iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The “top left-hand corner of Wales” - will forever be the land of Ivor the Engine

Ivor the Engine passes the the signal box in an overcast day and Jones the Steam greets Owen the Signal

25792113

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Owen Davies @odavies9.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.

13384147

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Mephisto, by Joaquín Espalter y Rull, 1872, 📸 by Dan Mullan

2682502421

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Stuart Carroll @civsoc.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

Nothing unites the world more than #Argentina

122

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Joanna Bourke @joannabourke.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Shocking news about redundancies in the Humanities at the University of Hertfordshire, despite their exceptional research activities. I have signed the petition against these actions: it would be great if you would as well: c.org/kDQynZV7J4 @bbkhistorical.bsky.social @bisa-bkk.bsky.social

c.org

Sign the Petition

Save the Humanities at the University of Hertfordshire

14956

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

This is an unforgivably stupid situation. It is an astonishing own goal to try and drive student numbers down to move an immigration number that in turn is totally ignored by the anti-immigrant head bangers.

311389436

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Ceri Houlbrook @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Why would we want to learn from our pasts, or ponder the power of the written and spoken word, or explore the deep questions of humanity? According to the University of Hertfordshire, we wouldn't. They've just cut all of our undergrad Humanities programmes

45631298

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Philip Larkin Society @plsoc.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

Larkin’s father died on 26 March 1948. A week the following Sunday it snowed in Warwick. This beautiful elegy was never printed in the poet’s lifetime and yet, arguably, it is his first great poem.

0337

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Brodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

In a *new* post, I have pulled together the latest data on historians in UK universities and PhDs granted. The results are ... not great. Staff numbers have been mostly shrinking since 2019. PhDs have been roughly flat. 1/3. 🗃️ More info here: manyheadedmonster.com/2026/04/23/h...

A chart showing the numbers of staff employed and students granted PhDs in History in UK universities, showing a rise in staff from 2014 to 2019, then a decline to 3,560 in 2024/25. The number of PhDs granted has bounced around, but was at 650 in 2024/25.

87649

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Jonathan Foyle @jonathanfoyle.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

I’m sensing a pattern

1395

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Jane Casey @janecasey.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Any excuse to share this magnificent Caravaggio which you can see for free in Dublin. The events of Holy Thursday: betrayal, alarm, despair, resignation and the artist holding a lantern to show the scene to the world.

A Caravaggio painting from 1602 of Jesus being embraced by Judas as men in armour arrest him. On the right, a dark haired onlooker takes it all in. On the left, a panicking apostle runs away. All is suffused with unearthly light and beauty despite depicting the moment of disaster. Once overlooked, now one of the world’s treasures.

1317953

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

The Empty City @davidallengreen.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

One gets the impression that Starmer would have sent troops for “defensive” roles in Vietnam. Thankfully we had Wilson instead.

1225025

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

As I'm attending a conference in Tübingen today, for #findsfriday an #IceAge masterpiece that is on display at the University museum: a tiny but most splendid figurine from the Swabian Jura - a #horse carved in mammoth ivory some 40,000 years ago - the oldest known sculpture of a horse. 📷me 🏺

A close-up of a small horse figurine carved from mammoth ivory with a weathered surface. The figure features a bowed head and arched neck, and all four legs are broken off. It's displayed on a dark, speckled platform against a black background, with soft lighting highlighting its contours.

14550126

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

David Hewson @davidhewson.com · 27/02/2026

The message from the right wing press this morning seems to be it’s undemocratic to vote the way you want, not the way they tell you. Mind you they’ve been saying this ever since Labour won.

0163

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Peter Smith @redpeter99.bsky.social · 27/02/2026

A good candidate, a positive message and there's a large progressive vote out there. Hope Labour can learn from Gorton and Denton.

6979

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

Portrait of a doge, c. 1460, by Gentile Bellini. Today is his day.

213923

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Will Tullett @willtullett.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

We are advertising 4 jobs at York for historians (1 year medieval, 2 years modern Britain and public history, 3 years modern China, and open ended modern Middle Eastern) features.york.ac.uk/history-jobs/

features.york.ac.uk

York History Department - Academic Jobs

Uncover the past to define the future. We are seeking research-led historians to join our world-class, collaborative community. Discover career-defining opportunities within one of the UK’s most disti...

194114

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr Robin Douglas @robincdouglas.bsky.social · 19/02/2026

It's actually real now!

3907

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

The Ladybird Adventures in History books by Lawrence Du Garde Peach. For many of us they sparked a love of history

31 books laid out in a grid to show their front covers, ranging from Alfred the Great to Henry the eighth

1229646

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Battle between monkeys and wildmen, or, an allegory of current politics. By the Master of Mary of Burgundy, from the Hours of Engelbert of Nassau, 1480.

06915

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Jailbreak: the blessed Ranieri frees the poor from a formidable Florentine prison. Painted in 1440 by Sassetta of Siena. It's his day today.

18918

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

John Foot @footymac.bsky.social · 25/01/2026

1924 Italian election vibes in the US.

021

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

A brilliant speech by Canada's Mark Carney in Davos: "The old order is not coming back. We should not mourn it. Nostalgia is not a strategy...The powerful have their power. But we have something too — the capacity to stop pretending, to name reality, to build our strength at home & to act together."

1063513875

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

cbnewham @parishchurches.org · 11/01/2026

The Fight Between Good and Evil This amazing font of c.1140 at Eardisley (Herefordshire) presents two dramatic scenes carved with remarkable vigour:

2346

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Brodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Birkbeck is hiring a Lecturer in Medieval Studies (c.1300-1500), full-time and open-ended. They will be formally based in English but expected to be able to contribute about 0.5FTE to History, including teaching and supervision. Closing date Feb 23rd: cis7.bbk.ac.uk/vacancy/lect...

Birkbeck, University of London, is seeking a Lecturer in Medieval Studies to join our dynamic team within the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Autumn 2026.

As Lecturer in Medieval Studies you will contribute to the teaching of Medieval English literature and Medieval history across the Faculty, within our School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication, and School of Historical Studies - this includes our BA English and BA History programmes, as well as postgraduate taught programmes in the two subject areas.

This post is offered on a permanent contract at Birkbeck, full time 35 hours per week, with a salary of £44,247 rising to £60,858 per year. Teaching hours will vary from 6pm - 9pm, Monday to Friday.

To be successful, you will bring research expertise in the literature, history and culture of the Late Medieval period (c.1300-1500), and demonstrate a capacity to contribute to interdisciplinary research and teaching, participate actively in curriculum development, supervise doctoral students, and help shape the intellectual life of our vibrant academic community.

We would also welcome applicants who would be able to contribute to collaborative teaching programmes or research in the Faculty, in areas such as identity, race/ethnicity, or gender - experience of collaboration with cultural institutions, whether through research or teaching, is also welcome.

Core responsibilities will initially include programme/module administration, teaching, supervision, assessment, student support and pastoral care. You will also be equipped to supervise doctoral students.

With a PhD in any area of Medieval Studies, you will contribute the Faculty’s and Schools’ research impact and culture, and to the intellectual and cultural life of the institution and the various communities and partners with whom we work and serve.

4123142

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

James Coverley @jamescoverley.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

#happynewyear #ancientbluesky #archaaeology #history #romans Sometime around AD 100, somebody wrote to Flavius Cerialis, commander of the fort at Vindolanda, wishing him a happy New Year. open.substack.com/pub/jamescov...

03213

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

The sun is spent, and now his flasks Send forth light squibs, no constant rays; The world's whole sap is sunk; The general balm th'hydroptic earth hath drunk, Whither, as to the bed's feet, life is shrunk, ---John Donne, A Nocturnal upon St. Lucy's Day #poetry #solstice #winter #literature

'Tis the year's midnight, and it is the day's,
Lucy's, who scarce seven hours herself unmasks;
The sun is spent, and now his flasks
Send forth light squibs, no constant rays;
The world's whole sap is sunk;
The general balm th' hydroptic earth hath drunk,
Whither, as to the bed's feet, life is shrunk,
Dead and interr'd; yet all these seem to laugh,
Compar'd with me, who am their epitaph.

Study me then, you who shall lovers be
At the next world, that is, at the next spring;
For I am every dead thing,
In whom Love wrought new alchemy.
For his art did express
A quintessence even from nothingness,
From dull privations, and lean emptiness;
He ruin'd me, and I am re-begot
Of absence, darkness, death: things which are not.

All others, from all things, draw all that's good,
Life, soul, form, spirit, whence they being have;
I, by Love's limbec, am the grave
Of all that's nothing. Oft a flood
Have we two wept, and so
Drown'd the whole world, us two; oft did we grow
To be two chaoses, when we did show
Care to aught else; and often absences
Withdrew our souls, and made us carcasses.

But I am by her death (which word wrongs her)
Of the first nothing the elixir grown;
Were I a man, that I were one
I needs must know; I should prefer,
If I were any beast,
Some ends, some means; yea plants, yea stones detest,
And love; all, all some properties invest;
If I an ordinary nothing were,
As shadow, a light and body must be here.

But I am none; nor will my sun renew.
You lovers, for whose sake the lesser sun
At this time to the Goat is run
To fetch new lust, and give it you,
Enjoy your summer all;
Since she enjoys her long night's festival,
Let me prepare towards her, and let me call
This hour her vigil, and her eve, since this
Both the year's, and the day's deep midnight is.

22813

Jonathan Davies @jddavies66.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Laura The Witchfinder General Theatre of Blood

020

Jonathan Davies @jddavies66.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Christmas at San Nicolò dei Mendicoli, where _Don't Look Now_ was filmed.

2121

Jonathan Davies @jddavies66.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Waiting for my bus in Venice. Luckily it has radar.

050

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Karl Appuhn @appuhn.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

The guy at the liquor store gave him the lie. What else could he do but defend his honor.

121

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Amanda Madden @amandamadden.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

The Center for Humanities Research at GMU is hosting a hybrid book talk for my monograph Civil Blood: Vendetta Violence and the Civic Elites in Early Modern Italy this upcoming Friday from noon-12:30. Register at this link: chr.gmu.edu/events/17595

chr.gmu.edu

CHR Book Launch, "Civil Blood: Vendetta Violence and the Civic Elites in Early Modern Italy" by Amanda Madden

Friday, November 21, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM EST

295

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Folkloring Podcast @folkloringpodcast.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

Editing today. I would like to formally apologize to anyone I have ever spoken to about the number of times I say "and, so" #editing #podcastsky #podcaster #folkloring #folklore

061

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 17/11/2025

Eleanora of Toledo in a glorious dress, with her son Giovanni de’ Medici. Painted in 1544, by Agnolo Bronzino. He was born OTD in 1503, in Florence.

618228

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Wonderful tribute to a teacher: young Sofonisba Anguissola paints herself being created by Bernardino Campi -- yet at same time, she is of course creating him! Today is her day.

427057

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Pierre Purseigle @purseigle.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

🚨#History #envhist Job Alert: My Department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Environmental History. 🗃️ Come work with us at Warwick. You'll get both excellent colleagues and great students! See details below... And do not hesitate to spread the word... 👇👇👇 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK289/a...

jobs.ac.uk

Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125) at University of Warwick

Explore an exciting academic career as a Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125). Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.

05978

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Steve Richards @steverichards.bsky.social · 09/11/2025

It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.

31869222

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Society for Renaissance Studies @srsrensoc.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

CFP: Gender, Violence and the Early Moderns Confirmed keynote speaker: @jddavies66.bsky.social Deadline: 20 December 2025 Conference: 22 May 2026, European University Institute, Florence all info: www.rensoc.org.uk/event/gender... #EarlyModern #SkyStorians

Gender, Violence and the Early Moderns
European University Institute, Florence, May 22, 2026 - May 22, 2026
Deadline for submission/application: December 20, 2025

Call for Papers

Organiser: Dr Giada Pizzoni

Keynote Speaker: Dr Jonathan Davies (Warwick)

Violence puts the gender roles in a society firmly on records. Although we can never fully grasp the motives behind past acts of violence, through them we can gauge what was tolerated or sanctioned in any given society. Historical violence can suggest which meaning early modern people had of assault and abuse, whether physical, verbal or psychological. This brings us to the fundamental methodological question of how modern categories can capture past social realities. In this regard, the aim of the workshop is to offer a more precise picture of gender violence, with a quantitative study on survivors, their witnesses, and the negotiating process.

This gathering aims to promote a discussion on how to defy certain stereotypes around gender-based violence by investigating how women and men in the past viewed and talked about their roles within the abusive act. While some treated the violence suffered as an intimate matter, charged with shame and danger and therefore difficult to articulate, others saw it as a matter to be publicly outed and put into words.

This workshop invites proposals for short papers (4,000-5,000 words) on any aspect of gender and violence in early modernity. Papers that investigate the possibility to offer significant input for the study of what we would regard as psychological/physical trauma; dynamics of power; for understanding responses to assault; to investigate the status and forms of victims and perpetrators. The past can share its feelings as violent acts are always initially expressed through language and shaped by specific social and cultural norms.

01412

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Hisham Zerriffi @hishamzerriffi.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

A major US academic conference is offering a special info session with immigration attorney for int’l attendees. Sad it’s necessary and great they’re doing it. But it’s always been tough for some people (eg “Global South” scholars). So this should have always been happening.

0267

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

Infinitely enigmatic Flagellation of Christ, c. 1455, by spatial genius Piero della Francesca. Today is his day.

411117

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Julia Rose Kraut @juliarosekraut.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Rest in Peace, Diane Keaton. Thank you for your work and for your many wonderful performances. My favorite was your role as Louise Bryant in "REDS" (1981). 🗃️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ur1...

youtube.com

"Alone with your work" -- Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Reds

YouTube video by David Gibson

43165347

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Owen Davies @odavies9.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

A folklorist sees the modern far-right trigger motifs and reads it like a folk tale of distraction ... #vegans #tampons #toilets #NationalTrust. So simple. Don't be a sucker. See through it.

54711

Reposted by Jonathan Davies

Catherine Fletcher @catherinefletcher.info · 03/10/2025

Read all about the history in THE FIREARM REVOLUTION, out in April 26 and now up for pre-order: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...

press.princeton.edu

The Firearm Revolution

A groundbreaking account of how firearms changed Europe and the world

164