Critic at Large

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Children of stone and sand
A 2015 Spanish documentary reminds us of the children behind the statistics.
September 2023
Gold for the Price of Silver
Sometimes, the art is all you need....
August 2023
A Poem of the Heavens
In the oldest surviving written work by a female Chinese poet, words become stars by which readers can, and must, chart their own journey.
Art(ist) in the Machine
A new artwork at the MoMA delivers a message about art created with, and by, technology.
"The Rules of Persuasion" Is Here
My new book on what persuasion is and how it works in all forms of human communication is now available.
A Leader Worth Following
As the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop approaches, one of its finest works has stood the test of time.
July 2023
Stories of Sand, Cities of Salt
Artists old and new ask questions about what is real and lasting in our world.
Reflections on the In Between
A modern art work in the Aga Khan Museum asks us to consider what parts of our history we carry with us and what parts must be left behind.
An Inspired Vision
A legendary 1961 creation by the American saxophonist Stan Getz transports us into a world of spontaneous creation and discovery.
When Art Is Liberty
A remarkable Italian film uses Shakespeare's play to find humanity in lost souls.
A Beautiful Despair: Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"
Marvin Gaye's "beautiful descent into despair" fuses sublime music with messages that have inspired and persuaded for over half a century
On Emotion Versus Sentimentality
Two of Steven Spielberg's finest films illustrate why emotion persuades and sentimentality does not.
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© 2023 Carlos Alvarenga
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