In Praise of Artists Who Refuse the Hot Take

There is something about social media that convinces everyone they’re an expert on everything . . . and that everyone else is waiting to hear their opinion. The platforms train us in this direction before we’ve even said a word.“What’s on your mind?”“What’s happening?”Then our algorithm-determined feeds deliver the news, controversies, and outrageous statements most likely to provoke a reaction or keep us scrolling.None of this is news, of course. But in an era when nearly everyone feels the obl