#cultural-critique

#cultural-critique

An interviewer once asked James Baldwin if he'd ever write something without a message. "No writer who ever lived," Baldwin said, "could have written a line without a message." This is true. People write because they have something to say. Baldwin had something to say, and he spent his life saying it. But many who thought they got his message didn't get it at all.

The history of epic musical attempts to meaningfully engage with the vast sweep of American history is, to say the least, problematic.

Even legacy institutions are adjusting, scrambling to do more with less, often while trying to preserve a sense of mission that can't be measured in clicks or conversion rates.

Delivering the mail is a 'Halloween job,' " Stephen Starring Grant observes in Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home. "An occupation filled with surprises and unpredictability, reflecting life's broader journey.

"I quickly pulled up , published on February 9th, and then hers, published March 13th. The title was different, though it conveyed the same idea; however, the body was a near copy-paste job, with a few bits removed or changed and some words swapped out, I guess to make it seem 'different' enough. But it wasn't. My observations, metaphors, italicised emphasis (!), and the research I'd gathered stared back at me from her page."

Ari Aster's new film is a two-and-a-half-hour dark comedy depicting a politically fraught New Mexico town during COVID-19, igniting reactions at its Cannes premiere.

"There were so many people who, when the voices of—whatever we want to call it—really alt-right, or MAGA, or conservative voices, Proud Boys or whatever started to rise, and people were like, 'I'm so shocked by the way people are talking.' I was like, 'I'm not,'" Dunham stated, reflecting on the early signs of a societal shift she observed during her show's run.

Wesley Morris showcases a unique blend of cultural critique and personal reflection through his new podcast, Cannonball, tackling the impact of digital consumption on non-visual media.

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in queer Appalachians sharing their stories through literature, challenging the stereotypes perpetuated by earlier narratives like Hillbilly Elegy.

Directors Maggie Kang and Chris Appelhans cleverly blend the thrilling aspects of K-pop fandom with supernatural elements, reflecting the excitement and challenges of idol culture.

Scott’s character, who pushes a men’s group narrative, feels overly prominent and suggests potential villainy in future episodes, as he insinuates himself into Jesse's life.

Mivekannin's work highlights the colonialist practices and ethical dilemmas tied to ethnographic museums, calling for a reconsideration of their presents and pasts.

Our culture teaches us to prioritize utility over humanity, making us overlook the unique worth and rich inner worlds of individuals.

Durcan's poetry is oblique, exhilarating, unsettling and diverting all at once, never hesitating to take off into a realm of the surreal.

Opposing the Israeli government is viewed by some as a stance against a major source of antisemitism worldwide, merging politics with deep-seated cultural narratives.

Men often refer to women as 'females,' which many women find cringeworthy due to its impersonal and overly scientific nature, causing discomfort in gender context.

Bolin's collection examines millennial pop culture obsessions through a lens of (post)feminism, late capitalism, and technology, linking these themes to cultish thinking.

"The Better World Fund invited me to this dinner, reflecting just how split reality has become, as a recipient of a lifetime achievement award for Kevin Spacey was celebrated despite serious allegations against him."

Atwood's sequel to The Handmaid's Tale, titled The Testaments, coincides with the success of the show's adaptation and the political climate under Trump.

In my country, we are fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted. That affects all of us here, because art is the crucible that brings people together.

For the Gen Z men: Stop listening to conservative podcasters like Andrew Tate... it will end up with many of you being angry and lonely because you don't hold yourselves accountable for your actions.

"The flight, which was promoted for months in advance, was touted as a triumph of feminism, a win for science and an embrace of the kind of expansive, curious human spirit of striving and possibility that once animated both."

The exhibition 'Twist to strengthen' features a unique blend of Miska's paintings and Edwards' fabric and rope sculptures, showcasing incisive cultural critique.