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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

Activists Marcella Gilbert (Oohenumpa and Ihanktowan Bands of the Lakota and Dakota nations) and Madonna Thunder Hawk (Oohenumpa Lakota, enrolled citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe), in the documentary "Warrior Women." (Photo by John G. Larson, courtesy of NMAI)

A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: March 28 to 31

Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor March 28, 2019

Spring has finally sprung, people! This is not a drill! Go outside and do stuff! Steinhardt’s “Opera Now: Three to See” at Provincetown Playhouse, March 28 - 31 Come...

Poster for Be Natural. (Courtesy of Zeitgeist Films)

The Secret Origins of the First Female Filmmaker

The new documentary tells the true story of Alice Guy-Blaché’s fascinating legacy and how she helped transformed Hollywood into what it is today.
Joey Hung, Copy Chief March 28, 2019

In her 2018 documentary “Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blaché,” director and producer Pamela B. Green aims to revive the life of the first female filmmaker, Alice...

(via 20th Century Fox)

Unpopular Opinions: Animal Characters

No animals were harmed in the making of this list.
Guru Ramanathan, Dante Sacco and Alex Cullina March 27, 2019

The live-action “Dumbo” remake comes out this week, and it got the Arts Desk thinking about the countless animal characters that have graced the silver screen, especially in...

Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse in 'Five Feet Apart'. (Courtesy of CBS Films)

‘Five Feet Apart’ Depicts the Necessity of Human Touch

The latest hospital romance film improves on its medical accuracy but falls short elsewhere.
Yaroslava Bondar, Staff Writer March 26, 2019

“Five Feet Apart” chronicles the unfortunate love story of Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), two teenagers with cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening illness...

Aml Ameen plays a young courier named ‘D’  in 'Yardies'. (Courtesy of Rialto Pictures)

‘Yardie’ Is a Jamaican Throwback to Gang Dramas of Old

Idris Elba tries his hand at directing in “Yardie,” based on Victor Headley’s novel.
Dante Sacco, Deputy Arts Editor March 26, 2019

They are the familial and relational conflicts that preface and define their violent stories: Grangerford or Shepherdson, Greaser or Soc, Shark or Jet, Native American or Dead...

NYU President Andy Hamilton's podcast: Conversations with Andy Hamilton. (via NYU)

The Power Dynamic in Hamilton’s ‘Conversations’ Podcast

President Hamilton speaks with Scholar-in-Residence Rubén Blades in the first episode of his new podcast.
Leah Block, Contributing Writer March 25, 2019

In my left ear is Andrew Hamilton, the president of NYU, a man who made over a million dollars last year and lives in a penthouse apartment on Washington Square. In my right ear...

Anupam Kher as "Oberoi" in director Anthony Maras' Hotel Mumbai, a Bleecker Street release. (Courtesy of Mark Rogers / Bleecker Street)

Anupam Kher on Tragedy and Compassion in ‘Hotel Mumbai’

The acclaimed Bollywood thespian spoke with WSN about playing a real-life character in his new film.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor March 25, 2019

Eleven years ago, the Indian metropolis of Mumbai was brought under siege by Pakistani terrorists in a deadly attack. A popular restaurant, two hospitals and the Taj Mahal Palace...

Rapper T-Pain performs during his dazzling 2019 tour, mixing fan favorites and trap throwbacks to create a nostalgic atmosphere. (Photo by Iffat Nur)

T-Pain Gets a Roll on at PlayStation Theater

The ’00s rapper brought fan favorites and throwbacks to the New York venue.
Iffat Nur, Contributing Writer March 24, 2019

The name T-Pain, especially for those in college, probably first evokes the phrase “throwback.” It makes us stop and reminisce the incredible buzz he generated as one of the...

Dev Patel (left) as "Arjun" and Anupam Kher (right) as "Oberoi" in director Anthony Maras' Hotel Mumbai, a Bleecker Street release. (Courtesy of Kerry Monteen / Bleecker Street)

‘Hotel Mumbai’ Thrilling, but Not Too Profound

The new international thriller is intense, though it does not have as much depth as it thinks it does.
Fareid El Gafy, Staff Writer March 24, 2019

Thrusting ordinary people into extraodinary situations is a recipe followed by many gripping films, and it is certainly the backbone of Director Anthony Muras’ “Hotel Mumbai.”...

Cover art for "Season of Migration to the North" by Tayeb Salih. (via Facebook)

Staff Recs: Books We Should Have Read in High School

If you hated your high school humanities classes, the Arts Desk is here to give recs so that you can redo your education the right way.

“Romeo and Juliet.” “The Catcher in the Rye.” Ernest Hemingway. Jane Austen. Classic titles and names that filled our high school syllabi and glazed our eyes over. But...

Poster for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater. (via Facebook)

A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: March 15 to 17

Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Books and Theater Editor March 15, 2019

St. Patrick’s Day is this Sunday — if you want to escape the inevitable onslaught of intoxicated revelers this weekend, check out one of these arts and entertainment events....

Movie poster for Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (2019). (via Warner Bros. Pictures)

Unpopular Opinions: Children’s Book Series

In honor of the new Nancy Drew movie coming out, the Arts Desk is giving its hot takes on children’s book series.

If you weren’t already aware, “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase” is coming out this week. Since it’s based on the popular children’s book series, the Arts Desk is...