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

Childish Gambino just dropped his newest album 3.15.20 on March 21st. Despite the unprecedented drop, 3.15.20 failed to offer anything new or worthwhile. (Staff Illustration by Alex Tran)

Childish Gambino’s Latest Is A Full-Blown Disaster

To everyone’s surprise, Childish Gambino released his new album in the midst of a quarantine. Maybe he shouldn’t have.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 25, 2020

On March 21, Childish Gambino spontaneously dropped a new album. Unfortunately, the surprise factor did not arise from the fact that the drop had been unprecedented; most Gambino...

There are many streaming services available on different platforms that are accessible to people staying home. The performing arts could be enjoyed digitally from home, and that should be taken advantage of during this time. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

The Pros and Cons of Streaming Performance

As streaming services for plays, dance and other performing arts continue to surface, people must evaluate the pros and cons behind watching performance online.
Sasha Cohen, Performing Arts Editor March 24, 2020

As people wait to be admitted into a theater, nothing builds anticipation more than colorful Playbills, anxious audience members and bright flashing lights boasting a show’s...

Online gift cards, donations, live streams and more are still viable options during this time. The WSN Arts desk lists some ways you can still support independent artists from a safe social distance. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

How to Support New York’s Vibrant Independent Arts Scene

Even though New York is on pause, that doesn’t mean you still can’t support your favorite local bookstore or movie theater from home.

One week ago, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered New York City movie theaters to shut down as part of many initiatives to hopefully “flatten the curve.” Earlier in...

“After Hours,” The Weeknd’s fifth studio album, was released on March 20th last week. Striking the balance between mournful and funky, the album is perfect for your social distancing period. (Staff Photo by Leo Sheingate)

The Weeknd Makes Social Distancing Easy With ‘After Hours’

The Weeknd’s new album is the perfect soundtrack for the apocalypse.
Lauren Gruber, Dining Editor March 23, 2020

With the world all but falling apart around us, The Weeknd’s gut-wrenching, evocative new album couldn’t have come at a better time. The Weeknd — also known as Abel Tesfaye...

The annual Tribeca film festival since 2002 hosted in Manhattan shows a wide variety of independent films. The festival has now been cancelled due to COVID-19. (Illustration by Cicek Erel)

Tribeca Film Festival Postponed Due to Coronavirus

Yet another film festival has fallen to the coronavirus pandemic. Tribeca Film Festival, which normally runs during the month of April in New York City, announced its decision to postpone.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Arts Editor March 13, 2020

The Tribeca Film Festival made an announcement on their website this Thursday, stating that due to the coronavirus and New York Governor Cuomo banning gatherings of over 500 people...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Weekly Radio Roundup: March 7 – March 13

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

It’s National Women’s History Month! But we’re also navigating a global pandemic and the constant presence of hovering parents at a time when we should be enjoying the blessedness...

The Richard Rodgers Theater on Broadway hosts the award-winning musical Hamilton created by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Since a Broadway usher has reported testing positive for COVID-19, Broadway is now shutting down.(Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Coronavirus Closes the Curtains on Broadway

New York restricts gatherings that consist of 500 people or more, which is forcing Broadway to go dark for a month.
Sasha Cohen, Performing Arts Editor March 13, 2020

The Great White Way is going dark for the first time in 19 years since 9/11. From March 12 through April 12, Broadway will be closed as New York attempts to prevent more coronavirus...

Short stories are quickly losing its popularity in our modern world. Despite their unpopularity, short stories have much to offer in the way of aesthetics, mental acrobatics and surprising endings. (Staff photo by Alexandra Chan)

The Understated Magic of Short Stories

Short stories are becoming obsolete in this digital age, but they provide an aesthetic that young people should return to.
Izzy Salas, Staff Writer March 11, 2020

Short stories, in theory, would fit right in with this age of short attention spans and quick consumption… but they aren’t. While they’re usually no more than 10 thousand...

Max von Sydow was a Swedish actor with an extensive career in both European and American cinema. During his acting years, he was famous for not only the roles in The Seventh Seal, The Exorcist and Flash Gordon. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

In Memory of Max von Sydow

An ode to one of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen.
Nicolas Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 11, 2020

Two nights ago, I watched “The Seventh Seal.” In it, Max von Sydow faces Death and finds himself in a constant battle of wits with the ominous entity only to be gracefully...

A memorable scene in the trailer of The Invisible Man reboot depicts Cecilia waking up in the middle of the night as her blanket is tugged off the bed. In the film, the protagonist played by Elisabeth Moss gets into a struggle with an unseen figure as her controlling ex-boyfriend Adrian creates a suit that renders him invisible. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

‘The Invisible Man’: The Hit You Didn’t See Coming

The latest edition to the “Invisible Man” canon is an effective horror on looming trauma.
Isabella Armus, Contributiing Writer March 10, 2020

Have you ever felt helplessly insane? Like your grip on reality has suddenly become completely muddled, and even when you trepidly attempt to rationalize the situation, you still...

Ai Weiwei’s piece, Two Figures, is a life-size work of a plaster-cast man and wife lying on a mattress, with a pile of red seeds surrounding the man’s head. This was used as a reference to the Tang Dynasty poem, Love Seeds, which inspired the title of the exhibit. (Photo by Alexandra Bentzien)

Faurschou Foundation Fosters Global Connection

The newest Faurschou expansion in New York features a fascinating new group exhibition.
Alexandra Bentzien, Staff Writer March 9, 2020

Nestled in a sidestreet of Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood is the sleek and modern Faurschou Foundation, an art gallery currently home to the group exhibition The Red Bean...

Alex Brown Church, better known as Sea Wolf, is an NYU alum and Los Angeles based indie folk musician. After 6 years since his last album “Song Spells, No. 1: Cedarsmoke, he has just released Through A Dark Wood, a record which is, in his word, catharsis. (Photo courtesy of Shane McCauley)

NYU Alum Previews Poignant New Album

Alex Brown Church, better known as Sea Wolf, takes us in and out of the dark forest in his latest artistic endeavor.
Nico Pedrero-Setzer, Music Editor March 9, 2020

Lost in a Dantesque forest forged from the fires of breakup, anxiety about the state of the nation and absolute confusion about his life’s trajectory, Alex Brown Church confesses...