By Maria Bregman
As we bid farewell to 2023, we look back at some of the most memorable moments and trends in culture, from art and literature to music and film. Here are some of the highlights that made us laugh, cry, think and feel.
Books
- The Boy and the Heron by John Boyne: The sequel to Boyne’s bestselling novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, this book follows the adventures of Bruno, a young boy who lives in Nazi Germany during World War II. He befriends a mysterious heron who visits him every night at his window, and together they embark on a journey across Europe to find freedom and hope. The book is a moving tribute to the power of friendship, imagination and courage in times of darkness.
- The Godmother of Us All by Gertrude Stein: This book is a collection of essays by one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, Gertrude Stein. She reflects on her life, her work, her relationships with other artists and writers, such as Picasso, Hemingway and Virginia Woolf, and her views on art, politics and society. She also shares her insights on topics such as language, gender, race and culture. The book is a fascinating portrait of a woman who defied conventions and created her own artistic vision.
- Pile Them High! by Tadzio Koelb: This book is a critique of the publishing industry from an insider’s perspective. Koelb is a former editor at Penguin Random House UK who worked on some of the most successful books in recent years. He exposes how publishers manipulate authors, editors, reviewers and readers to make money from books that are often poorly written or irrelevant. He also offers suggestions on how to improve the quality and diversity of books in the market.
Music
- The Beatles’ Abbey Road recording console comes up for auction: The iconic console that was used by The Beatles during their final studio session at Abbey Road Studios in 1969 is going up for auction at Christie’s London. The console features four turntables with tone controls for each track, as well as a microphone stand for John Lennon’s voice. It was used to record songs such as Come Together, Something and Here Comes The Sun. The console is expected to fetch between £500k and £700k ($700k-$1m).
- Beyoncé’s Lemonade album turns 10: One of the most acclaimed albums of all time celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Lemonade was released by Beyoncé in 2016 as a visual album that explored themes such as infidelity, betrayal, empowerment and black womanhood. It featured songs such as Formation, Sorry and Hold Up, as well as stunning videos that showcased Beyoncé’s creativity and charisma. Lemonade won nine Grammy Awards out of 28 nominations.
- Taylor Swift’s Folklore album wins Album Of The Year: Taylor Swift proved once again why she is one of the most successful artists of our time when she won Album Of The Year at the Grammy Awards for her seventh studio album Folklore. Folklore was released in July 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic as a surprise project that showcased Swift’s storytelling skills and musical versatility. It featured songs such as Cardigan, Exile And Inhumanity and Betty.
Film
- The French Dispatch: Wes Anderson’s latest film is a tribute to journalism through his signature style of whimsy, nostalgia and eccentricity. The film follows an ensemble cast of characters who work for an American magazine based in France that covers various topics such as food, fashion, art and politics. The film features an impressive array of actors who play fictionalized versions themselves or their real-life counterparts.
- Nomadland: Chloé Zhao’s Oscar-winning film is based on Jessica Bruder’s non-fiction book Nomadland: Surviving America In A Van And On The Road , which chronicles Bruder’s experiences living as a nomad after losing her job during the Great Recession. Zhao captures Bruder’s journey across America with empathy and realism while also exploring themes such as loneliness, identity and resilience.
- Dune: Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic Dune has finally arrived after years of delays and challenges . The film stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides , the heir to a noble family that controls the desert planet Arrakis , which holds the most valuable substance in the universe : the spice melange . The film also features Zendaya as Chani , a Fremen warrior who becomes Paul’s love
Art
- The Louvre reopens after a year-long closure: The world’s most visited museum, The Louvre, reopened its doors to the public in May 2023 after being closed for more than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The museum welcomed visitors with new health and safety measures, such as reduced capacity, online booking and mandatory masks. The museum also unveiled some of its newly renovated galleries, such as the Grand Gallery, which houses the Mona Lisa and other masterpieces.
- The Turner Prize goes to a collective for the first time: The prestigious Turner Prize, which is awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or presentation of their work, went to a collective of four artists for the first time in its history. The collective, called Array, consists of Sonia Boyce, Joy Gregory, Hew Locke and Oscar Murillo. They were nominated for their collaborative project The British Library, which explores the diversity and complexity of British identity through books, music, art and objects.
- The Met Gala returns with a two-part theme: The Met Gala, the annual fundraising event for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, returned in September 2023 after being cancelled in 2020 and postponed in 2021. The theme for this year’s gala was In America: A Lexicon of Fashion, which celebrated the creativity and innovation of American fashion. The gala was followed by a second part in May 2024, titled In America: An Anthology of Fashion, which explored the history and culture of American fashion. Some of the most notable outfits from the gala included Rihanna’s black Balenciaga coat dress, Lil Nas X’s three-in-one Versace ensemble, and Billie Eilish’s peach Oscar de la Renta gown.
Theatre
- Hamilton returns to Broadway: The smash-hit musical Hamilton, which tells the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton through rap and hip-hop, returned to Broadway in September 2023 after being shut down for 18 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The show, which won 11 Tony Awards and a Pulitzer Prize, resumed its performances at the Richard Rodgers Theatre with a new cast, including Anthony Ramos as Hamilton, Krystal Joy Brown as Eliza Hamilton, and Daniel Breaker as Aaron Burr.
- Harry Potter and the Cursed Child becomes a one-part play: The stage sequel to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which was originally a two-part play that ran for over five hours, became a one-part play that ran for under four hours in November 2023. The play, which follows the adventures of Harry Potter’s son Albus and his friend Scorpius Malfoy, was reimagined and condensed by its original creators, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and J.K. Rowling. The play reopened on Broadway, West End and Melbourne with new casts and updated sets and costumes.
- The Book of Mormon celebrates its 10th anniversary: The Book of Mormon, the irreverent musical comedy by the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, celebrated its 10th anniversary on Broadway in March 2023. The show, which parodies the beliefs and practices of the Mormon Church, has been one of the most successful and acclaimed musicals of all time, winning nine Tony Awards and a Grammy Award. The show has also spawned several international productions, such as in London, Sydney and Johannesburg.
Happy New Year!
As we wrap up this year of culture, we would like to wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year. We hope that 2024 will bring you more joy, inspiration and entertainment from the world of culture. We also hope that you will continue to follow us at Creativity’s UK for the latest news, reviews and analysis of culture. Thank you for your support and stay tuned for more!
