Guru Ramanathan, Under the Arch Managing Editor
All content by Guru Ramanathan
Guru Ramanathan
Guru Ramanathan
• May 7, 2020
Housing Guide 2020
Guru Ramanathan, Under the Arch Managing Editor
• February 20, 2020
Quantitative and Emotional: the Many Contradictions of Wayne Carino
The Wagner grad student and NYU Sustainability Fellow does what he calls “background work,” but has been instrumental in and out of NYU to provide environmental policy solutions for marginalized communities and developing countries.
Guru Ramanathan, Under the Arch Managing Editor
• December 5, 2019
Does My Breakdown Need a Doctor’s Note?
At a school where absences are rarely excused, it becomes hard to know when we’ve reached our breaking point.
Claire Fishman, Arts Editor
• November 18, 2019
The Scandinavian Scholar Fighting for Planet Earth
From music festivals to museum to J-PopCon, Louise Lessél uses her creative technology expertise and numerous media degrees to create art and experiences. Now, as a master’s student at ITP, she reflects on her educational career and her aspirations to spread awareness of overlooked issues.
Claire Fishman, Arts Editor
• October 14, 2019
Staff Recs: Pretentious Films to Impress Your Fake Friends
Need to sound like you know about movies? Here are a few of our go-tos.
Claire Fishman, Fareid El Gafy, Ethan Zack and Julie Goldberg
• September 11, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Unconventionally Hot Girl Summer
The Arts Desk weighs in on some underrated hotties in the entertainment industry.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Ethan Zack, Fareid El Gafy, Claire Fishman and Julie Goldberg
• September 9, 2019
Art Business ‘Takes a Village’; Meet its Mayor, Tyler Cooperman
A day in the life of 2018 grad Tyler Cooperman: artist representative, curator and secret finance bro.
Claire Fishman, Arts Editor
• September 3, 2019
The New York City Art Scene: An Introduction
With so much wonderful art in New York City at our fingertips, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are a few helpful suggestions.
Claire Fishman, Arts Editor
• August 24, 2019
Go Digital Or Go Home
As the presence of online journalism continues to grow, we must strive to use all forms of digital storytelling to our advantage.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• May 8, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: May 10 to 12
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• May 8, 2019
‘Aamis’ Team on Their Flesh-Eating Romance at Tribeca
WSN sat down with the director, lead actress, producer and composers of the Assamese film.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• May 6, 2019
Vampire Weekend Plays Surprise WSP Set
The Grammy-winning indie rock group played an acoustic set in Washington Square Park earlier today, the same day they released their first album in six years.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• May 3, 2019
Tisch MFA Alum Cenk Ertürk’s Journey to Tribeca
WSN sits down with Tisch MFA alum Cenk Ertürk to talk about “Noah Land,” his feature debut at Tribeca.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• May 2, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: May 3 to 5
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• May 1, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: April 26 to 28
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• April 24, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: When the Villain Was Right
Our staff gives you some of their best hot takes on some of pop culture’s most notorious bad guys.
Nicole Rosenthal, Dante Sacco, Alex Cullina and Sakshi Venkatraman
• April 23, 2019
How a Tisch Junior Ended up Shooting for Chanel
Meet Jason Lee, the Korean international student who networked his way into shooting magazine editorials.
Claire Fishman, Film & TV Editor
• April 22, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: April 19 to 21
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• April 18, 2019
Staff Recs: Best Disney Channel Original Movies
We’ve talked about some of our favorite childhood Disney series, but let’s not forget how one of our favorite channels was churning out classic T.V. movies at this time as well.
Guru Ramanathan, Nicole Rosenthal, Claire Fishman and Melanie Pineda
• April 18, 2019
Tisch Alum’s Film Shines New Light on Emily Dickinson
Writer and director Madeleine Olnek’s new dramedy “Wild Nights with Emily” uses relatively recent insights into the poet’s private life.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• April 16, 2019
Unpopular Opinion: A24 Films
Before you watch “Under the Silver Lake,” let’s revisit past A24 films and break down if they’re really as good as Tisch kids say they are.
Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan, Alex Cullina and Dante Sacco
• April 16, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: April 12 to 14
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• April 10, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Young Adult Novels
The Arts Desk gives some fresh takes on novels for younger audiences.
Guru Ramanathan, Dante Sacco and Alex Cullina
• April 9, 2019
Gallatin Arts Fest Embodies School’s Unique Spirit
The annual showcase of visual and performing arts work by Gallatin students celebrates the school’s interdisciplinary academics and community spirit.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• April 8, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: April 4 to 7
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• April 4, 2019
Arts Issue | Spring 2019
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• April 3, 2019
Alexandra Muhawi-Ho | Arab-Chinese Filmmaker Seizes Freedom of Choice
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• April 3, 2019
Luca Renzi Smith | From Bethlehem to Bleecker Street, It’s Queer Dance Jesus
Claire Fishman, Film Editor
• April 3, 2019
Devanshi Khetarpal | An Indian Poet Finds the Sublime in the Everyday
Alex Cullina, Theatre & Books Editor
• April 3, 2019
‘Love, Death & Robots’ Is Good, Great and Forgettable
From farmers fighting aliens in mech suits to a cup of yogurt taking over the world, the new Netflix anthology series can be an emotional rollercoaster.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• April 1, 2019
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 27, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Animal Characters
No animals were harmed in the making of this list.
Guru Ramanathan, Dante Sacco and Alex Cullina
• March 26, 2019
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
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 14, 2019
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.
Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanthan, Dante Sacco and Alex Cullina
• March 12, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: March 7 to 10
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• March 7, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Remakes and Reboots
With A24’s “Gloria Bell,” the remake of the Chilean film “Gloria,” receiving a lot of early praise, the Arts Desk is looking at other remakes and reboots that are also up to par with, or better than, their predecessors.
Guru Ramanthan, Alex Cullina, Nicole Rosenthal and Dante Sacco
• March 6, 2019
How Football Is Keeping Women From the Boardroom
Sorry, Sheryl Sandberg. I tried to lean in, but tipped over a goal post.
Claire Fishman, Film and TV Editor
• March 6, 2019
Dramatic Writing Professor Brings Blockchain to Theater
Sofia Alvarez, a Tisch professor and the screenwriter of Netflix’s “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” is the co-founder of the Blockchain Theater Project, which draws on blockchain’s peer-to-peer model to dismantle the institutional barriers of the theater world.
Alex Cullina, Theater and Books Editor
• March 4, 2019
‘Transit’ Is a Bumpy Ride That Still Bores
Officially selected for the New York Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival, the German film is a fascinating character drama that is let down by a poor script.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• March 4, 2019
Tisch’s ‘Fiction’ Asks, ‘What Does It Mean to Be a Spectator?’
The new performance piece, written and directed by theatermakers 600 Highwaymen, explores the nature of art and spectatorship through the work of photographer Diane Arbus.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• February 28, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: Mar. 1 to 3
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• February 28, 2019
Gallatin Galleries Show Meditates on Sexuality, Masculinity, Race
In “Steve Locke: in the name of love,” the multimedia artist ponders what it means to be black and gay in America today.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• February 25, 2019
Pete Holmes Talks ‘Crashing’ and Comedic Identity
Comedian, actor, writer, podcaster and producer Peter Holmes spoke with WSN about the new season of his HBO show “Crashing” and gave his thoughts on modern comedy.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• February 25, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Oscar Hosts
The Arts Desk is tired of giving hot takes on snubs and surprises and have decided to critique a different aspect of awards shows: the hosts!
Guru Ramanathan, Claire Fishman, Alex Cullina, Nicole Rosenthal and Dante Sacco
• February 20, 2019
‘Sorry Angel’ Unveils the Highs and Lows of Queer Love
The French drama offers an unforgivably beautiful portrait of a gay love affair at the height of the AIDS epidemic.
Claire Fishman, Film and TV Editor
• February 19, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: Feb. 14 to 17
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theatre Editor
• February 14, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Romantic Comedy Protagonists
Valentine's Day is coming up and the Arts Desk cannot wait! Thus, they’ve decided to critically analyze rom-coms in anticipation of the big day.
Guru Ramanathan, Claire Fishman, Alex Cullina and Nicole Rosenthal
• February 13, 2019
Steinhardt’s ‘Rags’: A Tale of Trump’s America, 100 Years Ago
Steinhardt presents the newest version of an emotionally stirring musical tale of Jewish immigrants in turn-of-the-century New York City.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• February 11, 2019
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events this Weekend: Feb. 8 to 10
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Alex Cullina, Theater & Books Editor
• February 7, 2019
‘Sex Education’ Should Replace Sex Education
Netflix’s “Sex Education” could be described as “The Inbetweeners” meets “Glee.”
Claire Fishman, Film & TV Editor
• February 7, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: Super Bowl Commercials
In which the Arts Desk gives hot takes on what is the most important of the big game, anyway.
Guru Ramanathan, Nicole Rosenthal, Claire Fishman and Alex Cullina
• February 6, 2019
Terrance Hayes Talks Trump, Teaching at NYU
At the Lillian Vernon Creative Writing House, the award-winning poet and NYU professor read published and unpublished work from a series he started after the 2016 election.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• February 4, 2019
Tony Winner Talks ‘I Am The Night’
WSN sits down with actor Jefferson Mays to talk about his role in TNT’s new limited series “I Am the Night,” co-starring Chris Pine.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• February 4, 2019
‘I Am The Night’ Is A Few Steps Short of Success
TNT’s new neo-noir limited series is based off a fascinating true story, but isn’t the home run many hoped it would be in its first episode.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• January 30, 2019
Unpopular Opinions: ‘Black Mirror’
The first spring 2019 edition of one of the Arts Desk’s acclaimed weekly series deals out hot takes on Netflix’s Emmy-winning sci-fi series.
Alex Cullina, Guru Ramanathan and Nicole Rosenthal
• January 30, 2019
‘Serenity’ Sunk by a Ludicrous Script
The Matthew McConaughey-Anne Hathaway starrer starts off as a fishing neo-noir and derails halfway through into a clumsy, existential thriller.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• January 29, 2019
Funding Your Cinematic Dream
Tisch Film & TV seniors discuss crowdfunding thousands of dollars for their advanced short films.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• January 28, 2019
‘Gatz’ at Skirball: ‘Gatsby’ Reimagined for the Stage
Elevator Repair Service’s staged reading of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is a great work in its own right.
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• January 28, 2019
How to Win an Oscar in 2019
A satirical guide of how to potentially win big at the 91st Academy Awards.
Claire Fishman, Film Editor
• January 28, 2019
‘Never Look Away’ Paints an Expansive Portrait of Germany’s Art History
The celebrated German film finally expands into wide release in the United States on the heels of being nominated for two Oscars at the 91st Academy Awards.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• January 24, 2019
Sundance Documentary Winner ‘Genesis 2.0’ Hits IFC Center
A look into the making of Christian Frei’s documentary, which follows hunters in their search for dead wooly mammoths and scientists working to clone them.
Guru Ramanathan, Arts Editor
• January 3, 2019
‘Roma’ Is Human — Simultaneously Moving and Frustrating
The 2018 Mexican Oscar entry is Alfonso Cuarón’s first film since winning an Oscar for directing “Gravity.”
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• December 3, 2018
Do We Need This Musical To Stop Us From Killing Ourselves?
Claire Fishman, Staff Writer
• November 30, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Holiday Films
Ali Zimmerman, Daniella Nichinson, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan and Alex Cullina
• November 30, 2018
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events this Weekend: Nov. 30 to Dec. 2
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Ali Zimmerman and Alex Cullina
• November 29, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: Actors
Daniella Nichinson, Guru Ramanathan, Nicole Rosenthal and Alex Cullina
• November 28, 2018
In ‘Chasing the New White Whale,’ Heroin Ravages a Working-Class Community
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• November 27, 2018
Cannes Favorite ‘Shoplifters’ Arrives at IFC Center
Hirokazu Kore-eda’s drama won the Palme d’Or at Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, and should be your next stop at the IFC Center.
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• November 26, 2018
‘Widows’ Ranks Among the Best Heist Films
The follow up to his Oscar-winning “12 Years a Slave,” co-writer and director Steve McQueen returns with an arthouse heist thriller with the ensemble of the century
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• November 18, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Film Ensembles
Every so often, a movie ensemble absolutely blows audiences away and makes us ask ourselves, “How can one movie could contain so much talent and power?”
Ryan Mikel, Daniella Nichinson, Guru Ramanathan and Alex Cullina
• November 16, 2018
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events this Weekend: Nov. 16 to Nov. 18
How to experience arts if you're pinching pennies.
Ali Zimmerman and Alex Cullina
• November 15, 2018
‘Overlord’ Is an Amazing WWII B-Movie That Offers Zombies Too
Though advertised as a generic zombie flick, the J.J. Abrams-produced film is secretly a stellar World War II action-thriller flying under the radar.
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• November 12, 2018
To Boycott or Not to Boycott: Jan Fabre’s ‘Mount Olympus’
Is art made by bad people still worth our time?
Claire Fishman, Staff Writer
• November 12, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Albums for Fall
Ryan Mikel, Daniella Nichinson, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan, Alex Cullina and Ali Zimmerman
• November 9, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Villains
Get your watch queue ready for the baddest villains of them all.
Ryan Mikel, Daniella Nichinson, Nicole Rosenthal, Ali Zimmerman, Guru Ramanathan and Alex Cullina
• November 1, 2018
A Starving Artist’s Guide to Arts Events This Weekend: Nov. 2 to Nov. 4
Stay entertained this weekend for $20 or less.
Ali Zimmerman and Alex Cullina
• October 31, 2018
The Realities Behind Working on Set in Tisch
First-hand accounts from Tisch Film & TV students about their experiences as production assistants on set and how they’re preparing for their future careers.
Claire Fishman, Contributing Writer
• October 30, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: Supernatural Villains
This week we’re getting spooky niche with our unpopular opinions and taking a look at supernatural villains!
Daniella Nichinson, Ryan Mikel, Nicole Rosenthal, Alex Cullina and Guru Ramanathan
• October 30, 2018
‘Daredevil’ Season 3 Is the Perfect Action Noir
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• October 29, 2018
The Six Years Behind a Tisch Grad’s Debut Film
Over a six-year process, Shevaun Mizrahi crafted a continuing emotional narrative in her debut film.
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• October 29, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Movie Soundtracks and Scores
Ryan Mikel, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan, Daniella Nichinson and Alex Cullina
• October 25, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: Albums
Daniella Nichinson, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan and Ali Zimmerman
• October 23, 2018
‘Brujx’ and the Excruciating Monotony of Labor
Karl Marx Festival "Brujx" dance performance reflects on the labor that goes into theater from both the audience and performers.
Claire Fishman
• October 22, 2018
The Million Dollar Story of Faraday Okoro
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• October 22, 2018
Staff Recs: Scariest Horror Movies
Ryan Mikel, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan, Ali Zimmerman, Daniella Nichinson, Alex Cullina and Melanie Pineda
• October 18, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: 20th Century Authors
Daniella Nichinson, Nicole Rosenthal, Guru Ramanathan, Ali Zimmerman, Alex Cullina and Ryan Mikel
• October 16, 2018
‘South Park’ Takes Pride in Being Canceled for a 22nd Season
'South Park' is still the unabashedly raunchy and provocative series we all know and love (and fear).
Claire Fishman
• October 15, 2018
A Karl Marx Festival in the Age of Late Capitalism
Alex Cullina, Books & Theater Editor
• October 15, 2018
Behind the Scenes With the NYU Mixtapes Preparing for Concert
Guru Ramanathan, Film Editor
• October 12, 2018
Staff Recs: Best Actors-Turned-Directors
Ryan Mikel, Guru Ramanathan, Daniella Nichinson, Ali Zimmerman and Nicole Rosenthal
• October 11, 2018
Melissa Lozada-Oliva
Doesn't Want to Be Relatable
Alex Cullina, Books & Theatre Editor
• October 11, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: Directors
Daniella Nichinson, Guru Ramanathan, Ryan Mikel and Nicole Rosenthal
• October 9, 2018
‘An American Marriage’ and a Distinctly American Writer
Claire Fishman, Contributing Writer
• October 9, 2018
Staff Recs: Hollywood Movie Musicals
Ryan Mikel, Daniella Nichinson, Alex Cullina, Guru Ramanathan and Ali Zimmerman
• October 4, 2018
Tisch Alum Makes Her Debut With Hidden Gem ‘All About Nina’
Mary Elizabeth Winstead gives a magnetic performance as a damaged stand-up comedian.
Guru Ramanathan, Film & TV Editor
• October 2, 2018
Unpopular Opinions: Film & TV Protagonists
Main characters we love to hate.
Ali Zimmerman, Guru Ramanathan, Daniella Nichinson and Alex Cullina
• October 2, 2018
Ashley Combs, Staff Writer • December 5, 2024
Yanel Siqueiros, Contributing Writer • December 5, 2024
Sawyer Gouw Ranzetta, Staff Writer • December 5, 2024
Katrina Lorenzana, Contributing Writer • December 5, 2024