Is serious art dying? The year’s biggest cultural crowd-pullers included a film about a mass-produced doll and a moanathon from a junior member of the Royal Family.
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Brickbats, barbs and Barbie: 2023 in culture
Is serious art dying? The year's biggest cultural crowd-pullers included a film about a mass-produced doll and a moanathon from a junior member of the Royal Family.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening?</h2>
Yesterday, the new director of the National TheatreA theatre group based in London. was announced. Indhu Rubasingham, who has taken up the post, is the first woman in its 60-year history to hold the post.
This year has seen many cultural venues and events back on their feet after the pandemic. But some say that as a society, we are moving further and further away from high artHigh art is art that aspires to the highest potentials of human achievement.
January saw the launch of Prince Harry's memoir, Spare. The Times called it "a 400-page therapy session for mystic Harry."
In February the largest ever exhibition of VermeerA Dutch Baroque Period painter recognised as one of the greatest painters of the 17th Century.'s paintings opened in Amsterdam. It attracted 650,000 visitors.
Taylor Swift embarked on her Eras tour in March. It broke the US record for the most tickets sold in a day: 2.4 million. June saw Liverpool host the Eurovision Song Contest, which Sweden's Loreen won with Tattoo.
Barbie, released in July, was the most successful movie of the year. Oppenheimer, about the inventor of the atomic bombA bomb that rapidly releases nuclear energy. , was released on the same day. Many people were very excited about the 60th anniversary of Dr Who.
Some say that these trends show that we are favouring easy, entertainment-focused art over deeper, challenging culture.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>
Is serious art dying?
Yes! The massive success of Barbie proves it. It is a film about a toy without serious themes.
No! There is still a huge demand for challenging and complex art, as the Vermeer exhibition showed.
National Theatre - A theatre group based in London.
High art - High art is art that aspires to the highest potentials of human achievement
Vermeer - A Dutch Baroque Period painter recognised as one of the greatest painters of the 17th Century.
Atomic bomb - A bomb that rapidly releases nuclear energy.
Brickbats, barbs and Barbie: 2023 in culture
Mega must-sees: Taylor Swift sold more tickets in a day than Vermeer did in four months. Glossary
National Theatre - A theatre group based in London.
High art - High art is art that aspires to the highest potentials of human achievement
Vermeer - A Dutch Baroque Period painter recognised as one of the greatest painters of the 17th Century.
Atomic bomb - A bomb that rapidly releases nuclear energy.