David Thompson
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anthrodave.bsky.social
David Thompson
@anthrodave.bsky.social
Hello! I'm an anthropologist, I study prisons, abolition and other things in Rio de Janeiro.
Pinned
My book is almost out! This is an ethnography of incarceration, it's my attempt to tell a different story about Brazil's prisons and to understand the relationship between punishment and hope. It's out November 25, but available to preorder now. www.sup.org/books/anthro...
Where the Sun Rises Square | Stanford University Press
Brazil's prison population, estimated at 90,000 in 1990, has exploded to over 650,000, the third highest in the world behind the US and China. Systematically targeting poor, Black communities, Brazil'...
www.sup.org
Reposted by David Thompson
Wow apparently there IS a better political strategy than throwing trans and Palestinian people under the bus to appease centrists.
November 5, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
Happy to share the news that Wenner-Gren grant recipient, David C. Thompson has a new book available for pre-order! www.sup.org/books/anthro...
Where the Sun Rises Square | Stanford University Press
Brazil's prison population, estimated at 90,000 in 1990, has exploded to over 650,000, the third highest in the world behind the US and China. Systematically targeting poor, Black communities, Brazil'...
www.sup.org
November 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Today, common people from Penha entered the woods on one side of the mountain. The region is called Pedreira, as it is an inactive quarry.

They found 60+ dead bodies. Some with clear marks of torture. A beheaded young male. Most shot in the back and in the head.

The total count is between 121-128+
October 30, 2025 at 12:09 AM
There's still a few weeks before my book 📚 is officially out, but you can read the intro for free right now! www.sup.org/books/anthro...
Where the Sun Rises Square: Introduction | Stanford University Press
INTRODUCTIONPrison Is Just a Question of TimeHi my friend, or better yet, my new friend, David. It’s around one in the morning and I can’t sleep because of the heat, but I’ve been thinking about your ...
www.sup.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Here's me with an op-ed in Offrange about the tendency to value undocumented immigrants only for their labor ambrook.com/offrange/per...
More Than Their Work - Offrange
In calls to recognize immigrants as people, too often they’re reduced to what they produce and how they support our economy.
ambrook.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Today!
October 16, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
If you missed my talks this week, I'm giving another one next Friday (17/10) hosted by ANU Anthropology and via Zoom: archanth.cass.anu.edu.au/events/if-i-...
“If I Were His Mother”: Race, Kinship and Redemption in Brazil’s Prisons | School of Archaeology and Anthropology
Presented in-person and online. Zoom details below.
archanth.cass.anu.edu.au
October 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
Private consultants are taking control of how public universities are evaluated and run.

My submission to the Senate university governance inquiry raises concerns about the impact of Nous Group and their dodgy UniForum data on our universities.

www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStor...

A thread
September 17, 2025 at 5:54 AM
If you missed my talks this week, I'm giving another one next Friday (17/10) hosted by ANU Anthropology and via Zoom: archanth.cass.anu.edu.au/events/if-i-...
“If I Were His Mother”: Race, Kinship and Redemption in Brazil’s Prisons | School of Archaeology and Anthropology
Presented in-person and online. Zoom details below.
archanth.cass.anu.edu.au
October 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Starting soon! (5pm Sydney)
Then the next day, 09/10, at my alma mater, Sydney University, as part of the Sydney University Research Community for Latin America: whatson.sydney.edu.au/event/93d345...
The University of Sydney - Event Calendar
Tell me what's on. Events and exhibitions in the University of Sydney.
whatson.sydney.edu.au
October 9, 2025 at 4:29 AM
It’s real!
October 8, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
I've created a calculator that gives you the right answer 80% of the time and I believe it will change the world
January 27, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Tomorrow!
I'm giving two talks next week about gender, race and redemption in Brazil's prisons. First up, 08/10 at the University Newcastle:
October 7, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I'm giving two talks next week about gender, race and redemption in Brazil's prisons. First up, 08/10 at the University Newcastle:
October 4, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
This is a remarkable moment.
October 2, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
“A country in denial. Anyway, I was born…” — Assata Shakur 🤎
September 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Job: Assistant Professor of Latin American Literary & Cultural Studies, University of Notre Dame. Specialism in Afro Latin America (includes Brazil ). NB "Specialists of Brazil will teach in Spanish, English & Portuguese as needed." Closes 1 November 2025. Full info: joblist.mla.org/job/2000392/...
joblist.mla.org
September 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
My book is almost out! This is an ethnography of incarceration, it's my attempt to tell a different story about Brazil's prisons and to understand the relationship between punishment and hope. It's out November 25, but available to preorder now. www.sup.org/books/anthro...
Where the Sun Rises Square | Stanford University Press
Brazil's prison population, estimated at 90,000 in 1990, has exploded to over 650,000, the third highest in the world behind the US and China. Systematically targeting poor, Black communities, Brazil'...
www.sup.org
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
Some of this stuff is just white pundits begging: "please don't shoot me too?"
September 13, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Depressing news. Meanjin hardly posed a significant call on the University of Melbourne's finances: its annual budget was no more than a third of the VC's salary. To shut it down diminishes the University of Melbourne and leaves a large hole in Australia's already threadbare cultural landscape
September 4, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
I know there's a lot happening today, but this is sneaking in under the radar. This proposed new rule would absolutely crush foreign PhD students, potentially making it impossible for them to enroll with any certainty of their ability to finish www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
August 28, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Reposted by David Thompson
Assistant Professor - Knowledge Systems, Infrastructures, Communities, and Cultures. Another job at the University of Toronto Faculty of Information.

www.ischools.org/post/assista...
Assistant Professor - Knowledge Systems, Infrastructures, Communities, and Cultures
The Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure stream position in Knowledge Systems, Infrastructures, Communities, and Cultures. The appointment wi...
www.ischools.org
August 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Five travel awards for scholars from low & middle income countries are available for this years ASAA/NZ #anthropology Conference in Whāingaroa, Raglan! www.asaanz.org/conference Priority will be given to applicants from #Oceania and #SoutheastAsia
ASAA/NZ Annual Conference — Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand
ASAA/NZ ANNUAL CONFERENCE
www.asaanz.org
July 31, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Reposted by David Thompson
Rümeysa Öztürk describes the library in the prison where she was held for 45 days for co-authoring an op-ed
July 17, 2025 at 1:44 PM