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New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Arts

“Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President,” a new documentary from director Mary Wharton, explores Carter’s friendships with some of the great musicians of the 1970s. The movie begins against the backdrop of Vietnam and Watergate, twin disasters that contributed to the largest drop in the public’s trust in government in the history of polling. (Staff Illustration by Chelsea Li)

Rock and Roll With President Carter in Mary Wharton’s Feature Debut

The new documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President” tracks Carter’s lifelong friendships with the best musicians of his era.
Sam Gray, Contributing Writer September 9, 2020

Less than five minutes into the new documentary “Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President,” former President Jimmy Carter corrects the well-known story of Willie Nelson smoking...

MTV’s Video Music Awards ran on August 30th without an audience. Though a year of many firsts, the 37th VMAs viewership continues to drop despite an increased effort in attempting to make the show interesting and engaging. (Staff Illustration by Chelsea Li)

The 2020 VMAs Prove The Traditional Awards Show Model Is Dead

The 2020 MTV VMAs had many firsts, but while it was unorthodox in several ways, nothing can bring the show back to what it used to be.
Samaa Khullar, Contributing Writer September 8, 2020

MTV held the 37th annual Video Music Awards on Aug. 30, the first show in the history of the program to be held without an in-person audience due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic....

Chadwick Boseman passed away at the end of August after a long and silent battle with colon cancer. Boseman will be remembered not only as an actor, but also as an activist who championed Black stories. (Staff Illustration by Debbie Alalade)

Remembering the Late, Great Chadwick Boseman

On August 28, 2020, Chadwick Boseman passed away after a silent battle with cancer. He left behind a legacy of leadership with a filmography that included the likes of Black Panther, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson and James Brown.
Dylan Thomas Kalaydijan, Contributing Writer September 8, 2020

I believe Chadwick Boseman was and always will be an extremely rare kind of actor — one of the true, real-deal movie stars. He was a man of high class and charisma, noticeably...

Disclosure, the duo that rose to fame with “Latch” featuring Sam Smith, recently released their third studio album, “ENERGY.” Filled with vibrancy and eclectic vibe, this release takes you around the world with various collaborators. (Staff Illustration by Li-Chun Pan)

Disclosure’s ‘ENERGY’ Is a Vibrant, Electronic Escape

The electronica band takes you to parties all around the world with a variety of collaborators on their newest album, proving that their musical exploration is far from over.
Emily Glass, Contributing Writer September 4, 2020

Lately, the world has seemed ever-changing, yet uncomfortably still. It’s hard to take time to simply exist and breathe. Disclosure’s third studio album, “ENERGY,” gives...

Bill and Ted seek to return peace and good vibes to the future with the help of their daughters. This film marks the third collaboration between Alex Winter, Keanu Reeves, Chris Matheson, and Ed Solomon. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

‘Bill & Ted Face the Music,’ A Most Excellent Exercise in Pure Entertainment

20 years after their venture to Heaven and Hell, Bill and Ted prove they’ve still got it as they showcase an immense bout of cheesy charisma.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor September 3, 2020

“Bill & Ted Face the Music” might be the only film in history that can boast about the fact that it contains a duet between Jimi Hendrix (DazMann Still) and Wolfgang Amadeus...

Michaela Coel’s semi-autobiographical HBO drama series “I May Destroy You” has ended its 12-week run. Coel created and starred in the emotional and complex narrative about sexual assault. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

Warning, the Series Finale of “I May Destroy You” Might Actually Destroy You

Summer phenomenon, “I May Destroy You,” ends its 12 week run on HBO with a twisty, emotional bang.
Isabella Armus, Staff Writer September 2, 2020

Content warning: in addition to spoilers, this article mentions sexual assault/violence. Creator Michaela Coel is fierce, and her brand new semi-autobiographical HBO drama which...

Pop icon Katy Perry released her sixth studio album last week. “Smile” is a lyrical and stylistic return to the classic sound that shot her to stardom ten years ago. (Staff Illustration by Li-Chun Pan)

Katy Perry Clings To Her Past in ‘Smile’

The “Teenage Dream” artist knows how to craft a perfectly encouraging pop hit, even if it’s getting old.
Ana Cubas, Music Editor September 1, 2020

Being America’s “Teenage Dream” is hard. Katy Perry’s sixth studio album, “Smile,” is proof that it is difficult to continue to thrive in the music world when popular...

Ewurakua and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah launched Melacast network, an organization aimed at bringing POC creators together eight weeks ago. The founders sought to create a space where under-represented voices are magnified and have the ability to diversity the film industry. (Image courtesy of The Melacast Network)

The Melacast Network: A Casting and Collaboration Platform for POC by POC

Melacast — recently created by NYU alumna Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah, Tisch sophomore Adrian Sobrado and Ewuradjoa Dawson-Amoah, a graduate from Rutgers University who currently works for a Fortune 500 company — aims to act as a casting and collaboration platform for creatives of color from all walks of life.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Film Editor August 31, 2020

It was celebrated Senagalese filmmaker Djibril Diop Mambéty who stated, “I am interested in marginalized people because they do more for the evolution of a community than the...

A mixed-media piece by WSN Creative Director Charlie Dodge captured in her dorm room. The concept of art and what it means to be an artist has shifted during the course of 2020. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge, Staff Photo by Leo Sheingate)

What It Means to Be an Artist in Our New World

Artists all over the world take on a new project: reinventing what it means to be a creative during a pandemic.
Sasha Cohen, Arts Editor August 31, 2020

What does it mean to be an artist? To some, an artist has to paint a picture, sing a song or bust a move. To others, an artist has to have their name shouted by thousands of adoring...

(From left) Pete Davidson and director Judd Apatow with crew members on the set of "The King of Staten Island." (Photo by Kevin Mazur / Courtesy of Universal Pictures)

Judd Apatow Finds the Humor in Grief in ‘The King of Staten Island’

Judd Apatow talks to WSN about grief, heroism and his new film, “The King of Staten Island.”
Kaylee DeFreitas, Arts Editor June 11, 2020

Judd Apatow has always found himself drawn to stories of underdogs. From working on “Freaks and Geeks,” the TV show about high school misfits, to his directorial debut “The...

"I think just giving people stuff to watch and listen to right now is something that a lot of people kind of need, if you can feel me" (Photo via Imogen Wilson).

WNYU Interview with New Zealand Rising Star BENEE

Read the full transcript of the interview below and listen on WNYU’s SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/wnyu/benee. You can also check out the “The Sound Between” on Tuesday, May 26 at 2pm EST at WNYU-FM (89.1 FM).
Bridgette Kontner, Host of WNYU’s “The Sound Between” May 26, 2020

Editor's Note: This article is a full transcript of the radio interview, which has been lightly edited for format and consistency. Thanks to WNYU-FM and Bridgette Kontner for the...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

Weekly Radio Roundup: Final Edition of the Semester

The most exciting tunes as you get ready to let loose in the summertime.

The end is near and the statement isn’t necessarily foreboding. The end suggests the completion of finals and the freedom to wander the streets freely for the first time in months....