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Whether mediation takes place in the field of legal conflicts, in education and teaching, in abandoned neighbourhoods, or in thriving museums, it is characteristic of a hypermodernity in dire straights, striving to find ways to repair a damaged social fabric. Mediation is now the victim of its own success: over the years, it has become a vague concept, combining philosophical and political aspirations with a search for efficient methods. This article begins by redefining the term before then considering some of the major debates it has generated, particularly in its technological substitutions. Finally, the article looks more specifically at the project of mediation in the field of culture and art, looking in detail at the methods and issues at stake.