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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

A collage of a copy of Either slash Or by Elif Batuman, a long playlist of “BELEZA PULA” by Masayoshi Takanaka and various black vinyls lay against a purple background.

Staff Recs: How to romanticize the start of a new term

WSN’s arts editors spotlight a range of media to help you fight those back to school blues and start your semester right.

We know what the first days of school are like. Whether you’re a first-year trying to navigate living in New York City for the first time or an overwrought senior ready to wrap...

Taylor Swift stands on a black platform onstage with a microphone in hand, surrounded by smoke and red light. A white spotlight shines on her as she performs, wearing a black bodysuit with one pant leg and sleeve as well as black boots.

What to know before you go: The Eras Tour

Swifties, here's the ultimate survival guide to seeing Taylor Swift in all of her eras. “1, 2, 3, let’s go bitch!”
Natalie Thomas and Manasa Gudavalli May 26, 2023

The seven female members of X.G. stand in front of a large screen displaying a white number “88” alongside an upward arrow of the same color over a sky background. They are each wearing identical black suit jackets with rhinestone accents and black ties. The performers make peace signs to the crowd with their hands.

Head in the Clouds brings diverse roster to NYC

The festival provided a safe and welcoming space for Asian artists to share their music and connect with fans.
Lea Filidore, Staff Writer May 25, 2023

A photo of Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer eating ramen against a bookshelf.

In favor of smallness

Four years of editing the Washington Square News’ arts coverage have convinced me my task was trifling, but meaningful.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Arts Editor May 5, 2023

Consider this my coda. I have edited the Washington Square News’ arts desk since early 2020 in varying capacities. At times distant, other times immersed, generally distracted,...

An illustration of a woman with curly red hair and a gold hair decoration wearing a purple shell-shaped top.

‘The Little Mermaid’ will offer a window into a new world

How Halle Bailey’s portrayal of Ariel positively impacts Black girls and women.
Sydni Johnson, Contributing Writer May 5, 2023

The release of the new live-action “The Little Mermaid” on May 26 may not appeal to everyone, but it will definitely capture the eyes and hearts of many young girls who love...

A colorful billboard that reads “New York head in the clouds music and arts festival” at the top. Behind the billboard, there are fireworks in the sky.

Head In The Clouds comes to NYC

88rising’s two-day music festival aims to represent and amplify the voices of Asian artists.
Lea Filidore, Staff Writer May 4, 2023

This spring, 88rising is bringing its two-day music festival, Head In The Clouds, to New York City. Armed with a star-studded lineup, the Asian American music and arts festival...

A band performing on a stage with amps in Washington Square Park, with pastel colored guitars, a saxophone and a drum set. Two of the band members wear N.Y.U. merch, and the lead singer is wearing sunglasses. A brightly colored banner with a spiral design hangs behind them, and reads “Stolen Gin,” the name of the band.

Stolen Gin, the soundtrack to your spring 

Meet the NYU grads with an eclectic sound that is equal parts Grateful Dead and Daft Punk.
Natasha R. Roy, Contributing Writer May 3, 2023

If you ambled through Washington Square Park at any point on 4/20, chances are you caught the steadily growing crowd dancing to Stolen Gin’s jazzy performance. If you noticed...

Will O’Connor and Matt Connelly, both wearing sunglasses, sit on a stoop in front of wire fencing. Behind them in the distance are the benches and trees of a public park.

Q&A: How Wilmah went from writing music in a spare bedroom to headlining NYC shows

WSN spoke with Wilmah about the band’s backstory, writing techniques, and upcoming show at Baby’s All Right on May 4.
Katherine Manatos, Contributing Writer May 3, 2023

From the band’s beginning, Wilmah members Matt Connolly and Will O'Connor have maintained a signature sound by staying true to their personalities. Originally from Buffalo, New...

In a still from “Succession,” in an auditorium, an image of Logan Roy is projected on a screen behind Kendall Roy, who is looking up at the screen.

Recap: ‘Succession’ S4E6: Granny prison camps

The most overtly comedic episode of the season yet illustrates the hollow schemes at the center of Waystar Royco.
Colleen Secaur, Contributing Writer May 2, 2023

Big tech hasn’t exactly garnered a significant amount of goodwill in the public consciousness as of late. One can vividly recall Mark Zuckerberg’s promises of a virtual future...

Three photographic prints hang on a green wall. To the left is a black-and-white photo with a car and two people standing next to it; in the center is a black-and-white photo of a person looking into a rearview mirror; on the right is a photo of a person smoking a cigarette with people sitting next to him.

‘Hip-Hop: Conscious, Unconscious’ showcases the influence of the genre

Celebrate the history of hip-hop and its global impact at this Fotografiska exhibit, open until May 20.
Natalia Palacino Camargo, Books & Theater Editor May 2, 2023

As one of the most prominent genres in the music world, hip-hop has had an extensive influence on fashion, art, photography and other forms of cultural expression. Rumored to have...

A doctor wearing a pair of black-framed glasses, a blue mask and scrubs.

Review: ‘De Humani Corporis Fabrica’ cuts deep into the human body

In their latest documentary feature, Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor bring viewers on a transformational journey of human anatomy. “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” is currently showing at the IFC Center. 
Mick Gaw, Staff Writer May 1, 2023

The intrusive lens of the micro camera burrows through cavernous organs and once unseen crevices of the human body in “De Humanis Corporis Fabrica.” First premiered at the...

A painting titled Blue Hill Number Two, 1916. The watercolor painting shows large splashes of blue paint spread across the canvas.

‘Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time’ welcomes viewers into scenes of solitude

Georgia O’Keeffe is more than her sexualized flower paintings. The MoMA’s newest exhibition presents more than 120 works spanning over four decades of the pioneering American artist’s career.
Julia Mejia, Contributing Writer May 1, 2023

An ode to the places she has lived, “Georgia O’Keeffe: To See Takes Time,” a new exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, includes several series of subjects and material...