Books & ideas

The many roles of women in medieval music

Anne-Zoé Rillon-Marne — 2026-10-08T08:00:01Z

During the Middle Ages, women didn't just listen to music. They sang, composed, copied, and transmitted it. Behind the silence of the sources, there exits, from cloisters to courts, a form of musical life that remains largely unknown. A new book brings to life these flourishing musical practices.

Art for money's sake

Jean-Louis Fabiani — 2026-09-29T06:42:10Z

How does art acquire commercial value? In this book, two historians concentrate on the “first market” for art, which exists prior to the resale market and speculative strategies. It examines the decisive moment when an artwork leaves the studio, the artist sets their price, and the artwork reaches the public.

The Golden Age of Museum Philanthropy

Nicolas Duvoux — 2026-03-19T08:30:00Z

At a time when public museums are struggling due to budget cuts and the need for renovations, the opening of many private foundations marks a shift in the Parisian museum landscape. Against this backdrop, G. Adam offers a comprehensive overview of the issues surrounding the rise of private museums.

Serial writers

Héloïse Boudon — 2026-03-12T09:30:00Z

How are television series written? Muriel Mille's study sheds light on a collective process based on a division of labor and time constraints. It represents a total break with the auteur ideal of New Wave cinema.

Humanities and Computational Analysis

Bruno Cousin — 2025-10-03T09:00:00Z

While we have entered the age of generative AI, it is worth having a look at how computers can help literature scholars and intellectual historians to explain the life of concepts, aesthetics and genres.

For a sustainable architecture

David Rottmann — 2025-09-16T07:09:00Z

Architects are making the earth uninhabitable. Rather than reusing materials that already exist, they push for greater resource extraction and produce waste that cannot be recycled.

The Joys and Miseries of Marriage

Céline Surprenant — 2025-07-15T12:34:39Z

The “double life” of the great English novelist George Eliot combines the literary field with the experience of marriage. Her works form the crucible for reflections on love, social norms and freedom.

Art for Justice

Raluca Enescu — 2025-05-20T06:05:42Z

International Criminal Court judges process hundreds of pieces of evidence before rendering their verdict. Artwork-tools cut through the maze of data, providing an essential artistic and visual support for the administration of justice.

For a participatory Architecture

Émilie Frenkiel — 2025-03-21T09:00:00Z

How can we move beyond abstract architecture, where buildings are constructed without their audiences? Peter Ferretto's method is based on observation, engagement, and the osmosis between teaching, practice, research, and social impact.

Stanislavski's Century

Julien Le Mauff — 2023-12-08T08:30:00Z

At the Vincennes Cartridge Factory, as part of the Paris Autumn Festival, the Théâtre du Soleil company plays Our Life in Art, a new play by American playwright Richard Nelson.