Rachel Banner
@ishmaelcallme.bsky.social
chips & dips; writing about c19 U.S. literature - wives, violence, energy; prof & union member; Detroit / Philly; Joel Embiid forever
Pinned
Project MUSE - Melville's Idea of a Wife
muse.jhu.edu
I joke that it took me twenty years to figure out how to get this off my chest about Herman Melville, starting from my first encounter as an undergrad in 2005. But it kind of did. So thrilled that this essay has a home at J19: Project MUSE - Melville's Idea of a Wife muse.jhu.edu/article/970112
Reposted by Rachel Banner
found the large format, framed,
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
February 15, 2026 at 5:44 PM
found the large format, framed,
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
Yes to more young women doing what they love & refusing to suffer for it or be mistreated in the name of ‘training.’
It’s a thing I wish I’d learned at 20 — “the U.S. women’s figure-skating trio are proudly and defiantly uninterested in their own pain...”
www.thecut.com/article/ambe...
It’s a thing I wish I’d learned at 20 — “the U.S. women’s figure-skating trio are proudly and defiantly uninterested in their own pain...”
www.thecut.com/article/ambe...
This Is What Ambition Looks Like Now
Alysa Liu, Amber Glenn, and Isabeau Levito are proof you don’t have to punish yourself to succeed.
www.thecut.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Yes to more young women doing what they love & refusing to suffer for it or be mistreated in the name of ‘training.’
It’s a thing I wish I’d learned at 20 — “the U.S. women’s figure-skating trio are proudly and defiantly uninterested in their own pain...”
www.thecut.com/article/ambe...
It’s a thing I wish I’d learned at 20 — “the U.S. women’s figure-skating trio are proudly and defiantly uninterested in their own pain...”
www.thecut.com/article/ambe...
found the large format, framed,
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
February 15, 2026 at 5:44 PM
found the large format, framed,
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
girly/granny oil painting of my dreams on marketplace the other weekend 🥹
Reposted by Rachel Banner
Please enjoy the random camel (???) I saw on my long run today.
Important note: I live in the Philly exurbs.
Important note: I live in the Philly exurbs.
February 15, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Please enjoy the random camel (???) I saw on my long run today.
Important note: I live in the Philly exurbs.
Important note: I live in the Philly exurbs.
winter, hanging on by a thread
February 15, 2026 at 12:40 AM
winter, hanging on by a thread
my parents are here helping entertain my kid (7) after she had leg surgery this week. For my 80yr old dad, this means letting her watch parts of The Big Lebowski & Beverly Hills Cop as they sat on couch today 🥴
February 14, 2026 at 12:44 AM
my parents are here helping entertain my kid (7) after she had leg surgery this week. For my 80yr old dad, this means letting her watch parts of The Big Lebowski & Beverly Hills Cop as they sat on couch today 🥴
Reposted by Rachel Banner
On this Galentine's day, I celebrate the ten-year anniversary of this great event in the history of sexuality.
komonews.com/news/local/a...
komonews.com/news/local/a...
Seattle Aquarium cancels octopus sex act due to cannibalism concerns
EDITOR'S NOTE: This original story below was from February 2016 but somehow got picked up from other sites and began trending again in 2017. The Seattle Aquarium wants everyone to know the Octopus Bli...
komonews.com
February 13, 2026 at 1:54 PM
On this Galentine's day, I celebrate the ten-year anniversary of this great event in the history of sexuality.
komonews.com/news/local/a...
komonews.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Rachel Banner
I get all my health advice from disgraced former boxer and convicted rapist Mike Tyson.
February 9, 2026 at 1:55 AM
I get all my health advice from disgraced former boxer and convicted rapist Mike Tyson.
Reposted by Rachel Banner
graphic by bus20 ceramics / Frankie
February 7, 2026 at 8:54 PM
graphic by bus20 ceramics / Frankie
graphic by bus20 ceramics / Frankie
February 7, 2026 at 8:54 PM
graphic by bus20 ceramics / Frankie
shishito pepper fishing pole
February 7, 2026 at 12:55 AM
shishito pepper fishing pole
I actually finished the book for book club (first time I’ve done that) & this made me a little teary. It’s a big feelings week.
from Women Talking, Miriam Toews
from Women Talking, Miriam Toews
February 6, 2026 at 2:37 AM
I actually finished the book for book club (first time I’ve done that) & this made me a little teary. It’s a big feelings week.
from Women Talking, Miriam Toews
from Women Talking, Miriam Toews
Reposted by Rachel Banner
it’s really the cherry on the shit sundae that all of these sexist gatekeepers are such tremendous dumbasses. just staggeringly stupid and lazy
February 5, 2026 at 5:18 PM
it’s really the cherry on the shit sundae that all of these sexist gatekeepers are such tremendous dumbasses. just staggeringly stupid and lazy
there were four deer in my yard when I got home and it was still light at 5:15 — small February wins
February 4, 2026 at 11:40 PM
there were four deer in my yard when I got home and it was still light at 5:15 — small February wins
Reposted by Rachel Banner
Thinking about ecosystem collapse as a metaphor for what’s being done to cultural criticism. You wipe out enough individual parts, eventually the whole thing turns into a wasteland
February 4, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Thinking about ecosystem collapse as a metaphor for what’s being done to cultural criticism. You wipe out enough individual parts, eventually the whole thing turns into a wasteland
the hardest part about living with other people = the diabolical & unhinged & depraved ways they load the dishwasher
February 3, 2026 at 10:55 PM
the hardest part about living with other people = the diabolical & unhinged & depraved ways they load the dishwasher
idk if academic bsky works like this, but does anyone have a shortish reading they like about the why of reading critical theory? this would be for an M.A. class
February 2, 2026 at 7:52 PM
idk if academic bsky works like this, but does anyone have a shortish reading they like about the why of reading critical theory? this would be for an M.A. class
listened to an interview with Claire Danes where she talked about getting surprise pregnant at 44, so there’s my nightmare fuel for the next few years
February 1, 2026 at 2:44 AM
listened to an interview with Claire Danes where she talked about getting surprise pregnant at 44, so there’s my nightmare fuel for the next few years
it will be a minute before this is out, but I'm quite happy w how this is shaping up. Also William Wells Brown's work deserves 10000% more critical attention than it's received.
January 31, 2026 at 10:39 PM
it will be a minute before this is out, but I'm quite happy w how this is shaping up. Also William Wells Brown's work deserves 10000% more critical attention than it's received.
I’ve been accused by friends of appreciating the weird-hot, ugly-hot, or arty-hot man. Gonna add young David Lynch to that roster
January 31, 2026 at 2:59 PM
I’ve been accused by friends of appreciating the weird-hot, ugly-hot, or arty-hot man. Gonna add young David Lynch to that roster
Reposted by Rachel Banner
a profound and righteous obituary for our friend dan mcquade www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
January 31, 2026 at 2:53 PM
a profound and righteous obituary for our friend dan mcquade www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
Reposted by Rachel Banner
If the last decade has taught me anything, it's that we should be taking care of each other.
I don't know how people want to weigh which of their colleagues deserves to have their salary keep pace with inflation.
I don't know how people want to weigh which of their colleagues deserves to have their salary keep pace with inflation.
January 30, 2026 at 9:25 PM
If the last decade has taught me anything, it's that we should be taking care of each other.
I don't know how people want to weigh which of their colleagues deserves to have their salary keep pace with inflation.
I don't know how people want to weigh which of their colleagues deserves to have their salary keep pace with inflation.
at this point in the winter I've mastered putting child-sized gloves -- not mittens, this is crucial -- on child-sized hands, and I want some credit for this high-level skill. Maybe add it as a line on my CV?
January 30, 2026 at 2:29 PM
at this point in the winter I've mastered putting child-sized gloves -- not mittens, this is crucial -- on child-sized hands, and I want some credit for this high-level skill. Maybe add it as a line on my CV?
this story is horrible & I keep thinking about it since reading yesterday. I hope it sticks with Matt Lauer’s name for the rest of his life.
Lessons From My Me Too
In 2017, I accused the Today show’s longest-serving anchor of sexual misconduct. I was no one’s perfect victim.
www.thecut.com
January 30, 2026 at 12:21 AM
this story is horrible & I keep thinking about it since reading yesterday. I hope it sticks with Matt Lauer’s name for the rest of his life.