It is generally believed that most artists reaching the end of their lives produce introspective works that reflect on their careers rather than introducing new themes. The classic example is Shakespeare's last play The TempestShakespeare's last play, widely understood as his farewell to the stage. It marks a return to his early romantic works, and it has a peaceful and mature feel..

Cultural theorist Theodor Adorno thought this was not always the case. He argued the later works of some artists can be very inventive.

The same could be said for societies. We expect that when societies reach a certain maturity, the art they produce becomes calm and reflective. 

But the world's cultural superpowers are not at peace. The USA has been convulsed by internal strife. Europe is fragmenting. China and other east Asian powers are uncertain of their place in the world.

The result is some of the most original and piercing art humanity has ever produced. Here are seven cultural events that have defined 2021:

Squid Game. The South Korean series was without doubt the biggest event of the year, one nobody saw coming. Its plot, following 456 desperate people trying to make millions by competing in deadly games, struck a chord with people trying to survive in the modern economy.

Taylor takes control. This year Taylor Swift rerecorded "Taylor's Version" of two of her early albums: Fearless and Red. They take back ownership of her early work, which is owned by a record labelA company that produces and markets music. They have been criticised for exploiting musicians, especially young ones who are less able to negotiate contracts that benefit them. she signed with when she was 14.

No Time to Die. Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond was regarded as the crowning achievement of the series. This was Bond for the modern era: violent, but vulnerable. It also saw Lashana Lynch as the first Black woman to take on the 007 designation.

Judas and the Black Messiah. Shaka King's film about the murder of Black PantherThe Black Panthers were a political organisation dedicated to fighting police brutality. They frequently clashed with police forces and came under attack from the American state. leader Fred HamptonAn African American activist who tried to unite working-class and Black organisations. He was assassinated by the FBI in 1969, at the age of just 21. by the FBI was a cultural milestone in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that placed new scrutiny on policing of African Americans.

TikTok musicals. In January, the ultimate locked down art form was born: the TikTok musical. One of these, based on Bridgerton, became an unexpected hit.

Lubaina Himid. A new exhibition at Tate ModernA modern art museum in London. In 2020 it was Britain's most-visited art museum. is showcasing the work of one of Britain's most influential Black artists. Himid is known for eviscerating white privilege and playing with European artistic heritage.

Kazuo Ishiguro. The British writer released his first book since winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. Klara and the Sun is a dystopian novel about a solar-powered "artificial friend" who is a companion to a gifted but sickly child. It is a parable about love in an age of technology.

Yes. This year's cultural offerings are bubbling with fresh ideas. Some of the most popular works ask profound questions about the society we live in, and invite their viewers to reflect on their own history. This is a golden age of art.

No. So much new art is about looking backwards, from No Time to Die's celebration of the Bond legacy, to Swift's re-recorded versions of her songs. Our art is haunted by its own past. No-one is bold enough to create something novel.