Hrag Vartanian
@hrag.bsky.social
Art Critic Futurist 🧬 Editor-at-large, cofounder of Hyperallergic 🗽 Aleppo born, Toronto raised, Brooklyn based
I tweet about art and politics because art doesn't exist in a vacuum.
I tweet about art and politics because art doesn't exist in a vacuum.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Oof. He was truly a master, from Rosenkrantz & Guildenstern to Arcadia to Leopoldstadt—just a lifetime of tremendous, thought-provoking, hilarious work. RIP. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard dies at 88
www.bbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Oof. He was truly a master, from Rosenkrantz & Guildenstern to Arcadia to Leopoldstadt—just a lifetime of tremendous, thought-provoking, hilarious work. RIP. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Instagram comments feel like people typing on a smartphone, while those on Facebook feel more like those commenters were tapping on a keyboard.
November 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Instagram comments feel like people typing on a smartphone, while those on Facebook feel more like those commenters were tapping on a keyboard.
Should monuments last forever? I used to think they absolutely do, but now I’m not so sure because they can sometimes instill a world view that feels brittle and unchanging. This book review explores a new book on monuments by Cat Dawson.
Monuments Were Never Meant to Last Forever
Art historian Cat Dawson’s new book invites us to contemplate a world populated by subversive monuments — or one that does away with them altogether.
hyperallergic.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Should monuments last forever? I used to think they absolutely do, but now I’m not so sure because they can sometimes instill a world view that feels brittle and unchanging. This book review explores a new book on monuments by Cat Dawson.
Writing about race in the US always feels exhausting. The ideologies of radicalization are often so hermeneutic that it makes it hard to breathe.
November 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Writing about race in the US always feels exhausting. The ideologies of radicalization are often so hermeneutic that it makes it hard to breathe.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
In the richest city in the richest country on the planet, the thing we can’t afford is to forget those who are left hungry.
November 27, 2025 at 9:50 PM
In the richest city in the richest country on the planet, the thing we can’t afford is to forget those who are left hungry.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
MPR News photojournalist Kerem Yücel was hit by less-lethal munition during the operation in St. Paul today. Other photojournalists were hit as well.
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
November 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
MPR News photojournalist Kerem Yücel was hit by less-lethal munition during the operation in St. Paul today. Other photojournalists were hit as well.
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
More on what unfolded at the chaotic scene: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Marjorie Taylor Greene's resigning in time to get a pension is a lesson to everyone.
Most Americans don't get *any* pension anymore, but Congress gave itself a pension after only five years of work.
Our "representatives" aren't working for us, they are [barely] working for themselves.
Most Americans don't get *any* pension anymore, but Congress gave itself a pension after only five years of work.
Our "representatives" aren't working for us, they are [barely] working for themselves.
November 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Marjorie Taylor Greene's resigning in time to get a pension is a lesson to everyone.
Most Americans don't get *any* pension anymore, but Congress gave itself a pension after only five years of work.
Our "representatives" aren't working for us, they are [barely] working for themselves.
Most Americans don't get *any* pension anymore, but Congress gave itself a pension after only five years of work.
Our "representatives" aren't working for us, they are [barely] working for themselves.
I hate asking for press tickets for events (just in case I decide not to write something) so sometimes I just pay and go. Just went to see a play of the second time before writing an essay about. It’s a pricey thing but makes me more relaxed and takes the pressure off for what I’m writing.
November 25, 2025 at 3:36 AM
I hate asking for press tickets for events (just in case I decide not to write something) so sometimes I just pay and go. Just went to see a play of the second time before writing an essay about. It’s a pricey thing but makes me more relaxed and takes the pressure off for what I’m writing.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Folks, Zohran Mamdani—smart guy, reminds me of a young me—you know what he said, I told him, “Zohran, I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna say the shahada,” and he said to me “Mr. President, you should say a third line confirming your belief in the wilayat of Ali,” should we do it folks? Should we say it?
November 22, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Folks, Zohran Mamdani—smart guy, reminds me of a young me—you know what he said, I told him, “Zohran, I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna say the shahada,” and he said to me “Mr. President, you should say a third line confirming your belief in the wilayat of Ali,” should we do it folks? Should we say it?
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Imagine being one of those CEOs or school presidents who bowed down to this weird old man, then realizing he doesn’t like you as much as he likes this guy who didn’t bow at all
November 21, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Imagine being one of those CEOs or school presidents who bowed down to this weird old man, then realizing he doesn’t like you as much as he likes this guy who didn’t bow at all
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
86 Democrats voted for this
November 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
86 Democrats voted for this
I want plastic containers to be banned because they just seem so bad for us.
November 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I want plastic containers to be banned because they just seem so bad for us.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
If the village neglects the children, they will burn it to the ground to feel warmth.
November 20, 2025 at 9:07 PM
If the village neglects the children, they will burn it to the ground to feel warmth.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
DJT Stock Has Cratered, Wiping Out More Than $5 Billion in Trump Family Wealth www.barrons.com/articles/djt...
Truth Social Owner DJT Stock Craters, Erasing $5 Billion in Trump Family Wealth
Trump Media stock has traded at all-time lows in recent days.
www.barrons.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:51 PM
DJT Stock Has Cratered, Wiping Out More Than $5 Billion in Trump Family Wealth www.barrons.com/articles/djt...
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
MbS essentially confirming that there'll be no normalization with Israel
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
MbS essentially confirming that there'll be no normalization with Israel
Learning to think in seasons rather than days or weeks.
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Learning to think in seasons rather than days or weeks.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Ever since someone on here brought up the fact that the media literally just interviews rich people to get their thoughts on random shit, even though there’s absolutely no need to do that, it’s all that I can see everywhere
November 17, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Ever since someone on here brought up the fact that the media literally just interviews rich people to get their thoughts on random shit, even though there’s absolutely no need to do that, it’s all that I can see everywhere
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
ICE is literally fulfilling Hitler’s vision
79-year-old Paul Bojerski was born to Polish parents in a WWII German refugee camp. His family legally emigrated to the U.S. when he was 5.
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...
Sanford grandfather, born in refugee camp, nabbed by ICE after 70 years in U.S.
Paul Bojerski never gained official residency, but he checked in regularly with ICE for years. Then in July, at age 79, he was detained and sent to Alligator Alcatraz.
www.orlandosentinel.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
ICE is literally fulfilling Hitler’s vision
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
After Tate Museums laid off 7% of their workforce and offered “below-inflationary” pay raises, their workers have vowed to go on a week-long strike.
Tate Museums Workers Set to Strike Over "Insulting" Pay Raise
Workers and union leaders say wages have not kept up with the cost of living, condemning them to “in-work poverty.”
hyperallergic.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:19 PM
After Tate Museums laid off 7% of their workforce and offered “below-inflationary” pay raises, their workers have vowed to go on a week-long strike.
Spotted in a subway station
November 17, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Spotted in a subway station
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
Once again an illustration of Chandran Kukathas’s argument that surveilling and controlling migrants means surveilling and controlling everyone.
New: this app lets ICE track vehicles and owners across the country. ICE uses phone to scan license plates, add to a database of billions of records. Thomson Reuters then enriches that with marriage, voter, other info. Can predict where a car will be in the future
www.404media.co/this-app-let...
www.404media.co/this-app-let...
This App Lets ICE Track Vehicles and Owners Across the Country
Material viewed by 404 Media shows data giant Thomson Reuters enriches license plate data with marriage, voter, and ownership records. The tool can predict where a car may be in the future.
www.404media.co
November 17, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Once again an illustration of Chandran Kukathas’s argument that surveilling and controlling migrants means surveilling and controlling everyone.
Two US Presidents engaging in a blowjob while one runs against the other’s wife in a Presidential election is just so American. Sure, it’s giving fifth season jumps the shark energy but there is no way to look away and you have no idea how you got here. American.Masterpiece.
November 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Two US Presidents engaging in a blowjob while one runs against the other’s wife in a Presidential election is just so American. Sure, it’s giving fifth season jumps the shark energy but there is no way to look away and you have no idea how you got here. American.Masterpiece.
Reposted by Hrag Vartanian
When you split hairs about pedophilia versus ephebophilia and you aren't in a clinical setting, this is who you are (either knowingly or not) standing next to and providing cover for.
Dershowitz: The predecessor on your show described Epstein as a convicted pedophile. He pleaded guilty to one count of having sex for money with a 17-year-and-10-month-old person. That’s not a pedophile.
November 15, 2025 at 3:02 AM
When you split hairs about pedophilia versus ephebophilia and you aren't in a clinical setting, this is who you are (either knowingly or not) standing next to and providing cover for.