Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
October 5, 2026
October 5, 2026 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Arts & Entertainment



PROLINESERVER / CC BY-SA 3.0
Horace Engdahl presenting the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2008.

Who’s who: Common predictions for the 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature

Every year, the Nobel Prize in Literature drives contentious literary discourse about our most prestigious living writers. This year’s prize will be announced on Oct. 8th, and we at The News-Letter are covering and giving background for 10 names which frequently appear on prediction lists: Can Xue, Gerald Murnane, Anne Carson, Thomas Pynchon, Garielle Lutz, Rachel Cusk, Isabel Allende, Haruki Murakami, Elena Ferrante and Hopkins’ own Louise Erdrich.


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR 
Move into the start of October with these picks of art!

To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 4

As fall begins, you may be looking for new or exciting experiences with the changing seasons. Whether you’re looking for a new film or novel, we’ve got you covered with suggestions for you. 



SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR 
Wait out the rainy autumn weather with this week’s picks!

To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 27

Whether you find yourself bedridden looking for a new book to pass the time or full of energy and searching for things to do in the Baltimore area, hopefully you’ll find the time to check out some of this week's recommendations! 


REINO LOPPINEN / LEHUTIKUVA / PUBLIC DOMAIN
Tove Jansson with her larky, blunt yet endearing Moomins.

Tove Jansson's Works and Loves

In the spirit of a new retrospective exhibition of Tove Jansson’s work, Estelle Chen reflects on Jansson’s work in the quarter-century after her passing.


JUSTIN HIGUCHI / CC BY 4.0
Carly Rae Jepsen live from the Troubadour on August 19, 2025.

Carly Rae Jepsen works round-the-clock in Day and Night

Carly Rae Jepsen has a habit of releasing albums in two, typically releasing a B-side album for each cycle. These storied traditions came together on Sept. 18 for Day and Night, the pop star’s eighth studio release and first double album arriving right after the birth of her first child. 



To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 20

There’s always more studying to come, but there’s also always more media to check out! The Arts & Entertainment editors hope that you can find some time in your busy schedules to check out these selections releasing this week. 








To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 13

Before classes start to truly ramp up with endless assignments and back-to-back exams, the Arts & Entertainment editors would like to offer some suggestions to occupy the free time you may get during this early semester period.





COURTESY OF KEVIN HE
He describes his experience with his first Record Store Day in Baltimore.

Record Store Day 2026: a recap

Although I have been collecting records for a few years, this was my first time participating in Record Store Day because I had been turned off by the notoriously long lines and titles that didn’t really catch my eye.


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