uncertain

Although a Russian court ruled that WNBA star Brittney Griner’s detention may be extended for six more months, her trial on alleged drug charges begins on July 1, 2022, and gives her supporters a glimmer of hope that her release is still possible. Since her arrest on Feb. 17, Griner has been locked up in a Russian prison. She was charged with drug smuggling after Russian officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis in her luggage. She faces up to 10 years in prison. It’s a stark contrast to her life as a millionaire athlete playing in professional basketball leagues in both the United States and, for the past seven years, Russia, where she earns nearly four times as much as her nearly US$282,000 annual WNBA salary. Speculation on the reason for Griner’s...

I doubt that even Netflix expected “Is It Cake?” to be such a hit. The premise, if you haven’t already binged the TV series, involves professional bakers trying to fool judges by creating cakes that don’t look like dessert but instead appear to be everyday commodities – purses, toys, fast food. But while most critics see this as just another iteration of mindless TV, I see “Is It Cake?” as deeply tied to a cultural moment in which deception – and learning how to recognize it – has become a part of everyday life. A show like “Is It Cake?” offers a safe way for viewers to test their capacity to spot a fake. This may seem like a stretch; cake and conspiracy are hardly the same thing. Yet as an art historian who researches the history of visual deception, I’ve noticed that throughout Ameri...

Tag: uncertain

The Release Of WNBA Star Brittney Griner Still Uncertain As Her Trial Begins In A Russian Court

Visual Catharsis For Uncertain Times ‘Is It Cake?’