The flurry of current events keeps scholars busy, from the spread of right populism and ethnic nationalism to a nightmarish post-modernist media environment where words mean whatever the speaker wants them to. Some experts also worry that new technology will eventually replace human jobs, while others say it will lead to economic invigoration and a more inclusive society.
In the world of art, Yoko Ono staged one of the first happenings in 1965 with her Cut Piece where she was draped in fabric and gave the audience scissors to cut away at her street cloth until she decided the piece had ended. Artists such as Joseph Beuys, Wolf Vostell, Nam June Paik and Charlotte Moorman followed suit in the 1960s staging happenings.
Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina decimated the city, New Orleans still struggles to recover. A fire ravages California’s wine country. And, Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow on Groundhog Day 2025. Meanwhile, Trump doubles down on law enforcement in Washington and hints at sending troops to Chicago. But are these policies a recipe for disaster? Ashley Ludlow reports.
