Réflexions
Édouard Manet tried to warn us about the male gaze
We often come across the expression male gaze on the internet and in the media. It refers to the act, in arts, of depicting women and the world from a heterosexual male perspective. This perspective represents women as sexual objects, for the pleasure of the heterosexual male audience. The concept of male gaze was first articulated by the British Read more
Cultural Appropriation: The « Inspiration » Mask of the Luxury Empire
The years 2024 and 2025 have served as a harsh wake-up call for the global luxury industry. What was once dismissed as a « creative oversight » has evolved into a full-blown legitimacy crisis. When Prada debuted « leather sandals » in its Spring/Summer 2026 collection — priced at a staggering $1,200 — the internet’s « digital tribe » quickly identified Read more
Luxury and Art : A new cartography of cultural power
These last weeks, the luxury industry has found itself at the heart of a scandal. Several houses, including Dior or Valentino, which proudly display their artisanal excellence with the label “Made in Italy”, have been accused of having outsourced a part of their production in clandestine workshops, with workers paid only a few euros per Read more
2026 is the New 2016 : Revival or Denial ?
Stranger Things is on TV in millions of homes, Taylor Swift and Zara Larsson are at the height of their fame, Instagram and its stories are more popular than ever… No, I’m not describing 2016, but rather the beginning of 2026. This feeling of collective déjà vu, shared on social media and in the press, Read more
The Cry of the Invisible: Visconti Still Resonates in Ken Loach’s Cinema
There are films that entertain, and there are films that uncoverreality.The kind of films that make you forget the fiction and force you to face the world outside the theater. That was my experience when I discovered La Terra Trema (1948) by Luchino Visconti.Then, when I watched Ken Loach’s filmography it felt like the same Read more
How “AI Slop” is shaping the music industry
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer only playing a major role in the tech and startup industry – it has also entered the heart of many creative industries. In recent years artists tried to figure out how they can utilize AI in order to enhance or implement in their music. This has sparked a debate Read more
The Disco Myth: Why Studio 54 Still Matters in 2025
A Legendary Door Reopens I decided to write about Studio 54 after watching the recent documentary Love to Love You, Donna Summer (2023) by Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano. It reminded me that disco was never just a musical genre: it was a social movement, a way of being. And this year, the mirror Read more
Intimacy Coordination and Opera: an overlooked yet crucial and necessary consideration
Within the opera industry, scenes of seduction, coercion, and sexual violence are more common than many realize. Yet, the use of intimacy coordination—standard in cinema and theatre—remains largely absent from this art form. Rooted in conservative traditions, opera continues to grapple with how to handle nudity, consent, and performer vulnerability on stage. As modern directors push for realism, the lack of ethical frameworks raises questions about artist safety and authenticity in today’s performing arts. Read more
4Memes, Blackness, and the Power of Circulation
This article examines how memes function as powerful cultural tools shaped by Blackness and digital circulation. It explores how meme formats, affective media practices, and online communities reflect collective creativity, cultural labour, and political expression. Drawing on scholars like Aria Dean, the analysis highlights the role of Black cultural production in shaping digital culture, the relational power of circulation, and the impact of memes on identity, visibility, and everyday online life. Read more
Neo-Chinese Aesthetic: The Business Strategy Behind Cultural Re-Export
The concept of « New Chinese Style » was proposed by the renowned Chinese architect Liang Sicheng. Initially, it was mainly applied in the field of architecture. With the rise of the « national style », the style of « New Chinese Style » is no longer limited to the field of architecture; it also has applications in accessories and clothing. Read more