> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://hyperallergic.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Required Reading - URL: https://hyperallergic.com/required-reading-312/ - Published: 2017-03-19T14:45:48.000Z - Updated: 2025-11-24T16:27:42.000Z - Description: This week, imaging the world's longest building, the Oxford comma wins, Grabner on Gibson, We Are All Merkel, artist tattoos MAGA around his anus, and more. - Author: Hrag Vartanian - Tags: Art, Required Reading, Weekend, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:23 (2016, 2017, part 2) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2017/03/oiio-big-bend-big.jpg) Architecture studio oiio has conceived a bending skyscraper for 57th Street in Manhattan and they’re calling it ‘the world’s longest building.’ (via DesignBoom) - The courts have settled it. We should all [use an Oxford comma](https://qz.com/932004/the-oxford-comma-a-maine-court-settled-the-grammar-debate-over-serial-commas-with-a-ruling-on-overtime-pay-for-dairy-truck-drivers/?ref=hyperallergic.com): A Maine court ruling in a case about overtime pay and dairy delivery didn’t come down to trucks, milk, or money. Instead, it hinged on one missing comma. - [Michelle Grabner’s review of Jeffrey Gibson](https://www.artforum.com/picks/section=us?ref=hyperallergic.com#picks67122) at the Haggerty Museum of Art is quite excellent: The outrageousness of this work was stunning then, and more recently I found myself craving its critical brazenness when viewing Jeffrey Gibson’s exhibition of hard-edge paintings and beaded works that also challenge assumptions of cultural ownership. - Woman [kisses stranger](https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/840314327806705667?ref=hyperallergic.com) next to her for kisscam after her partner rejects her: > [#ICYMI](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICYMI?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com), a woman kissed a rando on 'Kiss Cam' because her boyfriend rejected her 😂 [pic.twitter.com/urS0A3TjMX](https://t.co/urS0A3TjMX?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) [March 10, 2017](https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/840314327806705667?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) - “[For One Glorious Tweet, McDonald’s Was Woke](http://gizmodo.com/for-one-glorious-tweet-mcdonalds-was-woke-1793330679?ref=hyperallergic.com)“: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2017/03/dhqexdyp2zhpdrnavqas.png) - A [snowjob break](https://youtu.be/V-Cb9x70gYQ?ref=hyperallergic.com): - Capitalism has become a punchline, but only because it controls ever aspect of our lives and culture. The [latest research](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/earthrx-the-irish-potato-famine-was-caused-by-capi.html?ref=hyperallergic.com): [**The Irish Potato Famine Was Caused by Capitalism, Not a Fungus**](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/03/earthrx-the-irish-potato-famine-was-caused-by-capi.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) “Regardless of the wealth of the British Empire, it repeatedly refused to use its resources to either effect structural changes or alleviate food shortages when they occurred,” Kinealy says, explaining how the Irish Great Hunger was not an isolated incident. “Famines occurred periodically in both Ireland and India in the 19th century. In both countries, the rulers in London blamed the indigenous poor for their own poverty—creating the myth that they were lazy, socially backward and uncivilized.” Sound familiar? Of course it does. [Blaming poor people](http://www.msnbc.com/politicsnation/gop-blames-poverty-laziness?ref=hyperallergic.com) for being too lazy or unmotivated to succeed is an extremely popular pasttime in the U.S., despite the fact that, just as the Irish who starved were hard at work producing profit for their rich British landlords,[ most American food stamp recipients are employed full-time](http://www.justharvest.org/advocacy/the-truth-about-snapfood-stamps/?ref=hyperallergic.com). - Speaking of capital, the US Currency Education Program’s interactive [website is quite impressive](https://www.uscurrency.gov/security/100-security-features-2013-present?ref=hyperallergic.com), check out the security features of the $100 bill. - It has [come to this](https://twitter.com/TIME/status/842805561200693248?ref=hyperallergic.com): > Angela Merkel asked President Trump to shake hands. He appeared to ignored her [https://t.co/5JA7XaFpQy](https://t.co/5JA7XaFpQy?ref=hyperallergic.com) [pic.twitter.com/z5134xsnyK](https://t.co/z5134xsnyK?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — TIME (@TIME) [March 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/TIME/status/842805561200693248?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) > We are all Merkel [pic.twitter.com/OeIgWHfF0K](https://t.co/OeIgWHfF0K?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — Marcel Dirsus (@marceldirsus) [March 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/marceldirsus/status/842855224272478208?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) > Merkel: Why is a Handbag Designer at this Meeting? [pic.twitter.com/ty2dIRcTSC](https://t.co/ty2dIRcTSC?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — 🔥 #BlackLivesMatter #CoronasNotOver (@FionaAdorno) [March 17, 2017](https://twitter.com/FionaAdorno/status/842877287984906240?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) - The only way to [stomach Spicer](https://twitter.com/McJesse/status/842481727419420674?ref=hyperallergic.com): > What happens when u wear a green tie on TV 😭 [pic.twitter.com/gAohulqeck](https://t.co/gAohulqeck?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — Jesse McLaren (@McJesse) [March 16, 2017](https://twitter.com/McJesse/status/842481727419420674?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) - Spanish artist Abel Azcona had “[Make America Great Again](https://twitter.com/abelazcona/status/841470500626931712?ref=hyperallergic.com)” tattooed around his anus: > New performance art. Artist [#AbelAzcona](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AbelAzcona?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) in @dfbrl8r Gallery in [#Chicago](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chicago?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com). [#MAGA](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAGA?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) [#MakeAmericaGreatAgain](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MakeAmericaGreatAgain?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) [pic.twitter.com/qRZglPVC4x](https://t.co/qRZglPVC4x?ref=hyperallergic.com) > > — Estudio Abel Azcona (@abelazcona) [March 14, 2017](https://twitter.com/abelazcona/status/841470500626931712?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=hyperallergic.com) [*Re*](http://hyperallergic.com/tag/required-reading/)[*quired Reading*](http://hyperallergic.com/tag/required-reading/) *is published every Sunday morning ET, and is comprised of a short list of art-related links to long-form articles, videos, blog posts, or photo essays worth a second look.*