“Shocking heap of human wreckage”

The movement to restore beauty in public architecture is gaining surprising adherents beyond just conservatives, notes Paul Shakeshaft in City Journal. While deciding whether a new design meets the beauty test is guaranteed to remain contentious, Shakeshaft welcomes the recognition that it should be a key criterion. As he puts it: “We don’t need to arrive at a metaphysical consensus over the definition of beauty to reestablish its place in our public life.”

Although the Palestinian Authority enjoys an array of cultural departments and programs, A.J. Caschetta in Jewish World Review finds that all of it – art, education, literature, poetry, music, education and film – is oriented to two goals: the vilification of Jews and the destruction of Israel. Caschetta notes this is in sharp contrast to Arab and Muslim traditions, which include myriad aesthetically normal cultural works. Palestinianism, Caschetta finds, is “a very sick culture”, driven by resentment and fuelled by hate.