Mother (Nature) Will Eat You: Lars von Trier’s Antichrist
Von Trier’s terrifying rumination on the triad of “pain,” “grief,” and “despair” reminds us that, in contrast to the pronouncements of politicians on what is natural and normal, in nature eating one’s young is not too far out of the ordinary—especially in times of stress.
Lars von Trier is the Antichrist Best Film Director in the World
In the great tradition of Socrates and Kierkegaard, Lars von Trier realizes that his role is to enable the audience to ask questions and confront themselves.
Environmentalists Are Lousy Metaphysicians
Having abandoned its roots in art, the dehumanization of the world, and the metaphysical, environmentalism has made common cause with its natural enemies and arrived at a place where its holy grail is reducing carbon dioxide to 350 parts per million.
Into the often childish and bloody conflict between religion and science comes a humble suggestion: “Art is the New Religion.”
An uptick in tourism could transform the ancient city of Babylon back into a major destination for tourists, which according to several conservative Christian evangelicals, could set the stage for the ‘last days’ of history.
Two examples of transposition from one culture or location to another, and both work surprisingly well.
The story-telling tradition may be a dying art form but a performance by Mahmood Farooqi, with star-power lent by Naseeruddin Shah, made a strong case for the future.
Modern Media and the “Exhibition Value” of the Corpse
Walter Benjamin, Susan Sontag, Hamlet, Abu Ghraib, and why the Eucharist involves the live audience in a way that Mel Gibson’s The Passion never could.
In Vienna a museum gave in to pressure from the religious right and pulled a picture...
Outrage is often the first step to enlightenment, compassion, and justice, but apparently not in New Haven; a tour through recent stories on gay marriage, offensive art, and religious kitsch.