Culture of Complaint and the New Deal Murals Art in public spaces will always be scrutinised for the propriety of its iconography, and it will remain under attack as long as its guardians are willing to pander to the narcissistic impulses of the activists. Julia Friedman 16 Oct 2024 · 7 min read
The Perfect Trifecta The new attention economy will always privilege the lowest common denominator in performance art, as it does in everything else. Julia Friedman 4 Jun 2024 · 8 min read
Narcissism for All Forty-five years ago, Christopher Lasch identified what has become a defining feature of modern activism—“the ever-present, neurotic need to be recognized and affirmed.” Julia Friedman 30 Mar 2024 · 10 min read
Faking Hope: AI Art as Propaganda There is a new contender for the most effective weapon in the propaganda wars: photorealistic, generative AI art. Julia Friedman 3 Nov 2023 · 8 min read
Bob Ross, Populist Artist A Netflix documentary and a new film about the beloved American TV painter explore a life marked by popular success and personal betrayal. Julia Friedman 19 Jul 2023 · 10 min read
A Royal Grift In political terms, the purchasers of Trump’s NFTs are not citizens but subjects. Julia Friedman / David Hawkes 20 May 2023 · 8 min read
Nudity and Nonconsensual Viewing The question of whether an artwork is offensive is now determined by the least generous interpretation of the most sensitive viewer. Julia Friedman 28 Apr 2023 · 10 min read
Boring Art, Impotent Politics Mixing aesthetics and activism does a disservice to both. Julia Friedman 27 Jan 2023 · 11 min read
Poetic Justice How an octogenarian artist defied curatorial bureaucracy. Julia Friedman 25 Oct 2022 · 9 min read
Against De-Materialization: Tom Wolfe in the Age of NFTs You cannot lose, you cannot win: the present includes the past and the future. ~Marshall McLuhan I In the summer of 1970, TV-Ontario filmed Tom Wolfe in conversation with Marshall McLuhan on the lawn of McLuhan’s home in Toronto’s Wychwood Park. Towards the end of their amicable chat, Julia Friedman / David Hawkes 9 Mar 2022 · 15 min read
A Treasure Trove of Priceless Pornography One might be skeptical about Pornhub’s claim that their interactive guide is a way to raise museum attendance in the wake of the pandemic-induced hiatus. Julia Friedman 31 Jul 2021 · 11 min read
