Andrew Thacker

@andrewthacker.bsky.social

1.4K followers 540 following 22 posts

Professor of Twentieth Century Literature, Nottingham Trent University. Modernism, periodicals, cricket.

Videos

Art 31%

History 26%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Thea Pitman @theapitman.bsky.social · 2d

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses

Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn, Andrew Thacker

Danielle Terrazas Williams @drdanielletw.bsky.social · 6d

Postdoc Opportunity!

University of Rochester - Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Humanities

networks.h-net.org/jobs/69418/u...

University of Rochester - Postdoctoral Fellowship in Digital Humanities | H-Net

networks.h-net.org

Reposted by Greg Walker, Margot C. Finn, Andrew Thacker

Ronald Hartz @ronaldhartz.bsky.social · 6d

“Four years ago, we suffered an earlier redundancy programme that we were told would secure the future of the university. That clearly was not true."

#UKHE

www.leicester.news/university-o...

University of Leicester moves forward with plans to cut 150 jobs

A 'large number of staff' across several schools could be impacted

www.leicester.news

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

John Raimo @johnraimo.bsky.social · 11d

Open-access and in print - Muireann Maguire (@muireanndinosaur.bsky.social), Invading the American Canon: Translators of Russian Literary Fiction, 1863-1984 (@bloomsburyhist.bsky.social, @bloomsburylit.bsky.social, 2025; h/t @jrdwrrn.bsky.social, #skystorians) www.bloomsbury.com/us/invading-...

Invading the American Canon

Through case studies of émigré literary translators and editors, this open access book traces how Russian literature kindled the American imagination in the 20t…

www.bloomsbury.com

Reposted by Tim M. Blackburn, Ben C. Sheldon, Marco Festa‐Bianchet , and 3 more Tim M. Blackburn, Ben C. Sheldon, Marco Festa‐Bianchet, Martin Paul Eve, Margot C. Finn, Andrew Thacker

Dave Vetter @davidrvetter.bsky.social · 13d

Private Eye nailing it.

A story in Private Eye, headlined "Minority representation on TV causes outrage". The article reads: "There has been widespread support for prominent Reform MP Sarah Pochin after she complained about the over-representation of minorities on television.

Said one angry viewer, "She's right. Every time you turn on the telly there's another Reform MP being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg."

She added, "I respect their way of life and their strange customs, but Reform MPs comprise only 0.7 percent of the House of Commons. Yet Nigel Farage is on Question Time more than Fiona Bruce."

"I'm not prejudiced. Some of my best friends are swivel-eyed loons, but enough is enough. There are too many people with angry red faces on television."

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Chris Havergal @chrishavergal.bsky.social · 19d

Southampton Solent University accused of “unprecedented” attempt to move staff on to “inferior” pension schemes, with those not complying facing losing their jobs www.timeshighereducation.com/news/southam... via @julietterowsell.bsky.social

Southampton Solent pensions row ‘sets concerning precedent’

Union claims that professional service staff have been told to move on to subsidiary firm with less generous pension scheme, or face losing their job

www.timeshighereducation.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 20d

'And some academics are angry that universities are allowing or even encouraging the use of AI tools — many of which are controlled by companies, have unknown cognitive impacts and are dogged by ethical and environmental concerns.'

Universities are embracing AI: will students get smarter or stop thinking?

Millions of students arriving at campuses are now using artificial intelligence. Worries abound.

www.nature.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Sean Seeger @sean-seeger.bsky.social · 20d

Thrilled and delighted to say that my new book, Utopian Variations: Utopia in Literature, Film, and Popular Culture, is now out! Thanks to the University of Essex's open access fund, it's available via open access too. You can download the full book for free here: www.peterlang.com/document/156...

Peter Lang Verlag - Utopian Variations

Utopian Variations is a comparative critical study of a variety of kinds of utopia and utopian discourse. Rather than focusing on more familiar forms ...

www.peterlang.com

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Andrew Thacker

Andrew Hobbs @drewhobbs.bsky.social · 20d

New open-access article on a peculiar type of periodical, the county magazine:
Rural Modernity in an Interwar English County Magazine: Cheshire Life, 1934–39
doi.org/10.1080/1478...
In Cultural and Social History

Rural Modernity in an Interwar English County Magazine: Cheshire Life, 1934–39

There are some eighty-five county magazines across England, read by millions. This case study of 1930s Cheshire Life explains their appeal and demonstrates their value for twentieth-century social ...

doi.org

Reposted by Stuart Elden, Andrew Thacker

Foucault News @foucault-news.bsky.social · 20d

Relectures féministes de Michel Foucault. Colloque International (2025)

Feminist Re-readings of Michel Foucault, Hybrid, 7–8 Nov 2025, Sciences Po, Paris Registration link for anyone who might wish to attend online Friday, November 7, 2025 (room K011) 9:15–10:00 – Introduction Judith Revel…

Relectures féministes de Michel Foucault. Colloque International (2025)

Feminist Re-readings of Michel Foucault, Hybrid, 7–8 Nov 2025, Sciences Po, Paris Registration link for anyone who might wish to attend online Friday, November 7, 2025 (room K011) 9:15–10:00 – Introduction Judith Revel (Université Paris Nanterre) & Frédéric Gros (Sciences Po) 10:00–10:30 – Coffee break (for speakers and audience) 10:30–12:00 – Panel 1: Building Feminist Agency Beyond Foucault’s Elusions…

michel-foucault.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Keats-Shelley Assoc. @ksaacomm.bsky.social · 21d

Are you a grad student, untenured faculty member, or an independent scholar doing research in Romantic-era literature and culture? There's still time to apply for a Pforzheimer Award!

Apply by Nov. 1 to be considered.

Find more information here: www.k-saa.org/pforzheimera...

Carl H. Pforzheimer, Jr, Award — K-SAA

www.k-saa.org

Reposted by Paul Fisher, Andrew Thacker

Jeremy Zoss @jzossmpls.bsky.social · 24d

The most Minnesotan protest sign. #NoKings

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · Oct 2

Tony Harrison’s poem ‘V.’ is to be performed in the Leeds cemetery that inspired it.

The day of site-specific readings will now also serve as a tribute to the poet, who died last week.

Read the article: www.theguardian.com/stage/2025/s...

Book tickets here: www.slunglow.org/v-a-homecomi...

Tony Harrison’s poem V to be performed in the Leeds cemetery that inspired it

The site-specific performance of the once controversial poem was planned for its 40th anniversary in October, but will now double as a tribute to the writer who died last week

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Martin Paul Eve, Andrew Thacker , and 1 more Steve Peers, Martin Paul Eve, Andrew Thacker, Jeroen Van Bouwel

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Oct 2

ICYMI on Tuesday, here's my *new* and *free* short-form summary of what's gone wrong in our universities. This is something of a last word really, because unless the Budget and White Paper do something really radical, the fate of much HE is already sealed.
politicalquarterly.org.uk/blog/where-n...

Where now for Britain’s Universities?

UK higher education now faces a very bleak future, retreating in the face of little public sympathy and limited political interest.

politicalquarterly.org.uk

Reposted by Michael H. Whitworth, Andrew Thacker

Modernism/modernity @mmodernity.bsky.social · Sep 30

New at Print Plus: "Virginia Woolf in Circulation: The Hogarth Press Order Books, Modernist Bookselling, and Digital Practice" by Alice Staveley et al sheds light on the business of modernism and reads order books as digital portals for literary history

modernismmodernity.org/articles/sta...

Reposted by Andrew Thacker, Pauline Stafford

Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · Sep 27

‘Them & [uz]’ by Tony Harrison (1937–2025)

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Jonathan Webber @jonathanwebber.bsky.social · Sep 23

“AI has turbocharged the spread of bullshit and falsehoods. It is not able to produce actual, qualitative academic work, despite the claims of some in the AI industry. As researchers, as universities, we should be clearer about pushing back against these false claims by the AI industry.”

‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University

Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...

www.ru.nl

Reposted by Margot C. Finn, Julie Cupples, Michael H. Whitworth , and 2 more Margot C. Finn, Julie Cupples, Michael H. Whitworth, Andrew Thacker, Melanie Williams

Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · Sep 18

Very much enjoying the culture of trust and respect implicit in the installation of room usage monitoring devices on academics' office doors today. Imagine my shock on discovering that managers' doors remain unsullied…

A SmartViz monitoring device installed at a university.

Reposted by Andrew Thacker, Gabriel Galvez-Behar

Hyo Yoon Kang 강효윤 @hyoyoonkang.bsky.social · Sep 17

Gillian Rose's on law, history, and Marxism.
This should be an essential workshop with deep intellectual and theoretical engagement that is becoming rarer by the day in UK legal academia. Organised by the wonderful Rosie Woodhouse. Registration and more info here: warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/...

Poster of Gillian Rose: history, Marxism, and the Turn to Law. 3 December 2025, University of Warwick. With Jessica Feely, Will Spendlove, Tarik Kochi, Adrian Wilding, Chris O'kane, Nadia Bou Ali and the organiser, Rosie Woodhouse.

Reposted by Martin Paul Eve, Michael H. Whitworth, Andrew Thacker

Jonathan Gibbs @jonathangibbs.bsky.social · Sep 15

Jeremy Noel-Tod on the importance of ‘unfunded’ or ‘hobbyist’ research in academica.

open.substack.com/pub/someflow...

Unfunded Hobbit Research

In defence of academic inspiration

open.substack.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

British Association for Modernist Studies (BAMS) @modernistudies.bsky.social · Sep 9

We’re delighted to announce a CFP for a Virginia Woolf special issue of TMR, marking the 34th Annual International Conference on Virginia Woolf. Please see the details below:

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

British Association for Modernist Studies (BAMS) @modernistudies.bsky.social · Sep 9

We’re excited to share #TheModernistReview57, our first autumn issue! It includes seven reviews on diverse topics in modernist studies. Go check it out! we hope you enjoy reading:
modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com/2025/09/09/t...

The Modernist Review Issue #57

8th September 2025 All the months are crude experiments out of which the perfect September is made. (Virginia Woolf, ‘The Lands End’, 1905) September arrives again, and with the beginning of autumn…

modernistreviewcouk.wordpress.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Weimar Film Network @weimarfilmnetwork.bsky.social · Sep 5

📢📢📢 Upcoming Conference: 'Rethinking Weimar Cinema' (University of Oxford, 17 - 19 June 2026)

Full Call for Papers: drive.google.com/file/d/1pxBI...

Deadline: 31 October 2025

Please share widely with anyone who may be interested in joining us in Oxford next year!

Call for Papers: Rethinking Weimar Cinema (University of Oxford, 17 - 19 June 2026)

Keynote Speakers:
Dr Paul Dobryden (University of Virginia)
Dr Sara F. Hall (University of Illinois Chicago)
Dr Qinna Shen (Bryn Mawr College)

Film Screenings: TBC, in collaboration with the Ultimate Picture Palace and Weimar 100

Organizers: Dr Lawrence Alexander (Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford) and Dr Molly Harrabin (University of St. Andrews/University of Warwick).

Deadline for submitting proposals: 31 October 2025

The centennial years of the Weimar Republic (1918-1933) have seen a rise in academic engagement with and public interest in this period of German film history. As one of the most dynamic and experimental periods in global cinema, Weimar film has long been recognized for its aesthetic innovations, sociopolitical commentary, and influence on subsequent film movements. Yet these anniversary commemorations have not only reaffirmed the significance of this era, they have also opened the door for new questions, perspectives, and critical paradigms. This conference seeks to build on this momentum by revisiting Weimar cinema through fresh critical lenses and innovative methodologies, inviting participants to reconsider its cultural, political, and aesthetic significance in light of new archival discoveries, theoretical frameworks, and interdisciplinary approaches. The conference will take stock of our current understanding of Weimar film to map where this field may be heading as well as offering new genealogies of those images, figures, and texts that have defined it thus far.

In addition to traditional conference papers, we welcome contributions from archivists, practice-based researchers, and works of videographic criticism. Please submit proposals of up to 300 words to lawrence.alexander@rsa.ox.ac.uk and mlh21@st-andrews.ac.uk by 31st October 2025. Notices of acceptance will be sent out in December.

A limited number of bursaries are available to contribute to travel and accommodation costs for postgraduate and early-career speakers.

This event is hosted by the Weimar Film Network and funded by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) as part of a three-year Promoting German Studies networking grant awarded to the German Screen Studies Network, co-directed by Dr Paul Flaig and Dr Dora Osborne.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Andrew Thacker

Sarah Pyke @sarahpyke.bsky.social · Aug 28

very much enjoyed reviewing Jane Cholmeley's excellent A BOOKSHOP OF ONE'S OWN for Publishing Research Quarterly

link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Screenshot of a book review, of Jane Cholmeley's A Bookshop of One's Own, in Publishing Research Quarterly

Reposted by Thucydides, David Bartram, Andrew Thacker

Glen O'Hara @gsoh31.bsky.social · Aug 13

This is what I'm hearing too. A total failure of public policy all the more staggering for having been totally predicted and predictable. A disaster.

Dr Stuart Wallace @echrhawk.bsky.social · Aug 13

Hearing a lot of Russell group unis are taking on staggering numbers of Home UG students to offset weaker international recruitment. This has been a recent trend, but it seems to be out of control this recruitment cycle. Downstream impact on newer unis will be catastrophic @gsoh31.bsky.social

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Anna Girling @annagirling.bsky.social · Aug 12

Further to this @thetls.bsky.social essay about Una Marson's early work as a publisher, the full run of Marson's 1920s/1930s magazine, The Cosmopolitan, is now freely available on the Digital Library of the Caribbean (@dlocaribbean.bsky.social): www.dloc.com/AA00114844/0...

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Michael H. Whitworth, Andrew Thacker , and 2 more Lesley A. Hall, Michael H. Whitworth, Andrew Thacker, Mary Burke, Marion Gibson

Modernist Studies Association (MSA) @moderniststudies.bsky.social · Aug 7

In 2026, the MSA Conference will look a bit different-- weird, even! That's because we're having a joint conference with BAMS @modernistudies.bsky.social in Loughborough, UK from July 1- 4, 2026. The CFP will be out soon! But in the meantime, please save the date.

Tarot card image of the empress with a crown of stars. Text reads Weird Modernisms BAMS/ MSA 1- 4 July 2026 Loughborough University, UK

Andrew Thacker @andrewthacker.bsky.social · Aug 4

Very pleased to see my piece on Teju Cole published and available as open access for now.

www.euppublishing.com/doi/10.3366/...

Lagos and the Uncertain New Modernism of Teju Cole | Modernist Cultures

This article offers an innovative account of the work of the Nigerian American writer, Teju Cole, and argues that his fiction demonstrates an ‘uncertain new’ modernism of the city. In particular, the ...

www.euppublishing.com

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

Research Society for Victorian Periodicals @rs4vp.org · Feb 6

For those who may not yet have heard, our dear friend Brian Maidment passed away a little over a week ago. It is difficult to put into words how much he meant to our community, but @pritijoshi.bsky.social has paid him wonderful tribute here: rs4vp.org/in-memoriam-...

In Memoriam: Remembering Brian Maidment – RSVP

A tribute from RSVP president Priti Joshi to past president and long-time member, Brian Maidment, who passed away January 28, 2025.

rs4vp.org

Reposted by Andrew Thacker

London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · Jun 10

‘As in other industries, the enormous wage disparity within universities distances the corporate leadership from the concerns of rank-and-file employees: it helps to steady the hand that wields the axe.’

Ed Kiely on Labour’s higher education reforms:
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

Ed Kiely · Short Cuts: University Finances

Universities’ reliance on international students is only the most recent attempt to solve a broader problem, one that...

Light upyour news

Sign in to Lightnews

Sign up to start reading

Connect Bluesky

Connect with Bluesky

Light up
your news