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 or ideas. 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..

But cultural theorist Theodor Adorno thought this was not always the case. He argued the later works of some artists can be very inventive, driven by their fury with the world and bitter anxiety about their legacies.

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

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

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

Squid Game. The South Korean dystopian series was without doubt the biggest cultural event of the year, one that 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 cut-throat 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. that she signed with when she was just 14.

No Time to Die. Daniel Craig's final outing as James Bond was widely regarded as the crowning achievement of the whole series. This was a Bond for the modern era: still violent and broken, but also vulnerable and loving. It also saw the debut of 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 an important cultural milestone in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement that placed new scrutiny on the policing of African Americans.

TikTok musicals. In January, as temperatures dropped and people huddled around their screens for comfort, the ultimate locked down art form was born: the TikTok musical. One of these, based on the Netflix drama 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 in 2017. Klara and the Sun is a dystopian novel about a solar-powered "artificial friend" who is assigned as a companion to a gifted but sickly child. It is a parable about love in an age of technology.

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

No, say others. 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 old songs. Our art is self-obsessed, haunted by its own past. No-one is bold enough to create something entirely novel and original.