Stuart Dunn
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stuartdunn.bsky.social
Stuart Dunn
@stuartdunn.bsky.social

Digital Humanist and Professor of Spatial Humanities, King's College London (@kingsdh.bsky.social). Also: Head of Humanities, @kingsartshums.bsky.social. Various other things too, e.g. @folkloresociety.bsky.social Council Member.

https://stuartdunn.blog .. more

Computer science 39%
Art 17%

If Trump sues the BBC, could its lawyers ask him to provide evidence that the 2020 election was stolen?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump threatens $1bn legal action against BBC over 6 January speech edit - live updates
The BBC chair earlier apologised for the
www.bbc.co.uk

I'm not massively surprised that pretty Theale has voted to remain in West Berkshire rather than join Reading.

BBC News - Resounding rejection in Theale referendum for Reading plan - BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Resounding rejection in Theale referendum for Reading plan
The non-binding referendum showed resounding support for the status quo - but turnout was just 25%.
www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Stuart Dunn

Editors' Choice: The Digital Futures of History: Can AI be superstitious?
The Digital Futures of History: Can AI be superstitious?
This is an approximate text of the talk I gave at King’s Digital Futures Institute’s event on the Digital Futures of History on 15th October 2025. In 1937, H G Wells imagined an interco…
stuartdunn.blog

I have a small issue with Michael Heseltine's otherwise great description of Farage. If he really looked like a farmer, he would be wearing a boiler suit and covered in cow shit. What he actually looks like is someone who wants to look like a farmer.

Many congratulations to my colleague Dr Rachael Kent. This is a milestone in the history of big tech accountability!

Reposted by Stuart Dunn

👏 Dr Rachael Kent @kingsdh.bsky.social wins historic case against Apple in £1.5 billion collective action.

The decision paves the way for £1.5 billion in compensation to be returned to nearly 36 million UK consumers and businesses ⬇️
Dr Rachael Kent wins historic case against Apple in £1.5 billion collective action | King's College London
The case, Kent v Apple, was brought by Dr Rachael Kent, Senior Lecturer at King’s College London, who made history as the first female Class Representative in the UK’s collective action regime.
www.kcl.ac.uk

Fascinating and also dispiriting account of the demise of robots.txt 🤖
"The protocol taught us that technology can be based on human values like ethics and morality. It showed that voluntary compliance works when all parties benefit."

On robots.txt.

www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
Obituary: Farewell to robots.txt (1994-2025)
The voluntary compliance protocol that civilized the internet has departed, bids Henning Fries farewell.
www.heise.de

These kids ought to get a job. vole.wtf/kick-the-bal...
Kick the Ball Back 👞⚽️
This game is every unsporty person’s worst nightmare.
vole.wtf
"The protocol taught us that technology can be based on human values like ethics and morality. It showed that voluntary compliance works when all parties benefit."

On robots.txt.

www.heise.de/en/backgroun...
Obituary: Farewell to robots.txt (1994-2025)
The voluntary compliance protocol that civilized the internet has departed, bids Henning Fries farewell.
www.heise.de

Here is an approximate text of my talk at today's @kings-dfi.bsky.social event (with links to sources cited), the "Digital Futures of History"; on the (quasi)superstitious nature of AI: stuartdunn.blog/2025/10/15/t...
The Digital Futures of History: Can AI be superstitious?
This is an approximate text of the talk I gave at King’s Digital Futures Institute’s event on the Digital Futures of History on 15th October 2025. In 1937, H G Wells imagined an interco…
stuartdunn.blog

AI may be the future of everything but sometimes it's just ... grrr.

A PSA: PhD enquiry emails written with AI are structurally very similar, and are therefore easy to spot. If you don't have time to write me an email yourself explaining why you want to work with me, then I don't have time to consider your proposal.

Reposted by Keith Lilley

This Wednesday, 18.30 - "Digital Futures of History", featuring, among others, yours truly talking about the future of digital folklore. www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-d.... An approximate text will go on my blog straight after.

@kings-dfi.bsky.social @kingsdh.bsky.social
The Digital Futures of History | King's College London
Join us in The Digital Futures of History in looking forward to the new ways in which we may soon be looking back.
www.kcl.ac.uk

Great talking today about historical contingency and the development of spatial technologies. Thank you for having me.
The CASA Seminar Series kicks off tomorrow, with @stuartdunn.bsky.social discussing how humans have used tools and tech – from ancient maps to digital platforms – to shape and navigate space.

Wed 01 Oct, 13:00–14:00
📍 In person at CASA, no booking needed

Join us: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...
CASA Seminar Series 2025-26
This academic seminar series explores a broad range of topics such as data science, urban planning and urban networks and their impact on the dynamic of cities.
www.ucl.ac.uk

Reposted by Stuart Dunn

The CASA Seminar Series kicks off tomorrow, with @stuartdunn.bsky.social discussing how humans have used tools and tech – from ancient maps to digital platforms – to shape and navigate space.

Wed 01 Oct, 13:00–14:00
📍 In person at CASA, no booking needed

Join us: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...
CASA Seminar Series 2025-26
This academic seminar series explores a broad range of topics such as data science, urban planning and urban networks and their impact on the dynamic of cities.
www.ucl.ac.uk

Reposted by Stuart Dunn

The CfP for next year's Folklore Fellows Summer School is now open. It's a great panel of excellent keynotes. Worth flagging up to encourage as wide a participation of younger career scholars as possible.
Summer School 2026 - Folklore Fellows
11th Folklore Fellows' Summer School: Interdisciplinarity and Involvement – Enduring and Emerging Sites of the Vernacular. Helsinki and Tvärminne, Finland, 17th–21st August 2026.
www.folklorefellows.fi

There are many wonderful reasons to travel to Italy. Pisa International Airport is not one of them.

Duly noted.

Reposted by Stuart Dunn

🏛️ What does the future of history look like in a digital age?

Join us on 15 October for The Digital Futures of History and explore how emerging technologies are reshaping the way we study, preserve and engage with the past ⬇️

@stuartdunn.bsky.social @kingsdh.bsky.social @kingshistory.bsky.social
The Digital Futures of History | King's College London
Join us in The Digital Futures of History in looking forward to the new ways in which we may soon be looking back.
www.kcl.ac.uk

A really great review. Although not helpful for my current drive to reduce rather than increase my book collection.

Indeed

Reposted by Keith Lilley

Three subjects close to my heart coming together in one conference - digitalisation, decolonisisation and archaeology. Much looking forward to this! urbnet.au.dk/news/events/...
Disentangling the Intertwinement of Digitalisation and Decolonisation
urbnet.au.dk

Looking forward to speaking in the @kings-dfi.bsky.social's "Digital Future of History" event on 15th October. I'll be looking at the Digital Future of Folklore, linking the themes of AI and superstition. Cc @folkloresociety.bsky.social. www.kcl.ac.uk/events/the-d...
The Digital Futures of History | King's College London
Join us in The Digital Futures of History in looking forward to the new ways in which we may soon be looking back.
www.kcl.ac.uk

This "Britain is North Korea" narrative is getting really boring as well as ridiculous

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Fury over 'new' BBC TV licence rule as Brits would 'rather live in North Korea'
The BBC is reportedly considering a new licence fee that would see households forced to pay even if they don't watch traditional television - and Brits are not happy
www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Pre-ordered! 🐈 🐈‍⬛️

An ale from Yorkshire called "Swale Trail Pale", explicitly referencing Keld and Grinton, of Swaledale Corpse Path fame (stuartdunn.blog/2023/07/14/t...). I think the weekend has come early.