Apart from the workers in India being finally freed after spending two weeks in the collapsed tunnel, and the Russian Supreme Court officially labeling the “international LGBTQ movement” as an extremist organization, this week proved to be exceptionally intense for culture, particularly within the film industry.

While French critics remain unsatisfied with Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon” movie, The 33rd Annual Gotham Awards honored the South Korean romantic drama “Past Lives” as Best Feature. The winning movie tells the story of the relationship between two childhood friends who are separated and reunited twenty years later.

Three days after the New York Film Critics Circle granted Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” awards – the former for the best movie and the latter for cinematography and best director – Christopher Nolan is now establishing himself as a strong contender for the title of best director. This sentiment is shared by both fans and industry professionals who eagerly anticipate his well-deserved recognition by the Academy.

Meanwhile, Netflix released a new trailer and images of The Crown Season 6, part 2, which will be released on December 14. Part 1 focused on Princess Diana’s final days before her death in 1997, while part 2 is expected to take place in the early 2000s, concentrating on her older son and the heir to the throne: Prince William.

Regarding the ongoing disagreement between Britain and Greece about the ownership of the Parthenon Sculptures, commonly referred to as the Elgin Marbles, tensions reached a heightened level on Tuesday. Both parties pointed fingers at each other for the cancellation of a scheduled meeting between their respective leaders. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak opted for canceling Tuesday’s meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Sunak’s office asserted that both sides had previously concurred that the meeting should not serve as a public platform “to relitigate long-settled matters.”

Simultaneously, a collection of Scythian gold, following the rejection of Crimea’s claims by Dutch courts, was transported to Kyiv. This trove of ancient artifacts has been at the center of prolonged legal disputes regarding rightful ownership and the appropriate location for returning these valuable treasures.

In the realm of music, on November 29, we finally gained access to the 2023 Spotify Wrapped. The most-streamed artist globally was Taylor Swift. Just behind her, the top positions were taken by Bad Bunny, The Weeknd and Drake. The top song of the year was Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” which now counts more than 1.6 billion streams globally. In the second and third places are “Kill Bill” by SZA and “As It Was” by Harry Styles, respectively.

Shifting focus to the art world, Nan Goldin, 70 years old influential photographer and advocate against the US opioid epidemic, secured the top spot in the ArtReview Power 100 list. Notably, this year’s top 10 comprises exclusively of artists utilizing their creative expressions and platforms to address urgent social and political issues of the present time.

On Thursday, the organization Artists for Palestine UK published the letter, following a widely circulated one from October that called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The region has witnessed thousands of casualties due to Israeli airstrikes since the October 7th Hamas attack. The letter accuses Western cultural institutions of “silencing and stigmatizing” Palestinian voices and perspectives. Actress Olivia Coleman and artist Molly Crabapple are among over 1,300 visual artists, writers, and actors who have endorsed an open letter. The signatories contend that this includes actions such as “targeting and threatening the livelihoods of artists and arts workers expressing solidarity with Palestinians, as well as canceling performances, screenings, talks, exhibitions, and book launches.”

Protests are also occurring in Paris – employees at the Pompidou Center express discontent over proposals to have the museum’s collection travel globally as part of renovations. These objections arise amid ongoing strikes addressing concerns about job security during the anticipated five-year closure of the museum. It is also unclear what will happen to their jobs, as the museum planned to close from the winter of 2025 until 2030.

On a positive note, a $100 million Botticelli masterpiece, forgotten for five decades, was discovered in a Naples family residence. The carabinieri, responsible for cultural heritage, found the painting, prompting an investigation. Last inspected over 50 years ago, it will undergo restoration, pending a decision on rightful ownership.

The selection of “Authentic” as the 2023 Word of the Year underscores the intricate interplay between technology, culture, and language. As Artificial Intelligence continues to shape our understanding of reality, the concept of authenticity takes center stage, influencing how we perceive truth in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. The evolving dynamics between the “real” and the “fake” echo not only in language but also in our broader societal narratives. In this era of constant change, the paradox of authenticity as both a benchmark for trust and a performative construct invites to a reflection on the nuanced ways language adapts to the complexities of our contemporary existence.