Donovan Schaefer
@feelingtheory.bsky.social
Teaching/writing about emotion, secularism, & power at @upennrels.bsky.social
Current projects: Conspiracy theory, secular artifacts, Confederate commemoration
🐱🐱 Brighton & Bristol
🌱 ⓥ food
🏙️ Philly
✍️📚: http://donovanschaefer.com/research
Current projects: Conspiracy theory, secular artifacts, Confederate commemoration
🐱🐱 Brighton & Bristol
🌱 ⓥ food
🏙️ Philly
✍️📚: http://donovanschaefer.com/research
Pinned
Coming soon to a library near you: The False Image of History Project book!
We're thrilled to announce that the False Image of History project will be published as a book as part of the Reconstructing America series at Fordham University Press @fordhampress.bsky.social!
We're thrilled to announce that the False Image of History project will be published as a book as part of the Reconstructing America series at Fordham University Press @fordhampress.bsky.social!
Manuscript submitted for review!
95,000 words. 48 chapters. 4 years of work.
Extremely excited to be bringing this into the world with my brilliant collaborators Olivia Haynie and @justinseward.bsky.social!
95,000 words. 48 chapters. 4 years of work.
Extremely excited to be bringing this into the world with my brilliant collaborators Olivia Haynie and @justinseward.bsky.social!
11:40pm. 37 degrees F outside. And this little piece of heaven just came out of the oven.
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 AM
11:40pm. 37 degrees F outside. And this little piece of heaven just came out of the oven.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Google AI is like an Eric Adams quote generator
November 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Google AI is like an Eric Adams quote generator
Extremely excited to have the great Ralph Craig III @rhcraig.bsky.social coming to Penn to speak on Thursday!
Philly folks, come join us!
Philly folks, come join us!
Our next Religious Studies colloquium event!
--------------------
Moving Up the Cosmic Pole: Strategies for Legitimating Religious Authority in Buddhist Texts
RELS Colloquium
Ralph Craig (Whitman)
Nov 13, 2025 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
--------------------
Moving Up the Cosmic Pole: Strategies for Legitimating Religious Authority in Buddhist Texts
RELS Colloquium
Ralph Craig (Whitman)
Nov 13, 2025 at 3:30pm - 5:00pm | Cohen 204
November 11, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Extremely excited to have the great Ralph Craig III @rhcraig.bsky.social coming to Penn to speak on Thursday!
Philly folks, come join us!
Philly folks, come join us!
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
When students get to college they generally don’t know what college is and that’s an incredible pedagogical opportunity. My freshman comp class did Morrison, Pope, Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Johnny Cash all swirled together in a frenzy of discovery. Education is what we make it.
November 10, 2025 at 11:35 PM
When students get to college they generally don’t know what college is and that’s an incredible pedagogical opportunity. My freshman comp class did Morrison, Pope, Dickinson, Shakespeare, and Johnny Cash all swirled together in a frenzy of discovery. Education is what we make it.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
This week, J.D. Porter speaks to our grad student working group about AI & LLMs—whether you love them or hate them, tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are increasingly hard to ignore in academic research. J.D. will explain how these tools actually work, enabling us to be better users/critics of AI.
November 10, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This week, J.D. Porter speaks to our grad student working group about AI & LLMs—whether you love them or hate them, tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are increasingly hard to ignore in academic research. J.D. will explain how these tools actually work, enabling us to be better users/critics of AI.
Reading Myrna Perez's *Criticizing Science: Stephen Jay Gould and the Struggle for American Democracy* and it's fascinating.
Was especially struck by this passage. The "Stuck-up academics won't listen to my racist theories" grift is much older than we think.
Was especially struck by this passage. The "Stuck-up academics won't listen to my racist theories" grift is much older than we think.
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reading Myrna Perez's *Criticizing Science: Stephen Jay Gould and the Struggle for American Democracy* and it's fascinating.
Was especially struck by this passage. The "Stuck-up academics won't listen to my racist theories" grift is much older than we think.
Was especially struck by this passage. The "Stuck-up academics won't listen to my racist theories" grift is much older than we think.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
The Fates determining whether your flight is canceled this week
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The Fates determining whether your flight is canceled this week
Also, not enough people know that this masterpiece by Stein & Dixon's band S U R V I V E exists
survive.bandcamp.com/album/rr7349
survive.bandcamp.com/album/rr7349
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Also, not enough people know that this masterpiece by Stein & Dixon's band S U R V I V E exists
survive.bandcamp.com/album/rr7349
survive.bandcamp.com/album/rr7349
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Unica Zürn, Oracles et spectacles, 1967.
November 9, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Unica Zürn, Oracles et spectacles, 1967.
Rewatching Stranger Things in advance of the finale. Blown away all over again by how well-done S1 is.
It's basically 3 perfectly crafted early-80s genre pieces welded together: a G-rated kids adventure (Goonies/ET), a teen slasher, and an R-rated horror (Aliens/Predator) centered on Joyce and Jim
It's basically 3 perfectly crafted early-80s genre pieces welded together: a G-rated kids adventure (Goonies/ET), a teen slasher, and an R-rated horror (Aliens/Predator) centered on Joyce and Jim
November 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Rewatching Stranger Things in advance of the finale. Blown away all over again by how well-done S1 is.
It's basically 3 perfectly crafted early-80s genre pieces welded together: a G-rated kids adventure (Goonies/ET), a teen slasher, and an R-rated horror (Aliens/Predator) centered on Joyce and Jim
It's basically 3 perfectly crafted early-80s genre pieces welded together: a G-rated kids adventure (Goonies/ET), a teen slasher, and an R-rated horror (Aliens/Predator) centered on Joyce and Jim
Describe your cat's personality with one photo
November 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Describe your cat's personality with one photo
Lunch stop: The Eagles Pizza (pesto and ricotta + stuffed crust) & Fly Eagles Fries combo (chili crisp wings, fries, vegan cheese)
Queen & Rook Game Cafe, Philly
(All vegan, ofc)
Queen & Rook Game Cafe, Philly
(All vegan, ofc)
November 8, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Lunch stop: The Eagles Pizza (pesto and ricotta + stuffed crust) & Fly Eagles Fries combo (chili crisp wings, fries, vegan cheese)
Queen & Rook Game Cafe, Philly
(All vegan, ofc)
Queen & Rook Game Cafe, Philly
(All vegan, ofc)
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Western power? They mean white power
A 450-foot Prometheus. A 500-foot George Washington. Tech investors are racing to build colossal monuments celebrating Western power.
America’s Tech Right Is Obsessed With Building Giant Statues
With proposals for a 450-foot statue of Prometheus on Alcatraz and a 650-foot George Washington, MAGA adherents are racing to build America’s largest statue.
bloom.bg
November 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Western power? They mean white power
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
I try to tell students especially that they're not doing anything "wrong" if they don't use AI. I urge them to see themselves as in the process of developing agency and part of agency, always, is choosing to refuse, particularly when you do not perceive a value to yourself.
Anyway, AI doesn’t have any value for me in anything I do. I understand this says something about *what* I do. But also? It’s only practically existed for maybe 18 months. I loved and worked almost 45 years without it so yeah, I’m cool.
November 8, 2025 at 5:03 PM
I try to tell students especially that they're not doing anything "wrong" if they don't use AI. I urge them to see themselves as in the process of developing agency and part of agency, always, is choosing to refuse, particularly when you do not perceive a value to yourself.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Recently met someone who was very surprised to hear I didn’t use ChatGPT or any LLM.
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
November 7, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Recently met someone who was very surprised to hear I didn’t use ChatGPT or any LLM.
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
I said my job depended on doing distinctive work. That was my selling point. If I started to sound like ChatGPT and turn out what it did, then how on earth could I justify doing it? What would that make me?
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
No one can tell me a single good use for it, for me. I have asked. Not a one.
What am I supposed to use it for? To summarize my emails? Too long, wrong. To write things? Too long, wrong. To plan trips? Planning is FUN and why would I outsource that? I played with it a bit six months ago, it was meh.
Also, I hate its enshittification of search results with my whole soul.
Also, I hate its enshittification of search results with my whole soul.
November 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
No one can tell me a single good use for it, for me. I have asked. Not a one.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
I think this explains the increasing rate of students using AI to cheat. The 15% who are there to learn have lost to the 15% who are there to scam who have normalized cheating to the point the 70% who just want a diploma think "everyone is doing it so I have to too."
Agreed. My 15/15/70 theory of institutional values requires it. In any institution, 15% of people are there for the right reasons (service). 15% are there for the wrong reasons (power). 70% are just pulling a paycheck. The moral arc of the institution depends on which 15% have the greatest sway. 1/4
virtue signalling is good actually
November 8, 2025 at 4:56 AM
I think this explains the increasing rate of students using AI to cheat. The 15% who are there to learn have lost to the 15% who are there to scam who have normalized cheating to the point the 70% who just want a diploma think "everyone is doing it so I have to too."
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
In the name of "fighting antisemitism," Indiana University appointed a Christian scholar to tell Jewish scholars what they can and cannot say - all while they invited Tucker Carlson to speak on campus. www.jta.org/2025/11/07/u...
In Indiana, a vaunted Jewish studies program is upended by red-state politics over Israel and speech - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
A leadership shakeup, a defunded graduate student and political pressure from above have turned a storied program into a flashpoint for Trump-era campus politics.
www.jta.org
November 8, 2025 at 3:22 AM
In the name of "fighting antisemitism," Indiana University appointed a Christian scholar to tell Jewish scholars what they can and cannot say - all while they invited Tucker Carlson to speak on campus. www.jta.org/2025/11/07/u...
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
"No one likes me, I win."
November 7, 2025 at 12:19 PM
"No one likes me, I win."
Watch out! The sharia communist Muslim is trying to sell you beer
Zohran Mamdani’s victory party was anything but ‘affordable’ — with pricey cash bar charging $13 for beer
Zohran Mamdani’s victory party was anything but ‘affordable’ — with pricey cash bar charging $13 for beer
The steep prices at the party wasn't lost on critics of the democratic socialist.
nypost.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Watch out! The sharia communist Muslim is trying to sell you beer
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
I see James Watson has died.
What did Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin's lab notes.
Only we spell it 'S-T-E-A-L' these days.
What did Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin's lab notes.
Only we spell it 'S-T-E-A-L' these days.
November 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I see James Watson has died.
What did Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin's lab notes.
Only we spell it 'S-T-E-A-L' these days.
What did Watson discover?
Rosalind Franklin's lab notes.
Only we spell it 'S-T-E-A-L' these days.
what phase of middle age is it when the hipster dive bar is playing all your drum and bass jams from 2001 and you ask the bartender "Who's the drum and bass fan? You?" and she gushes "Oh my god, yes, I love this stuff! Heard it on TikTok"
November 7, 2025 at 8:51 PM
what phase of middle age is it when the hipster dive bar is playing all your drum and bass jams from 2001 and you ask the bartender "Who's the drum and bass fan? You?" and she gushes "Oh my god, yes, I love this stuff! Heard it on TikTok"
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
“The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.”
Yesterday, a D.C. jury found the man who threw a sandwich at a Customs and Border Patrol officer not guilty on a misdemeanor assault charge.
@mollyroberts.bsky.social reports on the proceedings that led to the acquittal:
@mollyroberts.bsky.social reports on the proceedings that led to the acquittal:
Sandwich Guy, Thrower of Hoagie–Or Hero?
The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:26 PM
“The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.”
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Impressive journalism @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social regarding closure of New England Primate Research Center, recounting traumatic death of monkeys, inadequate veterinary care, and more. We know today that #animalfreescience = better science. cc @whenwejustify.bsky.social #primates #animalrights 🧪
The Unraveling of the New England Primate Research Center | Magazine | The Harvard Crimson
For 50 years, the New England Primate Research Center pioneered research in HIV, Parkinson’s, and addiction. But as a series of animal misconduct allegations eroded the center’s legacy, Harvard, the M...
www.thecrimson.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Impressive journalism @theharvardcrimson.bsky.social regarding closure of New England Primate Research Center, recounting traumatic death of monkeys, inadequate veterinary care, and more. We know today that #animalfreescience = better science. cc @whenwejustify.bsky.social #primates #animalrights 🧪