mesk
@meesk.bsky.social
TV, media industries, algorithmic brand culture, videographic criticism. Associate Professor of Rhetoric & Media Studies, Lewis & Clark College. She/her.
Last day of classes is in the books. The last few weeks are always simultaneously endless and fly by. I think I found strategies for productive and enjoyable classes after Thanksgiving? (Mostly structured in-class project work and open-ended big picture conversations)
December 10, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Last day of classes is in the books. The last few weeks are always simultaneously endless and fly by. I think I found strategies for productive and enjoyable classes after Thanksgiving? (Mostly structured in-class project work and open-ended big picture conversations)
What an excellent group of scholars and topics! I'm excited to dive in.
Mine and Elliot Montpellier's special issue on Big Data Audiences is out in Convergence
There are great articles by David Hesmondhalgh, Ramon Lobato, Lee McGuigan, Rebecca Saunders, Anna Liu et al., Johan Søltoft et al., and more
journals.sagepub.com/toc/CON/curr...
There are great articles by David Hesmondhalgh, Ramon Lobato, Lee McGuigan, Rebecca Saunders, Anna Liu et al., Johan Søltoft et al., and more
journals.sagepub.com/toc/CON/curr...
Convergence - Volume 31, Number 6
Table of contents for Convergence, 31, 6
journals.sagepub.com
December 3, 2025 at 5:59 PM
What an excellent group of scholars and topics! I'm excited to dive in.
Yesterday it occured to me that it was time for SCMS notifications, and the acceptance notice appeared in my inbox a few minutes ago. See you in Chicago for "Creative Labor in the Shadow of Hollywood Hype: Marketers, Non-Union-Actors, and the Struggle for Recognition." 🎉 #SCMS26
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Yesterday it occured to me that it was time for SCMS notifications, and the acceptance notice appeared in my inbox a few minutes ago. See you in Chicago for "Creative Labor in the Shadow of Hollywood Hype: Marketers, Non-Union-Actors, and the Struggle for Recognition." 🎉 #SCMS26
This was such an excellent conversation! Big thanks to the SCMS Media Industries SIG for organizing it.
Join us for this event tomorrow. Register to receive a zoom link!
November 21, 2025 at 8:04 PM
This was such an excellent conversation! Big thanks to the SCMS Media Industries SIG for organizing it.
Emerging from my little hiatus to say that I have perhaps never been this excited about an issue of @jcmsjournal.bsky.social, i.e. the special issue of "Is it Media?" All of these articles are 100% my jam.
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Emerging from my little hiatus to say that I have perhaps never been this excited about an issue of @jcmsjournal.bsky.social, i.e. the special issue of "Is it Media?" All of these articles are 100% my jam.
My friend Laura is urgently seeking a new home for two sweet kitties in/near Charleston, SC. If you have any leads or could share her post, I'd really appreciate it.
I added their Home To Home profiles at the bottom of the thread! More info about my parents' two cats that need to find a home ASAP. Also, some more pics!
September 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
My friend Laura is urgently seeking a new home for two sweet kitties in/near Charleston, SC. If you have any leads or could share her post, I'd really appreciate it.
Speaking of Critical Role, I saw a panel with Liam and Sam at Rose City Comic-Con yesterday, but the true highlight of the day was an actual play set in Val'Ruvina, the setting of TPK Brewing's Leyfarer campaign (in which I play). Tons of lore drops and our GMs were amazing as beloved NPCs.
September 7, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Speaking of Critical Role, I saw a panel with Liam and Sam at Rose City Comic-Con yesterday, but the true highlight of the day was an actual play set in Val'Ruvina, the setting of TPK Brewing's Leyfarer campaign (in which I play). Tons of lore drops and our GMs were amazing as beloved NPCs.
This is the perfect convergence of my research and personal interests, and I can't go! I'll be in NYC the next weekend for NYCC, and I really wish this ran longer. I'm sure there will be tons of social media posts, but that's no substitution for going in person.
SENDING SPELL INCOMING 🗣️ 🍭
Jester (Laura Bailey) has big news about our LIVE show at Radio City Music Hall in NYC - we're conjuring up a pop-up shop to celebrate the wedding of the century - more details coming SEPTEMBER 3RD! ✨
FJORD & JESTER'S WEDDING INFO ⬇️
https://bit.ly/45SRDxa
Jester (Laura Bailey) has big news about our LIVE show at Radio City Music Hall in NYC - we're conjuring up a pop-up shop to celebrate the wedding of the century - more details coming SEPTEMBER 3RD! ✨
FJORD & JESTER'S WEDDING INFO ⬇️
https://bit.ly/45SRDxa
September 7, 2025 at 6:14 PM
This is the perfect convergence of my research and personal interests, and I can't go! I'll be in NYC the next weekend for NYCC, and I really wish this ran longer. I'm sure there will be tons of social media posts, but that's no substitution for going in person.
I'm surprised (in a good way) to discover that the majority of students in my intro class have not only heard of the WGA/SAG strikes of 2023, but could also say generally what they were about. Also, a surprising number of them have recently watched Brokeback Mountain (because of TikTok).
September 2, 2025 at 10:58 PM
I'm surprised (in a good way) to discover that the majority of students in my intro class have not only heard of the WGA/SAG strikes of 2023, but could also say generally what they were about. Also, a surprising number of them have recently watched Brokeback Mountain (because of TikTok).
Critical Role revealed details about Campaign 4 this morning, and I am stoked! I love the expanded cast, and while I didn't like the split party as much in C3, I think it will work well here (and I understand that it makes production a lot easier). Is it Thursday October 2 yet??
August 21, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Critical Role revealed details about Campaign 4 this morning, and I am stoked! I love the expanded cast, and while I didn't like the split party as much in C3, I think it will work well here (and I understand that it makes production a lot easier). Is it Thursday October 2 yet??
Oh, but it gets worse: apparently, a task force has been hard at work to develop gems like an "outcomes curator" where you can ask AI to make sure your syllabus is in good shape, and a "productivity assistant" to "schedule my work effectively each day." 🙄
Our library website now prominently links to an "AI" "research assistant" and I want to scream into the void about it. It is so upsetting to see the library, of all places, cave like that (granted, the institution may have forced their hand). Ugh.
August 21, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Oh, but it gets worse: apparently, a task force has been hard at work to develop gems like an "outcomes curator" where you can ask AI to make sure your syllabus is in good shape, and a "productivity assistant" to "schedule my work effectively each day." 🙄
Our library website now prominently links to an "AI" "research assistant" and I want to scream into the void about it. It is so upsetting to see the library, of all places, cave like that (granted, the institution may have forced their hand). Ugh.
August 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Our library website now prominently links to an "AI" "research assistant" and I want to scream into the void about it. It is so upsetting to see the library, of all places, cave like that (granted, the institution may have forced their hand). Ugh.
This morning, observant Critical Role fans discovered the password-protected critrole.com/Unseal/ and a few hours later, managed to guess the password to reveal a 20-second audio snippet introducing a new setting along with this Thursday's date. Maybe we will get a little trailer for Campaign 4?
August 18, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This morning, observant Critical Role fans discovered the password-protected critrole.com/Unseal/ and a few hours later, managed to guess the password to reveal a 20-second audio snippet introducing a new setting along with this Thursday's date. Maybe we will get a little trailer for Campaign 4?
Related to the CR puzzle, Dropout also had an ARG embedded in this season of Game Changer that ultimately leads to a page where 100k people need to enter a secret word to unlock the bonus episode for this season. I did my part. (More on this: www.argn.com/2025/08/its_...)
August 15, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Related to the CR puzzle, Dropout also had an ARG embedded in this season of Game Changer that ultimately leads to a page where 100k people need to enter a secret word to unlock the bonus episode for this season. I did my part. (More on this: www.argn.com/2025/08/its_...)
Over the course of the day, Beacon (CR's subscription platform) sent out mobile notifications with another cryptic phrase and a link to the discord channel. The plot thickens. Hundreds of messages in the CR discord trying to crack this puzzle. (Is this what the Lost ARG was like in 2006?)
Yesterday's Critical Role newsletter included a picture of random letters arranged in a square, a new channel appeared CR's discord that only accepts commands, and people commenting on CR's latest Instagram post got DMs w/ cryptic phrases. I'm very curious to see where this leads.
August 15, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Over the course of the day, Beacon (CR's subscription platform) sent out mobile notifications with another cryptic phrase and a link to the discord channel. The plot thickens. Hundreds of messages in the CR discord trying to crack this puzzle. (Is this what the Lost ARG was like in 2006?)
Yesterday's Critical Role newsletter included a picture of random letters arranged in a square, a new channel appeared CR's discord that only accepts commands, and people commenting on CR's latest Instagram post got DMs w/ cryptic phrases. I'm very curious to see where this leads.
August 15, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Yesterday's Critical Role newsletter included a picture of random letters arranged in a square, a new channel appeared CR's discord that only accepts commands, and people commenting on CR's latest Instagram post got DMs w/ cryptic phrases. I'm very curious to see where this leads.
I wrapped my con with wandering along the show floor and then got Dole whip from Sweet Things (IYKYK). On Preview Night, the four days seem endless; then you blink and it's Sunday afternoon. See you next year, SDCC.
July 28, 2025 at 12:13 AM
I wrapped my con with wandering along the show floor and then got Dole whip from Sweet Things (IYKYK). On Preview Night, the four days seem endless; then you blink and it's Sunday afternoon. See you next year, SDCC.
I didn't know that a fan got invited to write two episodes of the final season of Xena because the showrunner liked ideas she shared online. That's wild.
July 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I didn't know that a fan got invited to write two episodes of the final season of Xena because the showrunner liked ideas she shared online. That's wild.
Marvel has an interesting (and data-extraction focused) procedure for their swag and merch: a URL drops on their Insta stories early, leading you to sign up for a virtual queue. You get a text when it's your turn (i.e. you need to consent to getting texts).
July 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Marvel has an interesting (and data-extraction focused) procedure for their swag and merch: a URL drops on their Insta stories early, leading you to sign up for a virtual queue. You get a text when it's your turn (i.e. you need to consent to getting texts).
Final day of SDCC started with some floor wandering. Now waiting for the 30th Anniversary of Xena panel, which is fan-organizd but has Renee O'Connor (who played Gabrielle) and Steven Sears (co-exec producer).
July 27, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Final day of SDCC started with some floor wandering. Now waiting for the 30th Anniversary of Xena panel, which is fan-organizd but has Renee O'Connor (who played Gabrielle) and Steven Sears (co-exec producer).
The Interview with a Vampire panel was A Vibe. Picture four thousand people, many of whom had been in the room for hours waiting for this panel combined with a very passionate fandom. There was a lot of enthusiasm. A Lot. The next season looks admittedly amazing, and I'm excited abt Talamasca, too.
July 27, 2025 at 5:11 AM
The Interview with a Vampire panel was A Vibe. Picture four thousand people, many of whom had been in the room for hours waiting for this panel combined with a very passionate fandom. There was a lot of enthusiasm. A Lot. The next season looks admittedly amazing, and I'm excited abt Talamasca, too.
Through persistence and luck, I made it into the signing line for Ron Moore at the Sony Television booth. He signed a beautiful For All Mankind poster that will probably go up in my office.
July 26, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Through persistence and luck, I made it into the signing line for Ron Moore at the Sony Television booth. He signed a beautiful For All Mankind poster that will probably go up in my office.
SDCC, Day 3. Starting with, you guessed it, a line, and then a panel: Inside the Writers Room, with a number of TV writers.
July 26, 2025 at 5:02 PM
SDCC, Day 3. Starting with, you guessed it, a line, and then a panel: Inside the Writers Room, with a number of TV writers.
Peacefest, the activation for The Peacemaker s2, was impressive. A two-level night club with secret "meet Eagly" experience and a live concert featuring 80s rock, plus free drinks, and a chance to play a Peacemaker version of Mortal Kombat. All with various brand tie-ins, of course.
July 26, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Peacefest, the activation for The Peacemaker s2, was impressive. A two-level night club with secret "meet Eagly" experience and a live concert featuring 80s rock, plus free drinks, and a chance to play a Peacemaker version of Mortal Kombat. All with various brand tie-ins, of course.
The surprise release of this Esquie pin the day before I'm doing my Expedition 33 cosplay is one of those coincidences that elevate the entire con. The things you plan for at SDCC are great, but the unexpected encounters and experiences are always better.
July 26, 2025 at 3:12 AM
The surprise release of this Esquie pin the day before I'm doing my Expedition 33 cosplay is one of those coincidences that elevate the entire con. The things you plan for at SDCC are great, but the unexpected encounters and experiences are always better.