Rachel Cohen, a scholar, delves into Joan Mitchell’s artwork by examining it through the lens of letters and the written word, offering an invigorating viewpoint for the Yale Review. In a moment of profound reflection, she describes standing in front of Mitchell’s two-panel ‘Preface for Chris’ (1973) at the Cranbrook Art Museum, engrossed in thought without knowing who Chris was. Cohen’s insights were further enriched by the contributions of Madlyn Moskowitz, the museum’s registrar, and Caitlin Haskell, a curator at the Art Institute of Chicago. The painting’s interplay of colors and shapes suggested to Cohen the imagery of book pages or letters crossing geographical and internal divides.
In a recent film release, the tragic story of Hind Rajab, a five-year-old killed in Gaza by the Israeli military in January 2024, is sensitively portrayed. E. Alex Jung of Vulture discusses how filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania was moved to action upon hearing Hind’s voice during a layover at LAX. The urgency in Hind’s call to emergency services resonated deeply with Ben Hania, prompting her to pause her current film project, ‘Mimesis,’ to focus on this poignant narrative. Her producer, Nadim Cheikhrouha, initially saw this as a setback but quickly understood the importance of addressing such a critical issue.
In light of the recent shooting at Brown University, sophomore Zoe Weissman shared her harrowing experience with the Cut. Despite having previously survived a school shooting, Weissman expressed shock and anger at the recurrence of such events. She recounted the emotional toll it took on her family and herself, emphasizing how shared trauma has unfortunately become a common thread among students.
Yashica Dutt, writing in her Substack, critiques comedian Zarna Garg for expressing views that align with conservative sections of South Asian America. Dutt points out the cultural dynamics and expectations within families that uphold traditional roles and beliefs, and how such perspectives do not represent all Indian Americans but are significant among influential communities.
In an exploration of the fashion industry’s future, Daphne Chouliaraki Milner discusses a European Union initiative to introduce digital passports for garments in Atmos. According to Tina Wiegand, a lecturer at Hof University, these tags could reveal the entire supply chain to consumers, enabling informed decisions. As the industry faces a pivotal moment, the effectiveness of these passports will depend on the inclusivity of voices within the system.
Katherine Cooper reflects on Iceland’s enduring tradition of gifting books at Christmas, a custom born during WWII import blockades. This tradition not only keeps the Icelandic language vibrant but also demonstrates the nation’s literary curiosity. The Icelandic government supports local writers, ensuring the language’s survival in a globalized world, while Icelanders remain open to international literary influences.
