory. Despite these developments, new art centers activists and renegades seeking change and serves as a warning against stasis. The cultural shift reflects a fixation on democracy in the streets, suggesting a yearning for action rather than passive reflection.

Read at The New Yorker