Today’s AJ Highlights: The intersection of tragedy and commerce is starkly visible in the aftermath of the police shooting of poet Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Less than 24 hours after her death, merchandise bearing her name has already flooded Amazon and Etsy, turning a moment of national mourning into an instant revenue stream (Fast Company). Meanwhile, her poetry is being shared widely as a testament to her life (LitHub).
In the literary world, the boundaries of creation are being fiercely contested. A Japanese literary prize has revoked its award and canceled publication of a novel after discovering it was AI-generated (Automation). But in France, researchers are embracing the machine, using AI to “resurrect” Molière and write a new play in his style, which will premiere at Versailles (The New York Times).
The Estate of Kurt Vonnegut has joined a lawsuit against the state of Utah for banning books in schools, arguing that censorship laws are unconstitutional (Publishers Weekly). A blunt question: “Are we living in an age of bad painting?” as a deluge of mediocre work floods major fairs (The Art Newspaper).
Finally, we look at the shifting nature of relationships. A thoughtful essay explores the “mythology of the friend group,” suggesting that the idealized social circle is becoming a source of loneliness for those who feel they don’t fit the mold (The Atlantic).
All of our stories below.
