Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896
May 3, 2025
May 3, 2025 | Published by the Students of Johns Hopkins since 1896

Arts & Entertainment



Jeanlouisfinch/CC BY-S.A 2.0

King Princess’ debut is a bit monotone but a lot of fun

It has been a busy week for music. Kanye West finally dropped his highly anticipated Jesus is King, which, in a surprise to nobody, was filled mostly with cringy bars that feed his persecution complex and half-hearted attempts to redeem his public image. Rex Orange County released a disappointment of an album, Pony, his third and least likeable project yet. 



Rising artist Alexander 23 releases debut album

With music production tools becoming more accessible and music streaming services allowing for an easy avenue to distribute music, the number of prominent, young artists in the music industry has increased dramatically. 


COURTESY OF KATIE TAM

David Keltz performs a reading of Poe’s “The Raven”

Once upon a midnight dreary, the two of us went to see Edgar Allan Poe impersonator David Keltz perform a dramatic reading of “The Raven” at The Elk Room on Fleet Street. We initially had trouble finding The Elk Room, a speakeasy hidden behind an unmarked, locked black door behind the Italian restaurant, Tagliata. 


Mike Steele/CC BY-S.A 2.0

BMA hosts Art, Youth and Justice Day events

The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) held Art, Youth and Justice Day this past Saturday. It was held as part of Youth Justice Awareness Month in October, a campaign aimed at raising awareness about childhood incarceration and engaging in political advocacy. 


courtesy of eliza zimmerman

Peabody features exhibit about Baltimore city life

The entrance to the exhibition City People: Black Baltimore in the Photographs of John Clark Mayden sits to the left of Peabody’s entrance. The room is small. Photographs grouped in couples and triples line the walls, all black and white, all centered around the black population of Baltimore as their subjects. 


GAGE SKIDMORE/CC BY-SA 2.0 
Aaron Paul reprises his role as Jesse Pinkman, one of the main characters of Breaking Bad.

El Camino triumphantly concludes Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is widely considered one of the best TV shows of all time. Its creator, Vince Gilligan, took a great risk by releasing a follow-up movie, “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie,” this past Friday. 


Daniel Benavides/ CC BY 2.0 
Alia Shawkat performed a set of lines 100 times in “The Second Woman.”

The Second Woman plays with theatrical convention

You probably know Alia Shawkat from her role as Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development — the quick-witted, opportunistic teenager who is the only character that has the slightest idea of what’s going on. Or you may know her from her starring role in Search Party, a genre-bending, satirical murder-mystery TV show. 


Edwardx / CC BY-SA 4.0 
Saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings is also a member of the Sons of Kemet.

The Comet Is Coming releases experimental album

Every young person deals with older people yelling about how this generation’s music is garbage compared to theirs. It involves some combination of a false equivalency, ignorance towards the modern genres and some claim to their geriatric authority. 


Maleficent: Mistress of Evil falls flat as a sequel

It’s really hard to get a sequel right. At best, they build upon the themes of the original piece and give audiences a chance to reconnect with beloved characters. At worst, they come across as meaningless cash grabs that can tarnish any good will earned by their predecessor. 


Courtesy of Glenstone Museum
The path to the Pavillions Building is a scenic journey through nature.

Glenstone provides an immersive art experience in Potomac, Md.

Hidden in plain sight yet undiscovered by many in the county, the Glenstone, a contemporary art museum, is a well-kept secret of Potomac, Md. Glenstone’s collection features art from the post-World War II era to the modern day. Following its inception in 2006 after being financed by American businessman Mitchell Rales, the mission of Glenstone was to seamlessly integrate art, landscape and architecture into a serene environment for introspection and contemplation. 


Public Domain
The Friedberg Concert Hall is home to various Peabody ensembles.

Peabody Prep students shine at Friedberg Hall

This past Sunday, the Young People’s String Program (YPSP) of the Hopkins Peabody Preparatory put on its 33rd annual Halloween concert. The performance took place in the Miriam A. Friedberg Concert Hall, and the entire venue was full to the brim. 


Dick Thomas Johnson/CC By-S.A 2.0 
Bong Joon-Ho hopes to leave audiences with mixed emotions to give “Parasite” greater realism.

Parasite transcended all of my expectations

Bong Joon-Ho’s Snowpiercer blew my high school mind. The film came to Netflix in late 2014, when the service still felt like somewhat of a novelty. Renting DVDs was still a large part of their model. Their push into original content was fledgling but promising with House of Cards, and “Netflix and chill?” was a phrase still unironically used by fuckboys everywhere. 


PETER KUDLACZ/CC BY 2.0
Actor and comedian Nick Kroll helped co-create Neflix’s Big Mouth.

Big Mouth is a crude and honest view of teen life

Big Mouth isn’t for everyone. This crude yet reflective comedy about middle-schoolers discovering their sexuality isn’t easy to digest, and, as the show cheekily admits in one of its episodes, it probably wouldn’t be able to get away with it if it wasn’t animated. But for those who make it past the shock and see the ingenious comedy behind it all, the third season of Big Mouth will be a treat. This show pulls no punches and perhaps, owing to the three-season Netflix deal, leaves no stone unturned. 




Fells Point celebrates spirited annual festival

The annual Fells Point Fun Festival took place this past weekend from Oct. 12 to Oct. 13. It was my first year at the festival, but I don’t think it’ll be my last. Over 100 vendors and 17 bands filled up the waterfront in the historic area along Thames Street, including Caroline and Wolfe.


Artist Terry Thompson discusses exhibit

Terry Thompson’s exhibition Bianco e Nero premiered at the Y:ART Gallery in Highlandtown’s Art District on Sept. 14. On Saturday, Oct. 12, Thompson presented his personal story, talked about the works on display at his exhibition and discussed the overall trajectory of his career as an artist. 


COURTESY OF ELIZA ZIMMERMAN

BMA exhibit highlights black abstract artists

In the early afternoon haze and post-Sterling Brunch lethargy, I find myself leaning back against the darkness of a Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) side room. Before me rises Kevin Beasley’s immense installation Chair of the Ministers of Defense, a sculptural piece of resin-stiffened hoods made of various clothing materials looming over a single wicker chair. 


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