Washington Square News

Washington Square News

Washington Square News

Arts

A black and white photo of visual artist Beth B. leaning against a wall.

Q&A: Beth B on tackiness and transcendence

The filmmaker — a pillar of the New York underground arts scene in the ’70s and ’80s — spoke with WSN about New York City, alternative filmmaking and representation on screen.
Katherine Williams, Contributing Writer Mar 27, 2023

“You may call the Bs punks,” wrote Jim Hoberman of Beth and Scott B in the Village Voice in 1979. “I think they're space-age social realists.” Beth B is skeptical of...

An illustration of a female with green eyes lays down on white bedding. There is a pink frame around the image.

Review: ‘Cleopatra and Frankenstein’ tackles love and loneliness

NYU alum Coco Mellors’ “Cleopatra and Frankenstein” is a complex narrative of love, loss, trauma and companionship.
Aarna Dixit, Contributing Writer Mar 27, 2023

The recently released "Cleopatra and Frankenstein" by NYU alum Coco Mellor has taken social media by storm, particularly TikTok, where a hashtag for the book has garnered more...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop shows a scene of a young boy holding a book, looking at a woman wearing a hijab who is hanging clothes on a clothesline. A white and blue cup full of tea sits in front of the laptop.

Off the Radar: ‘Where Is My Friend’s House?’ and the importance of empathy

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Where Is My Friend’s House?” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor Mar 24, 2023

Abbas Kiarostami is considered by many to be one of the most innovative filmmakers of all time. While the late Iranian director is most famous for his experimental auteur films...

Filmmaker Bertie Gilbert with long, blonde hair, wearing a striped shirt and a black tie sitting in a room with sunshine. There is a cat sitting on a table behind him.

Q&A: British filmmaker Bertie Gilbert on the delicate relationship between trauma and art

WSN spoke with London-based filmmaker Bertie Gilbert about the complexities of channeling grief into his short film “Please Care!"
Stephanie Wong, Film & TV Editor Mar 23, 2023

25-year-old filmmaker Bertie Gilbert has been a prolific director since the young age of 16, when he first found success on YouTube for his offbeat and whimsical short films. Some...

An exhibit with several miniature mushrooms with ladders carrying miniature human beings. This is in a display case with a green base.

Review: ‘Small is Beautiful’ exhibit shows the intricacy of miniature art

The much-publicized miniature art exhibit has found its way to New York City. It is currently on view in NoHo.
Afnan Abbassi, Staff Writer Mar 22, 2023

“Small is Beautiful, Miniature Art” initially started as a Europe-exclusive exhibit only on view in London and Paris. But now, with Instagram and Pinterest attracting a mainstream...

Musician Palmyra Delran wearing a black jacket while holding a magnifying glass in her hand. She sits in front of a white backdrop.

Palmyra Delran: The trashy-pop queen of rock ‘n’ roll

The former Friggs frontwoman and current Underground Garage radio personality discusses her 30 years of experience in the music industry.
Julia Diorio, Contributing Writer Mar 21, 2023

Palmyra Delran has seen nearly every corner of the music industry. As a former member of the Philadelphia rock bands The Friggs and Pink Slip Daddy and collaborating with LA supergroup...

A photograph of the four members of the band “Inhaler,” standing together against a white screen.

A conversation with Irish indie-rock sensation Inhaler

Fresh off the release of their sophomore album “Cuts and Bruises,” WSN spoke with Irish rock band Inhaler about representation and vulnerability.
Ary Russell, Contributing Writer Mar 10, 2023

The Irish rock band Inhaler has decided to take a more stripped back approach on its sophomore album, “Cuts and Bruises,” in comparison to their earlier work. “Cuts and Bruises”...

An illustration of a laptop placed on a bed with blue sheets. The laptop displays two people wearing white T-shirts sitting together.

Off the Radar: Lessons on how to film ‘The Act of Killing’

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “The Act of Killing” is available to stream on Kanopy and NYU Stream.
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer Mar 10, 2023

The documentary film genre is often treated as the simple presentation of facts — a journalistic investigation that reveals answers to real-world phenomena. A passive camera...

An illustration of a woman wearing a yellow dress and a man wearing a black shirt and brown pants. They are dancing in front of a building with a red exterior.

The case against Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’

Hide your theater kids for this one.
Andre Garcia, Contributing Writer Mar 10, 2023

This Sunday, Steven Spielberg will return to the Oscars in recognition of “The Fabelmans,” his addition to the trend of wistful semi-autobiographical bombs like “Licorice...

An illustration of a Black woman in a green shirt and a white woman in a yellow shirt listening to music through wired headphones. The cord of the headphones spells out “Listen to This.”

Listen to This: boygenius’ ‘Not Strong Enough’ is their strongest single to date

Listen to this week’s most notable singles from Suki Waterhouse, Dim Wizard and more.

This week, WSN is featuring singles from boygenius, The Frights, Suki Waterhouse, and Dim Wizard. From the revival of boygenius’s masterfully heart-wrenching lyricism to Dim...

An illustration of actor Tom Cruise operating a fighter jet. He wears a green suit and a blue helmet.

The case for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Industry insiders and fans alike have been wowed by the sleek blockbuster, and it's just been nominated for best picture.
Holden Lay, Staff Writer Mar 9, 2023

In 2009, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences changed the manner for how the best picture Oscar was selected. Hot off the heels of excellent back-to-back winners “The...

A family — including a mother with a blonde bob haircut who is wearing a white shirt and a black dress, a son, and a father wearing a gray, plaid three-piece suit — watches a movie in the theater.

Review: ‘The Fabelmans’ is Spielberg at his most vulnerable

In a career notable for poignant moments, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg gets more personal than ever in this Oscar-nominated, semi-autobiographical tale. 
Madeline Kane, Staff Writer Mar 8, 2023

In a career spanning over half a century, Steven Spielberg has tackled a wide array of subjects in his movies: dinosaurs, archaeologists, aliens, combat soldiers, sharks, rebelling...