Film
The Return Is a Shabby CliffsNotes Version of the Odyssey
Homer’s Odysseus is complicated and playful — a man who has suffered, and is changed. Pasolini’s Odysseus squints, and occasionally flexes.
mythology
Books
An Incomplete History of Griffins in Art
Despite its ambition to expand our definition of the creature to include other winged, hybrid beasts, Griffinology is hemmed in by a European framework.
Film
Kaos Draws From Art History to Tell Its Story
The Netflix show relies on a heavy dose of high fashion and Western art to bring the chaotic world of Ancient Greek mythology to life.
Opinion
The Olympics Drag Scene Got Christian Art History Right
Critics of the opening ceremony betrayed their ignorance of Christianity’s pagan roots — and the real reason behind their ire toward the show.
News
No, the Olympics Ceremony Did Not Copy “The Last Supper”
The performance that drew ire from conservative critics continues another centuries-old art historical theme: the feast of the gods on Mount Olympus.
Film
John Wick Gives a Bone-Cracking Lesson in Greco-Roman Mythology
Familiar tales of Greek and Roman mythology abound in the latest chapter of the cult series.
Film
Riff on One Thousand and One Nights Longs for a Bygone Era of Filmmaking
Alternating between charmingly and cringingly unfashionable, George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing defies some orientalist tropes while falling prey to others.
Art
How Black Cats Went From Bad Luck to Symbols of Defiance
Icons like the Black Panther Party logo, the "Sabo-Tabby," and innumerable pieces of protest art go against the traditional Western taboo around the felines.
Art
Artificial Intelligence as a Godlike Tool for Experimentation
The AI-powered art exhibition Forging the Gods portrays the interaction between humans and machines in a nuanced manner.
Opinion
The Renaissance Lied to You Because Angels Don't Have Wings
Angels do not have wings, says a leading Catholic Church "angeologist." Cue gasps.