Arts and Entertainment
You Can’t Take It With You Was a Blast!
STC’s spring comedy, You Can’t Take it With You, stunned audiences with amazing comedic rapport, heartfelt human connection, and stunning sets.
Why Smallville Works Better Now Than It Did Then
By James Lu
The current revival of Smallville says a lot more about how audiences today value character-driven, earnest television than just empty nostalgia.
Parsons Brings it Back in Backrooms (2026)
Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, is a masterpiece despite overwhelming public dissatisfaction.
Chaos and Intrigue Abound in Mitski’s Latest Album
By Kaity So
Mitski explores uncomfortable topics in her new, chaotic, and controversial album
The Missing Piece
Manon’s mysterious hiatus from the hit global group KATSEYE has highlighted concerns about the mistreatment of Black women in the entertainment industry.
The Devil Still Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada 2 debuts as an unnecessary, narratively confusing legacy sequel, with acting that did not stand the test of time.
The Sound of Spring: How Popular Music Reimagines the Season Across Decades
By Mira Anant
A playlist-like analysis of how popular music across decades has redefined the idea of the “spring song,” transforming spring from a symbol of simple renewal into a more complex emotional and cultural metaphor.
Art? Science? History? What is Art Conservation?
Stuyvesant alumna Sara Levin, objects conservator for the African and Oceanic art department at the Met shares insights into the art conservation profession.
Food is my one true love
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
The A&E department shares their best bites of the issue. The food that melted in their mouths, the one that satiated their insatiable desires, the one where every bite told a story, teasing their taste buds, leaving them craving the next mouthful long after the plate was empty.
The Cost of Craze: How Trends Exploit Cultural Ingredients
Viral food trends like matcha, ube, and Dubai chocolate may capture global attention, but their rapid rise comes at the expense of cultural authenticity, shortages, and strain on the supply chains that sustain the communities behind these ingredients.
Aesthetic Authoritarianism bores me: The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent is authoritarianism on a slow, slow summer’s day.
Making Our Domestic Relics
At the Saatchi Gallery, Domestic Relics—and most notably the works of Jennifer Jones—poignantly reveals how the objects of our domestic lives embody and shape the lives that pass through them.
Blackpink’s Deadline Marks a Long-Awaited yet Uneven Comeback
By Noah Choi
Nearly a decade into their reign as global icons, Blackpink returns with Deadline, which struggles to justify the group’s three-year hiatus due to uneven production quality.
Six Pieces of Musical Advice from Musicians in my Life
By Maggie Miao
I reached out to six of the most influential musicians on my own musical journey and asked them: What is one piece of advice you have for young musicians?
PopUp Bagels: The Freshest Bagel Store in Tribeca
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
The Spectator reviews PopUp Bagels, a new bagel place near Stuyvesant that offers a unique eating experience with fresh bagels and unusual schmears.
Don Toliver’s High-Speed Experiment
Don Toliver’s Octane pushes his signature vocal experimentation to new heights across a disjointed but high-production landscape exploring modern belonging.
Heathcliff Gets a Glow-Up: The Loss of Subtext in Wuthering Heights (2026)
“Wuthering Heights” imposes a glossy, nostalgic vision that sacrifices subtext and tragedy for hollow spectacle.
Let’s Cha Cha Chat About The Romantic!
A review of Bruno Mars’ The Romantic with emphasis on the Latin influences of the album.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: Too Many Stars, Not Enough Story
By Kimberly Chen, Sara Bhuiyan
A review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with emphasis on its storytelling, character development, and its effectiveness as a sequel.
SophFrosh SING!: Boy Bands, Breakups, and Plenty of Drama
By Ashley Maung, Dinara Gargu, Gavin Cheng, Max Schwartz, Nina Benson, Oscar Scribner, Stella Krajka, Yuma Kono
Diving deep into SophFrosh SING! 2026.
A Very Mardi Gras Junior SING!
By Emily Johnson, Paloma Wilkinson, Rano Safarova, Tiffany Wang
Diving deep into Junior SING! 2026.
Heartbreak, Resilience, Love: Taylor Swift Enters a New Era with her music video Opalite
Analyzing the lyrics, script, and visuals of Taylor Swift’s latest music video, Opalite.
Spectator’s Arts and Entertainment department shares their thoughts about this year's Oscars.
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
Spectator’s Arts and Entertainment department shares their thoughts about this year's Oscars.
Bad Bunny’s Definition of America: Super Bowl LX Halftime
By Molly Gupta
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show redefined the borders of what it means to be American while successfully representing Puerto Rican culture through its music and staging.
One Punch Man S3: Profit over Passion
One Punch Man’s third season is underwhelming in several ways, from the animation errors to the lack of animation altogether. This article dives into the ways in which the season falls short, as well as an explanation of how the season was doomed from the start.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025): For the Fans
By Sara Bhuiyan
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025), while not exactly like the games, is thrilling and suspenseful, making it a fun watch for die-hard fans.
Youth, Rage, and Responsibility
By Kabir Madan
By exploring dark subject matter through the teenage psyche, Adolescence became one of the most gripping shows of the year—uncomfortable yet undeniable.
How to Practice Your Instrument
By Maggie Miao
A rudimentary guide to structuring each practice session.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
Project Hail Mary (2026) Reaches for the Stars
Project Hail Mary serves its purpose well as a hard Sci-Fi adaptation, even as some emotional depth is sacrificed for efficiency.
You Can’t Take It With You Was a Blast!
STC’s spring comedy, You Can’t Take it With You, stunned audiences with amazing comedic rapport, heartfelt human connection, and stunning sets.
Why Smallville Works Better Now Than It Did Then
By James Lu
The current revival of Smallville says a lot more about how audiences today value character-driven, earnest television than just empty nostalgia.
Parsons Brings it Back in Backrooms (2026)
Backrooms, directed by Kane Parsons, is a masterpiece despite overwhelming public dissatisfaction.
Chaos and Intrigue Abound in Mitski’s Latest Album
By Kaity So
Mitski explores uncomfortable topics in her new, chaotic, and controversial album
The Missing Piece
Manon’s mysterious hiatus from the hit global group KATSEYE has highlighted concerns about the mistreatment of Black women in the entertainment industry.
The Devil Still Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada 2 debuts as an unnecessary, narratively confusing legacy sequel, with acting that did not stand the test of time.
The Sound of Spring: How Popular Music Reimagines the Season Across Decades
By Mira Anant
A playlist-like analysis of how popular music across decades has redefined the idea of the “spring song,” transforming spring from a symbol of simple renewal into a more complex emotional and cultural metaphor.
Art? Science? History? What is Art Conservation?
Stuyvesant alumna Sara Levin, objects conservator for the African and Oceanic art department at the Met shares insights into the art conservation profession.
Food is my one true love
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
The A&E department shares their best bites of the issue. The food that melted in their mouths, the one that satiated their insatiable desires, the one where every bite told a story, teasing their taste buds, leaving them craving the next mouthful long after the plate was empty.
The Cost of Craze: How Trends Exploit Cultural Ingredients
Viral food trends like matcha, ube, and Dubai chocolate may capture global attention, but their rapid rise comes at the expense of cultural authenticity, shortages, and strain on the supply chains that sustain the communities behind these ingredients.
Aesthetic Authoritarianism bores me: The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent is authoritarianism on a slow, slow summer’s day.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie: Too Many Stars, Not Enough Story
By Kimberly Chen, Sara Bhuiyan
A review of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with emphasis on its storytelling, character development, and its effectiveness as a sequel.
Making Our Domestic Relics
At the Saatchi Gallery, Domestic Relics—and most notably the works of Jennifer Jones—poignantly reveals how the objects of our domestic lives embody and shape the lives that pass through them.
Blackpink’s Deadline Marks a Long-Awaited yet Uneven Comeback
By Noah Choi
Nearly a decade into their reign as global icons, Blackpink returns with Deadline, which struggles to justify the group’s three-year hiatus due to uneven production quality.
Six Pieces of Musical Advice from Musicians in my Life
By Maggie Miao
I reached out to six of the most influential musicians on my own musical journey and asked them: What is one piece of advice you have for young musicians?
PopUp Bagels: The Freshest Bagel Store in Tribeca
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
The Spectator reviews PopUp Bagels, a new bagel place near Stuyvesant that offers a unique eating experience with fresh bagels and unusual schmears.
Don Toliver’s High-Speed Experiment
Don Toliver’s Octane pushes his signature vocal experimentation to new heights across a disjointed but high-production landscape exploring modern belonging.
Heathcliff Gets a Glow-Up: The Loss of Subtext in Wuthering Heights (2026)
“Wuthering Heights” imposes a glossy, nostalgic vision that sacrifices subtext and tragedy for hollow spectacle.
Let’s Cha Cha Chat About The Romantic!
A review of Bruno Mars’ The Romantic with emphasis on the Latin influences of the album.
Heartbreak, Resilience, Love: Taylor Swift Enters a New Era with her music video Opalite
Analyzing the lyrics, script, and visuals of Taylor Swift’s latest music video, Opalite.
Spectator’s Arts and Entertainment department shares their thoughts about this year's Oscars.
By The Arts & Entertainment Department
Spectator’s Arts and Entertainment department shares their thoughts about this year's Oscars.
Bad Bunny’s Definition of America: Super Bowl LX Halftime
By Molly Gupta
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show redefined the borders of what it means to be American while successfully representing Puerto Rican culture through its music and staging.
SophFrosh SING!: Boy Bands, Breakups, and Plenty of Drama
By Ashley Maung, Dinara Gargu, Gavin Cheng, Max Schwartz, Nina Benson, Oscar Scribner, Stella Krajka, Yuma Kono
Diving deep into SophFrosh SING! 2026.
One Punch Man S3: Profit over Passion
One Punch Man’s third season is underwhelming in several ways, from the animation errors to the lack of animation altogether. This article dives into the ways in which the season falls short, as well as an explanation of how the season was doomed from the start.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025): For the Fans
By Sara Bhuiyan
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (2025), while not exactly like the games, is thrilling and suspenseful, making it a fun watch for die-hard fans.
Youth, Rage, and Responsibility
By Kabir Madan
By exploring dark subject matter through the teenage psyche, Adolescence became one of the most gripping shows of the year—uncomfortable yet undeniable.
A Very Mardi Gras Junior SING!
By Emily Johnson, Paloma Wilkinson, Rano Safarova, Tiffany Wang
Diving deep into Junior SING! 2026.
How to Practice Your Instrument
By Maggie Miao
A rudimentary guide to structuring each practice session.
Senior SING!: The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread
By Kabir Madan, Alexis Qian, Elysia Chen, Emma Lin, Evelyn Lifton, Isabel Cho, Lander Bovenzi, Matthew Chen, Saif Iftikhar
Diving deep into Senior SING! 2026.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.