Margaret Spillane

Margaret Spillane, a longtime Nation contributor, teaches visual and performing art criticism at Yale.

Sinéad-O'Connor

Sinéad O’Connor (1966–2023): Premature Anti-Fascist Sinéad O’Connor (1966–2023): Premature Anti-Fascist

For years, O’Connor had been raising an alarm about pedophile priests exploiting children with impunity while an enabling Vatican hierarchy looked the other way.

Aug 1, 2023 / Obituary / Margaret Spillane

How Paula Rego’s Abortion Pictures Changed the Conversation

How Paula Rego’s Abortion Pictures Changed the Conversation How Paula Rego’s Abortion Pictures Changed the Conversation

When well-meaning critics described her subjects as downtrodden, Rego shot back, “These women are not victims.”

Jul 1, 2022 / Margaret Spillane

Why You Should Be Watching the Film ‘Z’ Right Now

Why You Should Be Watching the Film ‘Z’ Right Now Why You Should Be Watching the Film ‘Z’ Right Now

Costa Gavras’s classic antifascist thriller reminds us that the moment of reckoning constitutes not the end of the story, but the beginning.

Nov 3, 2020 / Margaret Spillane

Eavan Boland, Pillar of Irish Poetry: 1944–2020

Eavan Boland, Pillar of Irish Poetry: 1944–2020 Eavan Boland, Pillar of Irish Poetry: 1944–2020

She helped redefine the literary canon to include women’s voices and those on the margins.

May 6, 2020 / Margaret Spillane

Leo Varadkar

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Fortunate Son Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s Fortunate Son

He’s the country’s first openly gay prime minister and first of South Asian heritage—but he offers little relief from the harsh austerity budgets that have done so much harm.

Jun 16, 2017 / Margaret Spillane

Zero Days Natanz

How the US and Israel Almost Caused Global Computer Catastrophe How the US and Israel Almost Caused Global Computer Catastrophe

In Zero Days, Alex Gibney examines the terrifying potential of cyberwarfare.

Jul 8, 2016 / Margaret Spillane

How the Irish Became the World’s Leading Gay Activists

How the Irish Became the World’s Leading Gay Activists How the Irish Became the World’s Leading Gay Activists

Defying conventional wisdom, the huge win by the Yes Equality campaign involved young and old, rural and urban, Catholic and non-Catholic voters.

May 27, 2015 / Editorial / Margaret Spillane

Remembering Seamus Heaney

Remembering Seamus Heaney Remembering Seamus Heaney

The contrarian poet refused to toe any party line.

Sep 4, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane

The Democratic Paintbrush of Lucian Freud The Democratic Paintbrush of Lucian Freud

Freud made the case through his art that no body type inherently possesses more capacity to compel than another.

Aug 1, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane

Tony Kushner’s Intelligent Homosexuals Tony Kushner’s Intelligent Homosexuals

Without turning into sentimental left-wing pageantry, Kushner’s new play illuminates radicalism and makes art of sectarian dreams and failures.

Apr 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Margaret Spillane

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