Jon Hughes
@riderjon.bsky.social
Academic in German + Cultural Studies, Royal Holloway Uni. of London, researching film, lit, history, sport. Books on Joseph Roth, Max Schmeling. Latest book: PEOPLE ON SUNDAY, out now with Bloomsbury/BFI Film Classics. Cyclist, cat person, European.
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Jon Hughes
@riderjon.bsky.social
· Mar 27
It's UK publication day for my illustrated book about the Weimar film gem MENSCHEN AM SONNTAG / PEOPLE ON SUNDAY (1930). It appears in the BFI Film Classics series with @bloomsburybooksuk.bsky.social with beautiful cover art by Federica Masini, and packs a lot into its 104 pages. 1/2
The pseudo-Darwinist, macho language (America as the 'dominant predator') is very revealing. If you offered these guys the chance to wear skull and crossbone lapel badges they would love it.
Ogles: "It's important that we have a stake in Greenland, that they are quite frankly a protectorate of the US. They've been in relationship with Denmark - that needs to end. We've spilled more blood protecting Greenland than the Danes... we are the dominant predator force in the Western Hemisphere"
January 7, 2026 at 1:30 PM
The pseudo-Darwinist, macho language (America as the 'dominant predator') is very revealing. If you offered these guys the chance to wear skull and crossbone lapel badges they would love it.
In case anyone needs a bit of onomatopoeia to start the day (in German Lautmalerei = painting with sounds).
Proclamation (Kündung) from the periodical Kündung, vol. 1, no. 1 (January 1921) http://www.moma.org/collection/works/114859
January 6, 2026 at 10:22 AM
In case anyone needs a bit of onomatopoeia to start the day (in German Lautmalerei = painting with sounds).
Hard to believe this is the same Keir Starmer who was once a distinguished human rights lawyer, and who was so concerned about international law that he marched in protest at the illegality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Keir Starmer refuses to condemn US attack on Venezuela as Maduro is jailed in New York – live
President Nicolás Maduro is expected to make an initial appearance in Manhattan federal court on Monday after capture by US forces
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Hard to believe this is the same Keir Starmer who was once a distinguished human rights lawyer, and who was so concerned about international law that he marched in protest at the illegality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Reposted by Jon Hughes
Venezuela now, because he wants the oil.
He wants the oil under Greenland too. And under Canada. He's openly called for them to be part of the USA.
How long before he decides to bomb a couple of NATO members to get his own way?
The USA is a rogue nation.
He wants the oil under Greenland too. And under Canada. He's openly called for them to be part of the USA.
How long before he decides to bomb a couple of NATO members to get his own way?
The USA is a rogue nation.
January 3, 2026 at 9:47 AM
Venezuela now, because he wants the oil.
He wants the oil under Greenland too. And under Canada. He's openly called for them to be part of the USA.
How long before he decides to bomb a couple of NATO members to get his own way?
The USA is a rogue nation.
He wants the oil under Greenland too. And under Canada. He's openly called for them to be part of the USA.
How long before he decides to bomb a couple of NATO members to get his own way?
The USA is a rogue nation.
I always said nothing could posibly be more tedious than the endless epilogue in the last Lord of the Rings film. But ‘stranger things’ have happened…
January 3, 2026 at 9:46 AM
I always said nothing could posibly be more tedious than the endless epilogue in the last Lord of the Rings film. But ‘stranger things’ have happened…
Colleen Moore on the cover of the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, 3 January 1926. Prosit Neujahr and Happy New Year everyone.
January 1, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Colleen Moore on the cover of the Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung, 3 January 1926. Prosit Neujahr and Happy New Year everyone.
Marlene Dietrich (BOTD 1931) on the set of A FOREIGN AFFAIR (1948) with director Billy Wilder.
December 27, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Marlene Dietrich (BOTD 1931) on the set of A FOREIGN AFFAIR (1948) with director Billy Wilder.
Merry Cardboard Boxmas to all who celebrate! #catsofbluesky
December 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Merry Cardboard Boxmas to all who celebrate! #catsofbluesky
For me, the best Christmas film. And also the best New Year’s Eve film. Intriguingly Wilder said he wanted to make this film since the 30s. The inspiration came from Weimar Berlin as much as from America in 1960.
The Apartment: Billy Wilder’s Christmas classic is the blueprint for romcoms everywhere
The 1960 film about a downtrodden insurance worker and his burgeoning crush is full of staccato repartee and unforgettable jokes. It’s barely aged a day
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:22 PM
For me, the best Christmas film. And also the best New Year’s Eve film. Intriguingly Wilder said he wanted to make this film since the 30s. The inspiration came from Weimar Berlin as much as from America in 1960.
‘Taste tautology’ is my concept of the day. Listening to algorithm-generated playlists, while being surveilled by a machine, feels like light years from the buzz of listening to the John Peel show.
Your data is being collected and served back to you in a fun way. You might be limiting you taste in following its design for you.
Spotify Wrapped reminds us even our leisure time is being surveilled and sold
Your data is being collected and served back to you in a fun way. You might be limiting you taste in following its design for you.
tcnv.link
December 18, 2025 at 12:52 PM
‘Taste tautology’ is my concept of the day. Listening to algorithm-generated playlists, while being surveilled by a machine, feels like light years from the buzz of listening to the John Peel show.
Goodbye Vienna. An enjoyable few days reconnecting with (and eating and drinking our way through) one of the loveliest cities.
December 16, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Goodbye Vienna. An enjoyable few days reconnecting with (and eating and drinking our way through) one of the loveliest cities.
Billy :) Quite a large sign compared to most similar British / German plaques.
December 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Billy :) Quite a large sign compared to most similar British / German plaques.
Tremendous afternoon + evening at the Albertina and Vienna Filmmuseum. A screening of Eisenstein’s THE GENERAL LINE (1929) with piano accompaniment was an absolute revelation. If you think bulls and tractors can’t be exciting, think again!
December 14, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Tremendous afternoon + evening at the Albertina and Vienna Filmmuseum. A screening of Eisenstein’s THE GENERAL LINE (1929) with piano accompaniment was an absolute revelation. If you think bulls and tractors can’t be exciting, think again!
Not sure I quite approve of designing window displays by the colour of the books 🤔 But I do like the bibilophile vibes in the bookshops in Vienna.
December 13, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Not sure I quite approve of designing window displays by the colour of the books 🤔 But I do like the bibilophile vibes in the bookshops in Vienna.
Nice to be back in Vienna to celebrate the end of a long teaching term. This seasonal son et lumiere show is happening at the Alte Post, close to where we staying. 👌🎄
December 13, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Nice to be back in Vienna to celebrate the end of a long teaching term. This seasonal son et lumiere show is happening at the Alte Post, close to where we staying. 👌🎄
My hot take, employing similar logic to 'Die Hard is a Christmas film' believers - PSYCHO is a Christmas film! The story begins on 11 December ('two forty-three p.m.') and therefore unfolds in the run-up to Christmas.
Is Die Hard a Christmas film? The public have spoken - and you might not like the result
Even Bruce Willis himself thinks the blockbuster isn't a Christmas film. "It's a goddamn Bruce Willis movie!" he said in 2018.
news.sky.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
My hot take, employing similar logic to 'Die Hard is a Christmas film' believers - PSYCHO is a Christmas film! The story begins on 11 December ('two forty-three p.m.') and therefore unfolds in the run-up to Christmas.
My teaching topics in different classes this week: Glazer's The Zone of Interest, Hitchock's Psycho, and Kafka's Metamorphosis. Like an advent calendar of misery! But the students seem to be loving it so far, honest.
December 3, 2025 at 3:55 PM
My teaching topics in different classes this week: Glazer's The Zone of Interest, Hitchock's Psycho, and Kafka's Metamorphosis. Like an advent calendar of misery! But the students seem to be loving it so far, honest.
Radiohead at the O2 in London last night - a spectacular and generous show. I think the 8th time I’ve seen them live, going back to 1995, so I enjoyed experiencing an (almost) career-spanning set in front of an adoring (and surprisingly youthful) crowd.
November 22, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Radiohead at the O2 in London last night - a spectacular and generous show. I think the 8th time I’ve seen them live, going back to 1995, so I enjoyed experiencing an (almost) career-spanning set in front of an adoring (and surprisingly youthful) crowd.
A miserable day but at least someone is happy. NB I always put her ears back afterwards ;) #catsofbluesky
November 16, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A miserable day but at least someone is happy. NB I always put her ears back afterwards ;) #catsofbluesky
Languages degrees in the UK continue to be viewed as an easy target by senior managers who refuse to see their inherent value or to support them adequately. Courses at Nottingham + Leicester face closure as the UK hurtles towards blinkered monolingualism.
Sharing 2 petitions - please sign! 1/2
Sharing 2 petitions - please sign! 1/2
We Can Make an Impact.
Save Modern Languages courses at the University of Leicester
c.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Languages degrees in the UK continue to be viewed as an easy target by senior managers who refuse to see their inherent value or to support them adequately. Courses at Nottingham + Leicester face closure as the UK hurtles towards blinkered monolingualism.
Sharing 2 petitions - please sign! 1/2
Sharing 2 petitions - please sign! 1/2
Reposted by Jon Hughes
The 2025 David Vilaseca Memorial Lecture, entitled 'Dalís', will be delivered on 11 November (online) by Dr. Alicia Kent of @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social. Free and open to all! Full details here:
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and...
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and...
November 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The 2025 David Vilaseca Memorial Lecture, entitled 'Dalís', will be delivered on 11 November (online) by Dr. Alicia Kent of @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social. Free and open to all! Full details here:
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and...
www.royalholloway.ac.uk/research-and...
Peter Lorre in his first Hollywood film MAD LOVE (1935), directed by legendary German cinematographer Karl Freund. It's a remake of Robert Wiene's ORLACS HÄNDE (1924) starring Conrad Veidt.
October 31, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Peter Lorre in his first Hollywood film MAD LOVE (1935), directed by legendary German cinematographer Karl Freund. It's a remake of Robert Wiene's ORLACS HÄNDE (1924) starring Conrad Veidt.
Better late than never.
Prince Andrew stripped of his ‘royal titles’ - except for ‘Prince’, the one title he is known by. As ever with the royal family, what a joke. #notmyking
October 30, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Better late than never.
If the Times is interested I'll happily respond to questions about the making of Home Alone and Pretty in Pink ;)
Thought the Times had been hoaxed. Turns out to be so much better than that
October 30, 2025 at 8:49 AM
If the Times is interested I'll happily respond to questions about the making of Home Alone and Pretty in Pink ;)
Prince Andrew stripped of his ‘royal titles’ - except for ‘Prince’, the one title he is known by. As ever with the royal family, what a joke. #notmyking
October 17, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Prince Andrew stripped of his ‘royal titles’ - except for ‘Prince’, the one title he is known by. As ever with the royal family, what a joke. #notmyking