iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I’m excited to share that my forthcoming book, Smalltown Urban: Performing the City in Rural America, will be released by Bloomsbury on February 18, 2027! I also gratefully appreciate all of the scholars who offered such generous endorsements of the book.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Join the inaugural Editorial Board of #SociologyUnhinged: An #UndergraduateMagazine! The Iowa Sociological Association welcomes faculty, graduate students, and late-stage undergraduates to help shape this new publication. Apply by Feb. 26, 2027: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/b4d3HWVv9F

forms.cloud.microsoft

Microsoft Forms

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Call for Chapter Proposals! @sssp1org.bsky.social’s Agenda for Social Justice: Solutions for 2028 seeks accessible scholarship addressing pressing U.S. social problems and practicable solutions. 📝 1–2 page proposals 📅 Due Oct. 30, 2026 Submit here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Excited to share the newly released cover for Smalltown Urban: Performing the City in Rural America! The book explores how people transform small-town places through public life, performance, and community. Coming Jan 2027 from @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social! www.bloomsbury.com/us/smalltown...

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Mark your calendars for #MSS2027 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | March 18–21 - @midwestsoc.bsky.social This year’s theme, “Interdisciplinary Sociology: Subverting Narratives of Scarcity,” asks us to focus not only on the challenges facing sociology, but on its possibilities. Hope to see you in Milwaukee!

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

📢📢Call for panelists📢📢 2027 Annual Meeting for @MidwestSoc | March 18–21 in Milwaukee. Closed Panel: Doing Scarcity and Abundance: The Sociology of People, Performance, and Place. Interested in submitting a full paper on people, place, identity, or performance? DM me!

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Attending #SSSP2026? The @sssp1org.bsky.social Membership & Outreach Committee has created Lists of Sessions by Topic Area to help you find sessions that match your research, teaching, and professional interests—and discover new ones along the way! 📖 www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pa...

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New book on the New Books in Sociology 📺 of @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social! I 🗣️ w/ Eric O. Silva about Contested Realities and Identity Destigmatization: Identity Construction in the Culture Wars (De Gruyter, 2026). 🎧 newbooksnetwork.com/eric-o-silva...

newbooksnetwork.com

Eric O Silva, "Contested Realities and Identity Destigmatization: Identity Construction in the Culture Wars" (De Gruyter, 2026) - New Books Network

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined Finding Your Regional #Sociology #Community early today! 47 registered and 27 participants at our peak. Great talk about #publishing, #networking, #mentoring, & #leadership! Thanks to our outstanding panelists! #RegionalSociology #HigherEd

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

2 HOURS UNTIL FINDING YOUR REGIONAL SOCIOLOGY COMMUNITY Join us to learn more about publishing, networking, conferences, leadership, & professional development in sociology. July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #AcademicPublishing #RegionalSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

The Southwestern Social Science Association & Social Science Quarterly is now a part of Finding Your Regional Sociology Community! Join us tomorrow to learn more about regional sociological associations, networking, leadership opportunities, conferences, and journals! July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

⏰LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY ⏰ Join us for Finding Your Regional #Sociology #Community! Learn about #publishing, #networking, #conferences, #leadership, & professional development in sociology. July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #RegionalSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT! Join us for Finding Your Regional Sociology Community— learn about publishing, networking, conferences, leadership, & professional development in sociology. July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #AcademicPublishing #RegionalSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Don’t Miss Out! Join us for Finding Your Regional Sociology Community— learn about publishing, networking, conferences, leadership, & professional development in sociology. July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #AcademicPublishing #RegionalSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

10 DAYS TO GO! Join us for Finding Your Regional Sociology Community— a FREE virtual panel about publishing, networking, conferences, leadership, & professional development in sociology. July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #AcademicPublishing #RegionalSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Working on a new ethnographic study of live drag racing announcers. Announcers do more than call races. They help transform racetracks into meaningful places through storytelling, recognition, and public communication. #Sociology #Ethnography #SymbolicInteraction #Communication

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

The Mid-South Sociological Association (Sociological Spectrum) has joined our panel for Finding Your Regional Sociology Community! Learn about conferences, publishing, networking, leadership, and more. REGISTER TODAY Date: July 30 | Time: 10–11 a.m. CDT forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ

forms.office.com

Microsoft Forms

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Two panelists needed for Session 083: Rural Spaces and Services II at 2026 Annual Conference for @sssp1org.bsky.social. Early bird registration ends TODAY! Join the conversation about rural spaces, rural communities, and related issues! #Sociology #RuralSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Last Call for Panelists! We're looking for panelists for Session 019: All the Feels: Emotions as Acts of Resistance and Session 083: Rural Spaces and Services II for the 2026 Annual Conference for The Society for the Study of Social Problems. Early bird registration: July 16, 2026

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Thinking about getting more involved in #sociology? Join "Finding Your #RegionalSociology #Community" Featuring: Eastern Sociological Society, @midwestsoc.bsky.social, Pacific Sociological Association, and Southern Sociological Association July 30 | 10 - 11 am CDT forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

I'm ✍️ a 📄 right now that examines how commentators both construct and reflect the shared reality of public events. The commentator constructs some of society's most visible collective experiences that range from sporting events and political debates to awards ceremonies and public celebrations.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

We're excited to welcome the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA) to the lineup for Finding Your Regional Sociology Community! When: July 30 from 10–11 a.m. CDT Register here: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ #Sociology #RegionalSociology #Writing

forms.office.com

Microsoft Forms

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Excited to share that Global Agenda for Social Justice 3 w/ @policypress.bsky.social and @sssp1org.bsky.social was released today! @glennmuschert.bsky.social and I contributed Ch. 13, "The Rules of Remembrance for Public Sociologists." Read the full volume: www.sssp1.org/index.cfm/pa...

sssp1.org

The Society for the Study of Social Problems | Home Page - SSSP

SSSP Home Page

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Have you thought about attending the 2026 Annual Conference for @sssp1org.bsky.social | August 6-9 at Westin New York at Times Square in NYC? We are in need of a 📄a thematic session: All the Feel: Emotions as Acts of Resistance. Interested? DM me or send ✉️ to johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Still in need of one paper for this thematic session that is titled All the Feel: Emotions as Acts of Resistance. The session is scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. (Eastern Time) on Friday, August 7. If you are interested, please DM me or send me an ✉️ to johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Still in need of two scholars to present their papers for this thematic session that is titled Rural Spaces and Services II. The session is scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. on Sunday, August 9. If you are interested, please DM me or send me an ✉️ to johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Finding Your Regional Sociology Community July 30 | 10–11 a.m. CDT Explore regional sociology associations, professional opportunities, & publishing. Register for the Zoom link: forms.office.com/r/XQnTZCEenQ Interested in being a panelist? DM or ✉️ johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu. #Sociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Just when you thought "6-7" was finally over... The '26–'27 AY is a little over a month away. For those of us in #highered, "6-7" doesn't just describe something that is "so last year"—it is something we're in the middle of. Bring on the '26–'27 AY! 🎓📚 #AcademicLife #BacktoCampus #Sociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

I officially submitted my final draft of SmalltownUrban to Bloomsbury Press! @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social @bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social. Yrs of fieldwork, writing, & revision have led to this moment. I can't wait to share the 📖 & 🧠- e.g., #SmalltownUrban & #UrbanPerformances - with readers.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Call for a Panelist: A panelist for the @sssp1org.bsky.social annual conference had to withdraw from our session. Do you study #health, #education, #housing, #inequality, #resilience, #policy, #communitydevelopment, and #social #well-being? If you are interested, DM me!

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Cities don't own urbanity. Smalltown Urban (@bloomsburybooksus.bsky.social, 2026) explores how festivals and public gatherings transform rural towns into temporary urban experiences. Interested in speaking opportunities. Msg me. #SmalltownUrban #Sociology #RuralAmerica

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Cities don't own urbanity. Smalltown Urban explores how festivals and public gatherings transform rural towns into temporary urban experiences. Interested in speaking opportunities. #SmalltownUrban #Sociology #RuralAmerica

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

We need a presenter for @sssp1org.bsky.social 2026 Annual Meeting (Aug. 6-9): “All the Feels: Emotions as Acts of Resistance.” 👀 for 📰 on #emotions, #sport, #leisure, #embodiment, #play, #performance, #humor, #identity, #solidarity, #resistance, or public #culture. 📨 me! #Sociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

What challenges emerge when conducting #ethnography in #spaces like the stands & pits at a drag racing strip, where conversations are shaped by #noise, #movement, #trust, & #fleetinginteraction? How does a #researcher build meaningful dialogue in a #scene built around #speed & #spectacle?

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

My #teaching philosophy, #SociologyThroughaLens, encourages students to see #sociology in everyday life (e.g., 🖼️. 🎵, 🎂, 🏢, & 📺). Sociology is not just #theory; it is a way of understanding #identity, #inequality, #culture, and #society. Learn more: tinyurl.com/4xhme92j

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Reposted by Michael O. Johnston

Social Theory on Film @socialtheoryonfilm.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Social Theory on Film is a project that provides accessible and entertaining short films about Sociology. In the current media and political climate, public, accessible Sociology is needed more than ever. It also serves as a resource for students and their teachers. youtube.com/@socialtheor...

youtube.com

Social Theory on Film

This channel covers all things Sociology. I make 'films' that should be interesting to sociologists, sociology students, and anyone who is interested in social interaction and the structure of society...

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Updating my CV, teaching philosophy, and research statement to reflect on the past academic year—and to think about where I’m headed next as an intellectual. profjohnston.weebly.com/application-material.html #Sociology #HigherEd #AcademicLife

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

Excited to share that my 📄, “Old Stomping Grounds, New Haunts: How Campus Hangouts Prepare Students for Life After College,” is featured in the latest SSSI Notes from the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction. Read here → symbolicinteraction.org/page-18076 (Click “Current Issue – 2026 May”)

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

Manuscript update. Smalltown Urban: Performing the City in Rural America is now under review with @bloomsburyacademic.bsky.social. Urban life is not just in cities. It is something people create together. Festivals. Crowds. Shared moments. #Sociology #Ethnography #UrbanStudies #Rural

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

New project: Drag racing as a social world of luck vs skill. Outcomes are not just mechanical. They are interpreted. “Good runs.” “Bad breaks.” Reputation on the line. Luck is social. Status is earned.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Manuscript submitted today. This study examines boundary-work in college hangouts, focusing on how everyday spaces like lounges and cafés shape belonging, recognition, and exclusion through interaction. What looks like “just hanging out” is deeply structured social life. #Sociology #Ethnography

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 29/04/2026

Excited to be presenting at @sssp1org.bsky.social in New York this August. I’ll be part of sessions on community, emotion, belonging, research agendas, and rural spaces. SSSP is always one of the best spaces for thoughtful sociological conversation. More details soon. Hope to see you there.

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

@lindalobao.bsky.social and I need one more paper for “Rural Spaces & Services II” at @sssp1org.bsky.social. Topics include rural inequality, service delivery, policy impacts, and community resilience. Join the conversation on justice and equity in rural life. #RuralSociology

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

Come join me for a joint conference between #TheQualitatives and #SSSI in Niagara Falls from June 10-12, 2026!

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 04/04/2026

Call for Papers 📣 Posthuman Domesticity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Routledge) How are AI systems reshaping the meaning of home? We’re seeking interdisciplinary contributions. Abstracts due June 1, 2026. See full CFP on LinkedIn 👇 www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j...

linkedin.com

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

The first draft of my book manuscript is completed and proofread. I’m now making the necessary edits. Keep your eyes out on @BloomsburyBooks for “Smalltown Urban: Performing the City in Rural America”. #intensemoments #smalltownfun

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Join the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction Media and Publications Committee as a graduate intern!

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Michael O. Johnston @professorjohnst.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Final call! I need ONE (1) paper for a thematic session: What: All the #Feels: #Emotions as #ActsofResistance @sssp1org.bsky.social 2026 When: Aug 6–9, 2026 Where: Westin New York Times Square, NYC All I need right now is a short abstract. DM or 📨 (johnstonmo@wmpenn.edu) if interested!

media.tenor.com

a red alarm clock with the words last chance on it

ALT: a red alarm clock with the words last chance on it

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