Arts and Entertainment
Heated Rivalry Is More Than Just Hot
By Anonymous
Heated Rivalry features important queer representation and captivating storytelling that is making a real impact, making it truly worth a watch.
A Messy Adieu to Stranger Things
Season 5 is filled with small peaks and extreme lows, managing to disappoint and bore while evoking a tear.
Marty Supreme: The Cost of Winning
By Molly Gupta, Renata Firestone
Marty Supreme (2025) is an electrifying, rapid movie that focuses on how ambition leads to obsession, with stunning performances and successful cinematography anchoring the film.
A Window Into the Top Film and Television of 2025
By Kabir Madan, Oscar Scribner
Although it had its flaws, 2025’s year in film and television surpasses 2024 and provides hope going into 2026 and beyond.
Adventure Comes Ashore in STC’s Treasure Island
From bold directorial decisions to intense performances from the show's cast and a technical crew functioning at its best, STC’s winter drama Treasure Island was a big success.
Unfiltered Authority: Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair Images of the Trump Administration
By Mira Anant
Through unsettling proximity and visual imperfection, Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair portraits expose how imagery affects perceived political power.
Holiday Harmony: Laufey’s Balance of Vocals and Instrumentation in A Very Laufey Holiday
Laufey’s newest additions to her holiday album demonstrate her versatility by using inventive instrumentation to complement her vocals, showcasing her musical talent in various ways.
Psychoanalysis: Dress as a Mirror
Dress, Dreams, & Desire merges fashion and psychoanalysis, framing clothing as a structure of desire rather than expression.
The Holy Trinity comes to Knives Out
A religious, emotional experience with fantastic acting and a solid murder mystery to bear, Knives Out adds a new approach to its repertoire.
Friendship, Disagreements, and Wit in Yasmina Reza’s ART
The play’s revival not only made audiences laugh, but also provoked reflection on what qualifies as “art.”
Lil Yachty, Bowery, and a Room That Won’t Explain Itself
Lil Yachty and Olaolu Slawn use speed, familiarity, and discomfort to force observation to remain active and unresolved.
Dispatch (2025): Your Choices Matter
By Sara Bhuiyan
Dispatch (2025) is incredibly compelling, full of puzzles and hard choices.
Ancient Egyptian Mythology 101 at the Met
By Ruby Kennedy
Divine Egypt brings ancient artifacts from museums around the world to one space through January
15 Hours in the ER: The Pitt Redefines Medical Drama
By Kabir Madan
With sharp character work, relentless tension, and uncompromising realism, The Pitt stands among the year’s best shows.
The Death of Meaning in Alice in Borderland
While the first two seasons of Alice in Borderland explored deep interpretations on the meaning of life, the third collapses under weak writing and a focus on profit over purpose.
Orpheus for All: James Ehnes and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
By Maggie Miao
James Ehnes and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra recently gave a free concert at Carnegie Hall, which was as spectacular as one would expect from this outstanding pairing.
How Democracy Dies: Mussolini: Son of the Century
Mussolini: Son of the Century is a chilling exploration of how fascism thrives on contradiction, performance, and the seductive power of populist rhetoric.
Slicked-Back Success in STC’s Fall Musical, Grease
STC took on the beloved 1950s musical Grease and left nothing to be desired, from vocal aptitude to comedic props and a vibrant band that left the audience “All Choked Up.”
The Studio Reminds Us Why We Love Movies
By Kabir Madan
The Studio is a brilliantly poignant dive into film that features a sublime ensemble and inventively crafted episodic arcs, but its over-the-top antics frequently take away from the show’s meaning.
Bassvictim: Testing Forms in Forever
Bassvictim’s Forever explores the band’s sound after the after-parties.
Not Quite For The Better – Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good was error-ridden, but it’s still a fun time.
Peacemaker… What a Joke
By Kabir Madan
Although Season Two had great character moments and an interesting premise, the uneven pacing significantly held it back. 11
Kinhaven Music School Semester Program, an Innovative Classical Music Initiative
By Maggie Miao
Kinhaven Music School’s new Semester Program immerses high-school musicians in a unique experience where they can receive high-level music instruction while maintaining a regular academic schedule.
When Objects Dream: Man Ray and His Art from Another World
By Ruby Kennedy
The work of Surrealism founding father Man Ray is on display at the Met, from rayographs to cinepoems, and it shines a light on what purpose art was serving after World War I.
Mad Max x Hugh Glass: Chaos, Revolution, and Paul Thomas Anderson
By Kabir Madan
The positives clearly outweigh the negatives, due to the amazing cast and direction, as well as the overall experience through the storyline and entertainment.
Weapons Hits its Target
Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger, is a zingy, funny, yet spine-chilling horror movie that exceeds expectations and serves to delight viewers.
The Conflicted Wit of Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend (2025)
By Sofia Sen
Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend falls flat with unoriginal lyrics, overused sensual themes, and a confused direction that backtracks her past success
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards: Some Deserved, Some Not
By Sara Bhuiyan
The 2025 VMAs was a ceremony full of amazing performances and some questionably picked award recipients.
PlayAsia #5: End of Summer Albums
With the end of Summer comes new music: new releases from Asian music artists to add to the playlist.
Big Thief’s Double Infinity: Exploring Love and What Can’t Be Said
By Mira Anant
Big Thief’s new album Double Infinity is a raw, exploratory folk-rock record that embraces imperfection and contradiction, using Adrianne Lenker’s intimate lyricism and the band’s loosened sound to explore love, memory, and the beauty of the unknown.
The Sydney Sweeney Ad: Our Thoughts
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
In a rare moment of consensus for the department, our esteemed artists and entertainers share their general skepticism about the cultural significance of American Eagle’s recent ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney.
Snails, Seahorses, and Modernist Pottery
In 61 stunning works, Making it Modern explores how turn-of-the-century European ceramicists took the ideas of the modernist movement and married them with the traditions of pottery.
Playlist
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
School’s back and our phones, laptops, and other internet enabled devices are all gone. With their New York Times and Spotify apps locked away in a velcro pouch, Stuyvesant students have returned to using The Spectator as their main source of news and entertainment.
Waiting for the Impossible Resolution
In It Was Just An Accident, Jafar Panahi spins an existential web around one man’s metal leg.
Heated Rivalry Is More Than Just Hot
By Anonymous
Heated Rivalry features important queer representation and captivating storytelling that is making a real impact, making it truly worth a watch.
A Messy Adieu to Stranger Things
Season 5 is filled with small peaks and extreme lows, managing to disappoint and bore while evoking a tear.
Marty Supreme: The Cost of Winning
By Molly Gupta, Renata Firestone
Marty Supreme (2025) is an electrifying, rapid movie that focuses on how ambition leads to obsession, with stunning performances and successful cinematography anchoring the film.
A Window Into the Top Film and Television of 2025
By Kabir Madan, Oscar Scribner
Although it had its flaws, 2025’s year in film and television surpasses 2024 and provides hope going into 2026 and beyond.
Adventure Comes Ashore in STC’s Treasure Island
From bold directorial decisions to intense performances from the show's cast and a technical crew functioning at its best, STC’s winter drama Treasure Island was a big success.
Unfiltered Authority: Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair Images of the Trump Administration
By Mira Anant
Through unsettling proximity and visual imperfection, Christopher Anderson’s Vanity Fair portraits expose how imagery affects perceived political power.
Holiday Harmony: Laufey’s Balance of Vocals and Instrumentation in A Very Laufey Holiday
Laufey’s newest additions to her holiday album demonstrate her versatility by using inventive instrumentation to complement her vocals, showcasing her musical talent in various ways.
Psychoanalysis: Dress as a Mirror
Dress, Dreams, & Desire merges fashion and psychoanalysis, framing clothing as a structure of desire rather than expression.
The Holy Trinity comes to Knives Out
A religious, emotional experience with fantastic acting and a solid murder mystery to bear, Knives Out adds a new approach to its repertoire.
Friendship, Disagreements, and Wit in Yasmina Reza’s ART
The play’s revival not only made audiences laugh, but also provoked reflection on what qualifies as “art.”
Lil Yachty, Bowery, and a Room That Won’t Explain Itself
Lil Yachty and Olaolu Slawn use speed, familiarity, and discomfort to force observation to remain active and unresolved.
Bassvictim: Testing Forms in Forever
Bassvictim’s Forever explores the band’s sound after the after-parties.
Dispatch (2025): Your Choices Matter
By Sara Bhuiyan
Dispatch (2025) is incredibly compelling, full of puzzles and hard choices.
Not Quite For The Better – Wicked: For Good
Wicked: For Good was error-ridden, but it’s still a fun time.
Ancient Egyptian Mythology 101 at the Met
By Ruby Kennedy
Divine Egypt brings ancient artifacts from museums around the world to one space through January
15 Hours in the ER: The Pitt Redefines Medical Drama
By Kabir Madan
With sharp character work, relentless tension, and uncompromising realism, The Pitt stands among the year’s best shows.
The Death of Meaning in Alice in Borderland
While the first two seasons of Alice in Borderland explored deep interpretations on the meaning of life, the third collapses under weak writing and a focus on profit over purpose.
Orpheus for All: James Ehnes and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
By Maggie Miao
James Ehnes and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra recently gave a free concert at Carnegie Hall, which was as spectacular as one would expect from this outstanding pairing.
How Democracy Dies: Mussolini: Son of the Century
Mussolini: Son of the Century is a chilling exploration of how fascism thrives on contradiction, performance, and the seductive power of populist rhetoric.
Slicked-Back Success in STC’s Fall Musical, Grease
STC took on the beloved 1950s musical Grease and left nothing to be desired, from vocal aptitude to comedic props and a vibrant band that left the audience “All Choked Up.”
The Studio Reminds Us Why We Love Movies
By Kabir Madan
The Studio is a brilliantly poignant dive into film that features a sublime ensemble and inventively crafted episodic arcs, but its over-the-top antics frequently take away from the show’s meaning.
Peacemaker… What a Joke
By Kabir Madan
Although Season Two had great character moments and an interesting premise, the uneven pacing significantly held it back. 11
Kinhaven Music School Semester Program, an Innovative Classical Music Initiative
By Maggie Miao
Kinhaven Music School’s new Semester Program immerses high-school musicians in a unique experience where they can receive high-level music instruction while maintaining a regular academic schedule.
When Objects Dream: Man Ray and His Art from Another World
By Ruby Kennedy
The work of Surrealism founding father Man Ray is on display at the Met, from rayographs to cinepoems, and it shines a light on what purpose art was serving after World War I.
Mad Max x Hugh Glass: Chaos, Revolution, and Paul Thomas Anderson
By Kabir Madan
The positives clearly outweigh the negatives, due to the amazing cast and direction, as well as the overall experience through the storyline and entertainment.
Weapons Hits its Target
Weapons, directed by Zach Cregger, is a zingy, funny, yet spine-chilling horror movie that exceeds expectations and serves to delight viewers.
The Conflicted Wit of Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend (2025)
By Sofia Sen
Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend falls flat with unoriginal lyrics, overused sensual themes, and a confused direction that backtracks her past success
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards: Some Deserved, Some Not
By Sara Bhuiyan
The 2025 VMAs was a ceremony full of amazing performances and some questionably picked award recipients.
PlayAsia #5: End of Summer Albums
With the end of Summer comes new music: new releases from Asian music artists to add to the playlist.
Big Thief’s Double Infinity: Exploring Love and What Can’t Be Said
By Mira Anant
Big Thief’s new album Double Infinity is a raw, exploratory folk-rock record that embraces imperfection and contradiction, using Adrianne Lenker’s intimate lyricism and the band’s loosened sound to explore love, memory, and the beauty of the unknown.
The Sydney Sweeney Ad: Our Thoughts
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
In a rare moment of consensus for the department, our esteemed artists and entertainers share their general skepticism about the cultural significance of American Eagle’s recent ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney.
Snails, Seahorses, and Modernist Pottery
In 61 stunning works, Making it Modern explores how turn-of-the-century European ceramicists took the ideas of the modernist movement and married them with the traditions of pottery.
Caught Stealing: Old Tropes in Old New York.
Caught Stealing is a contradiction: both a clichéd crime flick and a surprisingly layered performance piece.
Playlist
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
School’s back and our phones, laptops, and other internet enabled devices are all gone. With their New York Times and Spotify apps locked away in a velcro pouch, Stuyvesant students have returned to using The Spectator as their main source of news and entertainment.