1) TIME Names Silence Breakers "People" of the Year

Time Magazine’s person, or in this case, people of the year are the “silence breakers”: (mostly) women who have come forward about sexual assault. The timely article in the magazine’s hotly anticipated annual issue delves into difficult but very pertinent themes -- most of the individuals represented photographically are celebrities in their own right, and even they have had to fight uphill battles for their voices to be heard. What, questions the article, about the rest of us, those who would risk jobs and livelihoods by coming forward? Among those included in the article is Amanda Schmitt, who came forward about alleged inappropriate conduct by the publisher of Artforum.

2) Saudi Prince Revealed as Buyer of Salvator Mundi

The buyer of the record-breaking Da Vinci painting, Salvator Mundi, is most likely a Saudi prince. While initial reports from the New York Times named Prince Bader bin Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Farhan al-Saud as the buyer, a report published in the Wall Street Journal the following day suggests that Prince Bader was simply a proxy for the real buyer, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Associates of Prince Mohammed, including Prince Bader, have previously been criticized for their love of flaunting their wealth with lavish but ultimately frivolous purchases. Regardless of who the true buyer is, it seems the work will be heading to exhibition at the newly opened Louvre Abu Dhabi.

3) "Museum of Failure" on View in L.A.

A pop-up exhibition in Los Angeles is allowing visitors to peruse the Museum of Failure. Currently based at the A+D Architecture and Design Museum, the exhibition was last seen in Sweden over the summer. Created by Dr. Samuel West, a Swedish clinical psychologist, the Museum of Failure is an ongoing exhibition of failed or ill-conceived innovations by brands falling across a wide spectrum of industries. Notable examples include Colgate’s attempted line of frozen lasagnes, and the Apple Newton. While some of the items might induce a sense of nostalgia, most are simply hilariously bad. The show runs through February 4th.

4) 2018 Color of the Year: Ultraviolet

Pantone has selected its color of the year for 2018 -- the hue of choice is Ultraviolet, a deep, saturated purple shade. According to executive director Leatrice Eiseman, this “blue-based purple” hearkens to technological innovations and space exploration, as well as more esoteric themes of spiritual reflection. Despite what has seemed like a year full of controversies, and a bubbling over of systemic issues, Pantone seems to have its eyes on a brighter future.