Real Review Issue 5

Systemic Doubt

We live in extremely uncertain times. Our faith in the future is increasingly
tested. Far from being a hopeful, utopian domain, the future now seems doubtful. But what does it mean to doubt today? Societal levels of anxiety are rising. Insecurity is now a generalised condition. Concern that civilisation itself is on the brink of some cataclysmic change is ubiquitous. And yet, doubting doubt – through the scientific method, imperial evidence and systemic thought – has not only created modernity, but offers the only hope to our worry.

Did you ever doubt yourself? We interview photographer JUERGEN TELLER on persona and confidence. Philosopher VILEM FLUSSER reviews doubting doubt. LEON BATCHELOR reviews the IKEA catalogue and its ethical propositions. DELE ADEYEMO reviews resilience strategies, systemic racism and social injustice. MAX TURNHEIM reviews FONDATION CARTIER and 20th-century glass, with photography by MAX CREASY. AMELIA STEIN reviews primitive technology. ANNA MINTON reviews London’s spatial politics.  while LOUISE BENSON reviews opium. AI WEI WEI reviews the life of LIU XIAOBO, plus much more.