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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

An illustration of a man with brown hair and a blue shirt wearing movie theater 3D glasses that say "VERSUS" across the lenses.

‘Free Time’ subverts any semblance of competent adulthood

I would call “Free Time” incompetence porn, but it’s not.
Liv Steinhardt, Contributing Writer April 5, 2024

Meek data analyst Drew (Colin Burgess) — determined to quit his job — stutters to his boss, “If I have to input more numbers into a little box, I-I’m going to have some...

A girl posing in Times Square.

Musician Sloane Simon on finding harmony in community

The frontwoman of the 2024 UltraViolet Live Best Group Performance winner and a Clive Davis first-year, Sloane Simon spoke with WSN about how interpersonal connection has grounded her musically.
Dani Biondi, Staff Writer April 4, 2024

Clive Davis first-year Sloane Simon conquered her awkward phase in middle school by landing music gigs at local restaurants. Simon performed covers ranging from Frank Sinatra to...

A girl wearing a black shirt holds a camera at her side while posing in a sandy outdoor area.

Elinor Kry discusses visual artistry in a visual world

Within the fields of arts, fashion and culture, photographer and Tisch sophomore Elinor Kry discusses what keeps herself and her creative vision anchored.
Eleanor Jacobs, Staff Writer April 3, 2024

Elinor Kry received her first camera in fifth grade, a gray Sony digital picked out by her dad from a Black Friday sale. She took the camera on a trip to Japan that winter, during...

A photograph of a man’s face with his eyes closed and his eyelids are painted yellow with a black dot in the middle. There is pink smoke in front of his face.

WSN’s guide to the 53rd New Directors/New Films festival

In anticipation of the Lincoln Center and MoMA’s latest edition of ND/NF, WSN has put together a list of the most exciting films on the festival docket.
Mick Gaw, Film & TV Editor April 3, 2024

For the average moviegoer, it is easy to feel like Hollywood is the be all and end all of cinema. With ads for multi-million dollar blockbusters constantly shoved down our throats,...

An illustration of a person’s silhouette with a speech bubble saying “hear me out…”

Staff Recs: HEAR ME OUT!

This is a judgment-free zone.

While we love to revel in the world of pretentious high-brow art, there is no better feeling than drowning yourself in a sea of pop-culture trash. Sometimes we find the most comfort...

People walk around a large gallery room, looking at multicolored art pieces made of acrylic and metal hanging from the ceiling.

Review: The 2024 Whitney Biennial poignantly portrays life in the modern world

“Even Better Than the Real Thing,” displays works from over 70 contemporary artists who explore ideas related to “the real.”
Alexa Donovan, Deputy Arts Editor April 2, 2024

From a piano playing itself in a dark room to pastel buoys suspended over a pile of rope and lobster traps, the 81st Whitney Biennial: Even Better Than the Real Thing invites viewers...

A man wearing a black trench coat and green crocs leans on a teal front door.

Review: ‘High & Low: John Galliano’ captures a fashion icon falling apart at the seams

The documentary chronicles fashion designer John Galliano’s career in full, but falters in redeeming his character following incidents of antisemitism.
Karina Rower, Deputy Copy Chief April 2, 2024

In the early aughts, John Galliano’s creative direction led fashion houses Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela to widespread success. With a flair for the outlandish and avant-garde,...

A girl sitting on a dormitory desk decorated with pictures and books.

How I learned to love reading again

As casual reading becomes trendy on social media, there is a tendency to read for quantity rather than quality.
Diana C. Sánchez González, Staff Writer April 1, 2024

When someone asks me what my hobbies are, I always answer, “anything that has to do with escapism.” After a long day of lectures and completing assignments, nothing recharges...

A film still of a woman leaning on a bathroom sink and taking a picture of herself. To the left, a woman is peaking her head into the bathroom.

Review: ‘Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World’ is a brilliantly funny portrayal of 21st-century labor

In his new feel-bad comedy, Radu Jude inventively depicts the frenzy of late stage capitalism through an overburdened personal assistant in the film industry.
Nolan Morris, Contributing Writer April 1, 2024

In “Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World,” Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude’s latest satirical comedy, the reality of late-stage capitalism is depicted as a pendulum...

An illustration of a mouth smiling with a flower in it emerging from dirt.

Review: Hozier’s ‘Unheard’ draws fans deeper into his conceptual art

Consisting of outtakes from his most recent album, Irish musician Hozier’s newest EP captures audiences with sound as immersive and captivating as its storytelling.
Eleanor Jacobs, Staff Writer April 1, 2024

From the way Hozier’s lyrics have been analyzed and dissected with every release, one might assume him to be a modern bard, poet or well-established author — his songs often...

Collage of four book covers. On the upper left is Asimov’s “Foundation,” on the upper right is Ishiguro’s “Never Let Me Go,” on the bottom left is Morelli’s “The Night Portrait” and on the bottom right is Biggs’ “A Life of One's Own: Nine Women Writers Begin Again.”

Books beyond Bobst: A science-fiction novel, a multifaceted memoir and more

Books beyond Bobst is a book-rec column highlighting what NYU students are reading now, outside of their classes. If you’re in need of a new read, look no further.

“A Life of One's Own: Nine Women Writers Begin Again” by Joanna Biggs  — Alexa Donovan, Deputy Arts Editor Mixing memoir with biography, Joanna Biggs seeks to understand...

A collage of four movie posters. The upper left is a headshot of a man with his head down and the word "MAESTRO" above. The upper right is two men and a dog with the words “THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN” above them. The bottom left is a man with a sword next to him under the words “VALHALLA RISING.” The bottom right is two women collaged above a road with palm trees along the sides with the words “MULHOLLAND DRIVE.”

Inside the Boxd: ‘Maestro,’ ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ ‘Valhalla Rising’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’

Inside the Boxd is a weekly column documenting WSN staffers’ recent film reviews on Letterboxd. Grab some popcorn and get that watchlist ready!

With roughly 10 million site-wide users in 2023, including the likes of NYU alumni Martin Scorsese and Ayo Edebiri, Letterboxd has become the premier social media platform for...