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Elena Mary

@elenamary.bsky.social
1.9K followers 1.3K following 105 posts

Historian of Modern Britain c.1840-1950. Writes about women's bodies, images, dress, beauty, whiteness and violence. DPhil on the cultural history of the female neck. elenamary.co.uk doi.org/10.1080/14780038.2024.24234…

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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Really interested to read this this morning on govt announcement of new law banning depictions of non-fatal strangulation ('choking' in pornography). As the article suggests, the key will be enforcement www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
'Choking' in porn has become the new normal. Here’s why a new UK law banning it is so vital | Clare McGlynn
Strangulation during sex damages young women’s brain health and breeds deep gender inequality. But the real test will be its enforcement, says Clare McGlynn, a professor of law at Durham University
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Open Culture @openculture.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Puts 490,000 High-Res Images Online & Makes Them Free to Use
openculture.com
The Metropolitan Museum of Art Puts 490,000 High-Res Images Online & Makes Them Free to Use
Update: The Metropolitan Museum of Art has put online 492,000 high-resolution images of artistic works. Even better, the museum has placed the vast majority of these images into the public domain, mea...
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
Why does writing a first draft always feel like one of those nightmares where you have an exam you havent prepared for??? Like, I'm back at school and I have to do my GCSE physics exam but I dont have my calculator and I havent revised and also I'm 31 and I'm pretty sure I've done this all before...
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
If I just read one more thing, then I'll start actually writing my draft, definitely, but I just need to read this one thing which will probably solve everything and be the crucial piece of the jigsaw I've been missing... right? 🗃️
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SHCY @shcy.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
This week on the blog, check out this fun interview with Jennifer Crane (@jennycrane.bsky.social) all about her fascinating new book on the rise, fall, and legacy of gifted children in the UK and the world: shcydigitalchildhoods.org/dir/the-rise...
shcydigitalchildhoods.org
The Rise and Fall of the Gifted Child - Digital Childhoods
This spring, Jennifer Crane published her new book ‘Gifted Children’ in Britain and the World: Elitism and Equality since 1945 with Oxford University Press (open access). It expands upon the article “...
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Ingrid Burrington @lifewinning.com · 26/05/2025
Thinking of every academic who has had to apply for grants to cover the cost of requesting and licensing images for their books with zero assistance from a publisher
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 24/05/2025
Looking forward to listening to this on my train journey tomorrow!
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Jess Keating @jesskeatingbooks.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Your thought for the day is that magnolias existed 95 million years ago, which means that dinosaurs were around to enjoy them. Bees hadn’t evolved yet, so they were pollinated by ancient beetles! Next time you see a magnolia tree, think of your dinosaur cousins. ☺️ #science
A beautiful closeup of pink and white magnolia flowers, on an extended branch. There is a bright blue sky in the background.
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Jenny Crane @jennycrane.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Triple book launch for myself, @drsarahlkenny.bsky.social, and @hannahcharnock.bsky.social! Thanks to @lauratisdall.bsky.social for chairing. Please do join if you're interested in social and cultural approaches to young people's lives and leisure spaces. 12 June, 12-1, tinyurl.com/mryazrew
Book launch poster for book launch with Jenny Crane, new book Gifted Children in Britain and the World, Sarah Kenny, new book Growing up and going out, and Hannah Charnock, new book Teenage intimacies - all in discussion with Laura Tisdall. Date is 12 June, 12-1, via teams https://tinyurl.com/mryazrew
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 15/04/2025
'Making the Case for History: A View from the Royal Historical Society': bit.ly/4cRjK37 The Society's President, Lucy Noakes, writes today on the profession and discipline @historywo.bsky.social #skystorians
Graphic for RHS article in History Workshop, 'Making the Case for History: A View from the Royal Historical Society'.
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 14/04/2025
📢 An update - now the dust has settled I'm really thrilled to share that I finally submitted my thesis on the cultural history of the female neck in modern Britain earlier this year and passed my viva just over a week ago!! 🗃️🎉🥳
Image of the title page of a thesiscontents page of the thesiscontents page of the thesisshort abstract of the thesis
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
On my moodboard today is Rossetti’s sumptuous ‘Lady Lilith’. Just look at that neck! The abundance of flowers in this painting always makes me think of spring - not to mention the sudden urge to grow my hair! 🌷🪞✨🗃️
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Dr Rebecca Wragg Sykes @lemoustier.bsky.social · 25/02/2025
Govt AI creators & copyright consultation closes midnight today. I used the ALCS guide to complete, answering in my own words, and it took me about 30 minutes, as opposed to the several hours it would have done otherwise.
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
So exciting to see this in print!! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Something that always surprises me all over again about writing is how much bravery is required. Sending good vibes and solidarity to anyone else trying to write the conclusion to a piece of work that has taken many years to come together. Courage calls to courage everywhere! Your work matters! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 02/12/2024
Is it normal when you get really close to your phd submission deadline to slow down to a crawl?To take hours to do each edit/paragraph? I only hear stories of miraculous feats and speeding up..! 🐢 🫠 🗃️
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
Most people outside of research are still unaware of how much the cyberattack on @britishlibrary.bsky.social is still affecting the research community one year on. Good piece covering that + need to invest in libraries www.timeshighereducation.com/depth/how-br... @timeshighered.bsky.social
timeshighereducation.com
How the British Library cyberattack disrupted research
Academics who rely on the British Library’s unmatched collection are still feeling the impact of a devastating cyberattack a year ago. Jack Grove hears from those affected and considers how another ca...
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Killing my darlings: closing my emotional support “to read” ebook/pdf tabs 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Another productive day of reading underway (downloading pdfs, scanning the footnotes, highlighting articles to download as pdfs, organising the pdfs into categorised folders) 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
Historians of gender and the body: now is the time to tell me about your/your colleagues recent publications so I can include them in my literature review! All suggestions vvv welcome, especially interested in work on specific body parts/visual culture or unusual periodisations 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 09/11/2024
With this lovely influx of new followers I guess its a good time to share my first ever article on gender, sexual violence and popular culture in modern Britain! doi.org/10.1080/1478...
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 16/10/2024
Spending some time looking at jewellery today and once again in raptures over this pearl and diamond Van Cleef & Arpels necklace given to Grace Kelly as a wedding gift by her husband in 1956. 🗃️
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Dr Vanessa @hpsvanessa.bsky.social · 11/10/2024
For #DigitalFriday I’d like to gather a list of royalty/fee-free image catalogues and databases - ideally thing that *can* be used commercially too - to counter the “but I have to use AI” argument. Any suggestions?
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 06/09/2024
Brilliant day editing my chapter (moving paragraphs around before putting them back in the same place they originally were, deleting paragraphs then reinserting them, spending hours crafting 1 footnote) 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 03/09/2024
emboldened by the success of my last post, another request for historians - can anyone recommend me some great readings on the neoclassical aesthetic of the british empire? architecture is far out of my wheelhouse but doing some thinking about pillars and columns! 🗃️🏛️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 29/08/2024
Hi historians! Wondering if anyone has any top tips for writing a thesis introduction for a very tired and daunted PhD student… all advice gratefully received! 🗃️
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Dr Andrew McInnes @drbeard79.bsky.social · 06/08/2024
Donated to the Spellow library fundraiser (following a link thru a Guardian article) to support a Liverpool community spot damaged by hateful bigots! It’s already raised more than £150,000 - books and people are good, actually!
gofund.me
Books for Spellow Lane, organized by Alex McCormick
Our city is a sad place at the minute, much like the rest of the country. But it makes me heartb… Alex McCormick needs your support for Books for Spellow Lane
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 14/05/2024
Busy 'writing my chapter' (downloading pdfs and organising them into folders) 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 23/04/2024
Historians & history enthusiasts - do you have any readings you love on using advice literature as a source?? Specifically I’m looking at 19th-20thC beauty handbooks and etiquette manuals & would love some recommendations! 🗃️💄🪞
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 09/03/2024
Just another day as a very serious historian, singing the alphabet song repeatedly as I do my bibliography... 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 04/03/2024
Doing some thinking about Disney's 'Cinderella' (1950) today. A powerful influence in the post-war period and a formative text for the young Elena in the 1990s! Sending Monday motivation to everyone going into battle with their drafts today. The dream that you wish will come true! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 27/02/2024
Completely obsessed with this insanely glamorous picture of The Hon. Mrs. Baillie-Hamilton by Cecil Beaton. The turban!! That curl!! Her eyebrows!! 🤩 Published in The Tatler 26 Nov 1930 © Illustrated London News Group 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 12/02/2024
Does anyone else have an emotional support 'to read' folder of downloaded pdfs? Or 30+ open tabs at any time? A daily reminder that I am, in fact, a deeply optimistic person. Hope springs eternal...! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 29/01/2024
i don't know how many SSO passwords i have left in me 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 22/01/2024
Today the terror of a new chapter draft... Starting to realise it might actually not get easier as I go... Solidarity with everyone going into battle today! I'm thinking about women's magazines and enjoying some gorgeous adverts and illustrations. 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 09/01/2024
📢 Is anyone here currently working on whiteness and self-fashioning/beauty/cosmetics&skin-lighteners? I'm putting a panel submission together for the SHS 2024 conference and seeking a third paper! Let me know if you are interested & we can chat!! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 05/01/2024
Finally forcing myself to “circle back” to the article draft I was supposed to tackle in the new year! Does anyone else find writing the conclusion the hardest part?? Sending everyone courage for the last push of the week! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 28/11/2023
One day SOLO will give me the actual book reference and not thousands of reviews....but it is not this day 😭 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 22/11/2023
Spending some time today thinking about popular cinema in the 1940s so on the moodboard is this gorgeous 1948 photo of Margaret Lockwood, star of Gainsborough's box office smash 'The Wicked Lady' © estate of Kenneth Hughes/NPG, London 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 04/11/2023
Excited to read this when I get back to my desk on Monday! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 03/11/2023
On today's moodboard is this gorgeous Winterhalter painting of Princess Alexandra (1864). Oh to be so serenely elegant! Her hair is arranged to hide a small scar on her neck which she usually concealed with large jewelled choker-style necklaces or black ribbons © His Majesty King Charles III 2023 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 24/10/2023
Today's inspo for finishing off my chapter edits is this beautiful Cecil Beaton photo from 1948. I just love the drama of the lighting and composition and the sheen of the extravagant icy pastel gowns. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, © Condé Nast 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 09/10/2023
Would anyone be willing to share an example of a long abstract (1000-2000 words) for a history phd thesis with me? Having a total mind blank & would be great to have a reference point for how to go about writing one! All tips/pointers v much appreciated! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 03/10/2023
Guys (and dolls) do you have any readings you love on digital history?? Specifically I’m reflecting on my use of collections of digitised images (portrait paintings and photography) & would love some recommendations! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 03/10/2023
Reminder to register & join us this Thursday in Oxford! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 22/09/2023
🗃️ Oxford-based & interested in public history? Join us at ⏰ Radcliffe Observatory 5th Oct 3.30-4.30 ⏰ for a showcase of short videos based on new research! We’ll discuss using video to communicate research & I’ll be sharing my video “Fashion & Murder: the shocking history of the female neck” 🎬🍿
oxco.video
Impact Showcase @ Oxford
Video showcase open to all - register now!
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 02/10/2023
Been thinking today about Keat's 'negative capability'; the need to sit patiently with doubt & uncertainty without 'irritable' reaching towards a resolution. Often if I allow my subconscious to quietly work away at the knot whilst reading other things my argument will suddenly arrive fully formed! 🗃️
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 27/09/2023
Meditating on the calm confidence required for academic writing; the paralysis created by the fear of the writing being either too much or not enough, the gnawing self-consciousness of it all
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Elena Mary @elenamary.bsky.social · 25/09/2023
Just googled “does the footnote go before or after the full stop” if anyone is wondering how my phd write up is going… 🫠🗃️
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