Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
November 7, 2025
November 7, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Arts & Entertainment



SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
See Kim Kardashian, starring in the new TV series All's Fair. 

To watch and watch for: Week of Nov. 3

This week, we grapple with Halloween hangover and the countdown to fall recess. In this liminal space on the calendar, days feel like weeks. However, have no fear — the Arts section is here with this week’s installment of To Watch and Watch For, our specially curated list to help you keep track of time while also whiling it away, beginning with these four personal recommendations.


MIKLÓS DÉRI / CC BY-SA 4.0
Sankar provides context for Krasznahorkai’s deserved win of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature.

Apocalypses and awards: 2025’s Nobel Prize in Literature

As October creeps in each year, the world awaits with bated breath the names recognized by the Nobel Committee as those that have conferred “the greatest benefit to humankind.” This year, the coveted literary honor was awarded to the Hungarian author László Krasznahorkai for his unique vision of the apocalypse.


DIMA666666789 / CC BY-NC 4.0
Hallett explains Star Wars fans’ discontent with Disney’s choice regarding the films. 

The Hunt for Ben Solo: a movie that could have been

At the end of 2019’s Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, evil had been vanquished, and a new day of the Disney+ TV series would fill the empty void to satisfy fans of the iconic series. That is, until interviews revealed a potential 10th episode of the saga, one that could have changed everything.


JOSHUA LONSTEIN / PHOTO EDITORKhalid earns Hopkins students’ love through his performance at 2025 Hoptoberfest. 

Summer in October: Khalid lights up Hoptoberfest

We had already seen Khalid in the summer at World Pride 2025, so the excitement that Hopkins finally had a somewhat mainstream artist for Hoptoberfest 2025 dwindled between us. Nevertheless, I donned my favorite pair of jeans and halter-top combo, and I giddily ran to the end of the line on Oct. 24.


KIRK STAUFFER / CC BY-SA 3.0
Alvey muses on her experience at the Lorde concert and the ownership of music shared between artist and fan.

Lorde Ultrasound world tour: finally found my green light

Pop superstar Lorde has captured the hearts and minds of her over 30 million listeners on Spotify. Despite only having four studio albums spanning a nearly 20 year long career, Lorde has managed to sell out nearly every stadium on her recent Ultrasound World Tour, playing for adoring fans across the globe. 


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
Watch "Poor Things" director Yorgos Lanthimos' film "Bugonia" out Oct 31.

To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 26

Why don't mummies take time off? They are afraid to unwind. Unlike mummies, I hope all of you find some time to unwind and indulge in a bit of escapism this Halloween. Sit tight and put on your spook-tacles because this week’s installment of To Watch and Watch For has you covered!


STEVE RHODES / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Nguyen captures the rise of Victoria’s Secret through their 2025 fashion show from past criticism.

Victoria’s Secret rediscovers its wings

The 2025 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show proved that reinvention doesn’t mean abandoning identity. For a brand that was once built of pure fantasy, this year’s show felt grounded in something real: power, presence and possibility.


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
Indulge in college students’ favorite music artist cupcakKe’s most recent album, The BakKery.

To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 19

There are few things that can help you cope with going from New York trips with friends, outings to fall festivals and more, then returning back to campus to be greeted with more homework and exams. To make things at least a little easier, take these personal recommendations from this week’s installment of To Watch and Watch For.


RON RAFFETY / CC BY-SA 4.0
Phan reviews the latest Paul Thomas Anderson film One Battle After Another, loosely based on Thomas Pynchon’s novel Vineland.

One Battle After Another isn’t the perfect Pynchonian movie, but it’s the exact picture of today’s America

Paul Thomas Anderson has an obsession with the past. His dynamic body of work is vast and varied in genre, but all of his films operate with a sort of disinterest in the modern world. One Battle After Another, however, is different from his other works; it’s today’s most relevant love story of a father and a daughter in the midst of eerily familiar political turmoil. 


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
The 25th Annual Baltimore Comic Convention is Oct. 17–19, in the Baltimore Convention Center! This event is not free; tickets and registration are required.    

To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 12

Fall break is on the horizon, and the temperature is finally starting to approach the 50s. In other words, it’s the perfect time to grab a blanket, cozy up and immerse yourself in your new favorite watch, read or album and take the break to explore some of the wonderful live events this week.




RON FRAZIER / CC BY 4.0
This article connects the most recent Banksy mural to both the philosophy of Simone Weil and the current events involving Palestine. 

Banksy, Palestine and Simone Weil: What does it mean to look?

From the artist behind the half-shredded “Girl With Balloon” comes a new mural on the walls of the British Royal Courts of Justice. Appearing on Sept. 8, this latest Banksy depicts a judge beating a protestor with a gavel while the protestor defends from the ground, holding a blood-splattered sign.



SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
“The Infamous“ East Coast hip-hop duo Mobb Deep returns with their new album “Infinite“ on Oct 10.

To watch and watch for: Week of Oct. 5

The first breeze of the fall season has hit campus, foxes are prowling the sidewalks and we (at least most of us) are finally through with the menial duties of midterm exams. This week, we have a plentiful batch of arts, including a return from a revered hip-hop duo and an exciting underground music live show running all weekend.


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
Tune in this week for another list of upcoming releases and events, including a sure-to-succeed collage workshop.

To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 28

With many of the semester’s firsts in a series of nightmarish midterms in our rearview mirrors, everyone deserves a moment to breathe and unwind with some of these exciting new media releases.


MARTIN SCHUMANN / CC BY-SA 4.0 
Wang connects his experience listening to Big Thief’s Double Infinity to his first weeks at Hopkins.

Big Thief's Double Infinity will make you happy to be sad

Is Double Infinity Big Thief’s magnum opus? No, not by a long shot. If I could, would I make it mandatory listening for all of my friends? Yeah — I wouldn’t even have to think about it. We all deserve to experience humanity, don’t we?


SYDNOR DUFFY / DESIGN & LAYOUT EDITOR
Check out Doja Cat’s new album Vie, out Friday, Sept. 26! 

To watch and watch for: Week of Sept. 21

Welcome back to another week’s To Watch and Watch For. Now, in the midst of exams, here's to hoping that you can weather the storm and squeeze in a free hour here and there to check out the wide array of media releasing in the upcoming days. 



News-Letter Magazine