Siobhán McGuirk
@siobhan.bsky.social
Researching, writing & teaching on immigration, LGBTQI+ rights, social movements, queer culture, art, film /// PhD Anthropology /// Editor Red Pepper magazine /// Book: Asylum for Sale
A real treat to write about Jurassic Park as anticapitalist inspiration for the new @leftcultures.bsky.social (with brilliant illustration as ever)
A great project celebrating radical politics in unexpected places
A great project celebrating radical politics in unexpected places
Issue 4 of Left Cultures out now featuring a piece by Red Pepper co-editor @siobhan.bsky.social
In Issue there's over 50 stories discussing a dazzling array of past and present cultural moments to create a Lexicon of the Left, fully illustrated throughout.
leftcultures.com/collections/...
In Issue there's over 50 stories discussing a dazzling array of past and present cultural moments to create a Lexicon of the Left, fully illustrated throughout.
leftcultures.com/collections/...
Issue 04
In Left Cultures 4 there's over 50 stories discussing a dazzling array of past and present cultural moments to create a Lexicon of the Left, fully illustrated throughout.B5 in size128 pagesConcession…
leftcultures.com
October 1, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A real treat to write about Jurassic Park as anticapitalist inspiration for the new @leftcultures.bsky.social (with brilliant illustration as ever)
A great project celebrating radical politics in unexpected places
A great project celebrating radical politics in unexpected places
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
🚨BREAKING: We’re deeply concerned at the use of counter terrorism powers to target protest groups.
This is the latest in a succession of measures taken by the UK government to clamp down on protest in the UK.
This is the latest in a succession of measures taken by the UK government to clamp down on protest in the UK.
June 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
🚨BREAKING: We’re deeply concerned at the use of counter terrorism powers to target protest groups.
This is the latest in a succession of measures taken by the UK government to clamp down on protest in the UK.
This is the latest in a succession of measures taken by the UK government to clamp down on protest in the UK.
It has always been genocide
Israeli politicians state clear intent
Palestinians livestream atrocity
Millions protest, face arrest & smears
Experts present data & facts
Arms sales-handshakes-passive voice-excuses-denials continue
‘New’ headlines echo a truth foretold
It has always been genocide
Israeli politicians state clear intent
Palestinians livestream atrocity
Millions protest, face arrest & smears
Experts present data & facts
Arms sales-handshakes-passive voice-excuses-denials continue
‘New’ headlines echo a truth foretold
It has always been genocide
June 2, 2025 at 7:14 AM
It has always been genocide
Israeli politicians state clear intent
Palestinians livestream atrocity
Millions protest, face arrest & smears
Experts present data & facts
Arms sales-handshakes-passive voice-excuses-denials continue
‘New’ headlines echo a truth foretold
It has always been genocide
Israeli politicians state clear intent
Palestinians livestream atrocity
Millions protest, face arrest & smears
Experts present data & facts
Arms sales-handshakes-passive voice-excuses-denials continue
‘New’ headlines echo a truth foretold
It has always been genocide
Feeling energised and inspired to action by the sharp insights, provocations, debates and ideas suggested in our rapid-fire workshop
Right wing influence/ dominance in the media *can* be opposed, through alliance & action beyond media spheres…
“Off the doom scroll into communities!” Great advice
Right wing influence/ dominance in the media *can* be opposed, through alliance & action beyond media spheres…
“Off the doom scroll into communities!” Great advice
Join Red Pepper at the Media and Democracy Festival on 31 May in London!
We will be hosting a session on fight far-right media dominance.
Register here⤵️
www.mediareform.org.uk/media-democr...
We will be hosting a session on fight far-right media dominance.
Register here⤵️
www.mediareform.org.uk/media-democr...
Media Reform Coalition
Media Reform coordinates the work of advocacy groups campaigning to protect the public interest in light of the Leveson Inquiry and Communications Review.
www.mediareform.org.uk
May 31, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Feeling energised and inspired to action by the sharp insights, provocations, debates and ideas suggested in our rapid-fire workshop
Right wing influence/ dominance in the media *can* be opposed, through alliance & action beyond media spheres…
“Off the doom scroll into communities!” Great advice
Right wing influence/ dominance in the media *can* be opposed, through alliance & action beyond media spheres…
“Off the doom scroll into communities!” Great advice
Do not give up hope, do not look away, do not stop doing what you can do (and you can do a lot) to end genocide and occupation 👇
I’m tired of seeing people give up on Gaza by accepting the Israeli government’s declarations as inevitable facts. Just because they want to ethnically cleanse Gaza and implement concentration camps as part of their genocide does not mean they f-ing get to do it. 🧵
May 28, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Do not give up hope, do not look away, do not stop doing what you can do (and you can do a lot) to end genocide and occupation 👇
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
Article embracing the challenges of collaboration in research and curation — and celebrating queer sensibilities in action. (Hat tip to Halberstam!)
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
The uses of failure: Transnational collaborative curation through a queer lens | Intellect
This article examines some of the challenges, possibilities and rewards of transnational collaborative curation through a queer lens by reflecting critically on my work within the UKRI-funded GlobalGR...
intellectdiscover.com
May 8, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Article embracing the challenges of collaboration in research and curation — and celebrating queer sensibilities in action. (Hat tip to Halberstam!)
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
The @pef-online.bsky.social Conference showed in every moment that different, fair, data-driven economic (& related social) policies are on the table… but ignored by politicians locked into neoliberalism. An inspiring but painful event, as Labour sinks itself & squanders opportunity for change
John McDonnell addresses the PEF conference.. He choked up when talking about the right wing lurch of Labour's leadership... and the announcement re: 'asylum hubs'
May 16, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The @pef-online.bsky.social Conference showed in every moment that different, fair, data-driven economic (& related social) policies are on the table… but ignored by politicians locked into neoliberalism. An inspiring but painful event, as Labour sinks itself & squanders opportunity for change
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
I have frequently been racially harassed by police and civilians. I have been detained and cross examined by racist border guards just because I have a Muslim first name. No newspaper has ever said people like me have “legitimate concerns” about racism in Europe. We don’t get that privilege.
It’s been going on our entire lives. Getting stop-searched at bus stops while simply waiting for a bus. Getting stopped at traffic lights after a Sunday League game by officers who just want to ruin your day. This is the reality. That is the open and honest conversation we need first.
May 14, 2025 at 7:55 AM
I have frequently been racially harassed by police and civilians. I have been detained and cross examined by racist border guards just because I have a Muslim first name. No newspaper has ever said people like me have “legitimate concerns” about racism in Europe. We don’t get that privilege.
If you’ve somehow not left Labour yet, as a member or a voter, go now.
Tell your MP why on the way out…
Racist rhetoric, cruel cuts, promoting transphobia, punishing disability, illegally selling weaponry, supporting genocide, protecting private industry, refusing to tax millionaires… 🥀🥀🥀
Tell your MP why on the way out…
Racist rhetoric, cruel cuts, promoting transphobia, punishing disability, illegally selling weaponry, supporting genocide, protecting private industry, refusing to tax millionaires… 🥀🥀🥀
May 13, 2025 at 8:38 AM
If you’ve somehow not left Labour yet, as a member or a voter, go now.
Tell your MP why on the way out…
Racist rhetoric, cruel cuts, promoting transphobia, punishing disability, illegally selling weaponry, supporting genocide, protecting private industry, refusing to tax millionaires… 🥀🥀🥀
Tell your MP why on the way out…
Racist rhetoric, cruel cuts, promoting transphobia, punishing disability, illegally selling weaponry, supporting genocide, protecting private industry, refusing to tax millionaires… 🥀🥀🥀
WEER at @sohotheatre.bsky.social is astoundingly good.
One of the best physical theatre/ clowning performances I’ve ever seen, complemented by archly queer pop-culture skewering from Natalie Palamides
(Seeing a packed house (700+…?) for alt. theatre with affordable tickets is also magic 🪄)
One of the best physical theatre/ clowning performances I’ve ever seen, complemented by archly queer pop-culture skewering from Natalie Palamides
(Seeing a packed house (700+…?) for alt. theatre with affordable tickets is also magic 🪄)
May 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
WEER at @sohotheatre.bsky.social is astoundingly good.
One of the best physical theatre/ clowning performances I’ve ever seen, complemented by archly queer pop-culture skewering from Natalie Palamides
(Seeing a packed house (700+…?) for alt. theatre with affordable tickets is also magic 🪄)
One of the best physical theatre/ clowning performances I’ve ever seen, complemented by archly queer pop-culture skewering from Natalie Palamides
(Seeing a packed house (700+…?) for alt. theatre with affordable tickets is also magic 🪄)
Article embracing the challenges of collaboration in research and curation — and celebrating queer sensibilities in action. (Hat tip to Halberstam!)
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
The uses of failure: Transnational collaborative curation through a queer lens | Intellect
This article examines some of the challenges, possibilities and rewards of transnational collaborative curation through a queer lens by reflecting critically on my work within the UKRI-funded GlobalGR...
intellectdiscover.com
May 8, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Article embracing the challenges of collaboration in research and curation — and celebrating queer sensibilities in action. (Hat tip to Halberstam!)
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
🚨 for academics exploring applications of queer theory, creative methods, participation
intellectdiscover.com/content/jour... 🌈🎓
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
A coalition of legal academics have drafted a letter supporting trans rights & sharing concerns about the FWS v Scottish Ministers ruling.
If you work in the legal profession in the UK (eg, academics, practitioners, anyone else 'doing law') please consider signing:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If you work in the legal profession in the UK (eg, academics, practitioners, anyone else 'doing law') please consider signing:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
A Law Letter on FWS v Scottish Ministers
A coalition of legal academics have drafted a letter setting out our support for trans rights and our concerns about the FWS v Scottish Ministers UKSC ruling. We are opening it up for signature to ev...
docs.google.com
May 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
A coalition of legal academics have drafted a letter supporting trans rights & sharing concerns about the FWS v Scottish Ministers ruling.
If you work in the legal profession in the UK (eg, academics, practitioners, anyone else 'doing law') please consider signing:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
If you work in the legal profession in the UK (eg, academics, practitioners, anyone else 'doing law') please consider signing:
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
Our social relationships are never unphysical. Our physical relationships are never unsocial. Our bodies are ourselves and they are situated in a social environment at the same time. The projections onto our varied bodies and minds based on this are expansive and unavoidable everywhere.
April 18, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Our social relationships are never unphysical. Our physical relationships are never unsocial. Our bodies are ourselves and they are situated in a social environment at the same time. The projections onto our varied bodies and minds based on this are expansive and unavoidable everywhere.
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
Red Pepper is entering a new era.
Help shape our future at our first community forum on 5 April at 12 pm BST online.
Readers from all corners of the globe are invited. 🌶️
www.redpepper.org.uk/community-co...
Help shape our future at our first community forum on 5 April at 12 pm BST online.
Readers from all corners of the globe are invited. 🌶️
www.redpepper.org.uk/community-co...
Community Forum Registration – Online - Red Pepper
Join a small group of Red Pepper readers to review and debate the future forms Red Pepper might take. Spaces are limited so book now to avoid disappointment! Can’t make this Forum? See our Community C...
www.redpepper.org.uk
April 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Red Pepper is entering a new era.
Help shape our future at our first community forum on 5 April at 12 pm BST online.
Readers from all corners of the globe are invited. 🌶️
www.redpepper.org.uk/community-co...
Help shape our future at our first community forum on 5 April at 12 pm BST online.
Readers from all corners of the globe are invited. 🌶️
www.redpepper.org.uk/community-co...
Left media is facing tough challenges as production costs rise & digital platforms push paid, clickbait & fact-free content
@redpeppermag.bsky.social wants to hear from YOU: what’s needed now?
Share your insights in our survey & community forums. First up: online, 5 April, 12-1.15pm
Details ⤵️
@redpeppermag.bsky.social wants to hear from YOU: what’s needed now?
Share your insights in our survey & community forums. First up: online, 5 April, 12-1.15pm
Details ⤵️
Our community consultation has begun🌶️
Red Pepper invites you to join us in shaping our future by taking our survey and joining us for our virtual or in-person community events.
Find more details here:
www.redpepper.org.uk/what-next-fo...
Red Pepper invites you to join us in shaping our future by taking our survey and joining us for our virtual or in-person community events.
Find more details here:
www.redpepper.org.uk/what-next-fo...
Community Consultation 2025 - Red Pepper
After 31 years, Red Pepper is ceasing print production. Now, we're asking YOU – our readers and supporters – to shape what comes next
www.redpepper.org.uk
April 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Left media is facing tough challenges as production costs rise & digital platforms push paid, clickbait & fact-free content
@redpeppermag.bsky.social wants to hear from YOU: what’s needed now?
Share your insights in our survey & community forums. First up: online, 5 April, 12-1.15pm
Details ⤵️
@redpeppermag.bsky.social wants to hear from YOU: what’s needed now?
Share your insights in our survey & community forums. First up: online, 5 April, 12-1.15pm
Details ⤵️
A hard decision—but this is not the end
Independent, accessible & trustworthy journalism needs investment. If we want better than “free” platforms run by millionaires fuelled by algorithms, ads & dishonesty we must build it
Join our upcoming Community Consultation to forge a stronger left media
Independent, accessible & trustworthy journalism needs investment. If we want better than “free” platforms run by millionaires fuelled by algorithms, ads & dishonesty we must build it
Join our upcoming Community Consultation to forge a stronger left media
After 31 years, Red Pepper is ceasing print production. Editors Hilary Wainwright and Siobhán McGuirk explain why – and invite readers to shape what comes next 🌶️
www.redpepper.org.uk/culture-medi...
www.redpepper.org.uk/culture-medi...
Transition time for Red Pepper - Red Pepper
After 31 years, Red Pepper is ceasing print production. Editors Hilary Wainwright Siobhan Mcguirk explain why – and what comes next
www.redpepper.org.uk
March 10, 2025 at 9:39 AM
A hard decision—but this is not the end
Independent, accessible & trustworthy journalism needs investment. If we want better than “free” platforms run by millionaires fuelled by algorithms, ads & dishonesty we must build it
Join our upcoming Community Consultation to forge a stronger left media
Independent, accessible & trustworthy journalism needs investment. If we want better than “free” platforms run by millionaires fuelled by algorithms, ads & dishonesty we must build it
Join our upcoming Community Consultation to forge a stronger left media
Will be thinking long on #TheYears, so thoughtfully staged & layered. Both tribute to feminist movements & indictment of how the bourgeois can benefit while removed; mistaking knowledge of global liberation struggle for engagement. Complex complexities. Incredible cast.
February 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Will be thinking long on #TheYears, so thoughtfully staged & layered. Both tribute to feminist movements & indictment of how the bourgeois can benefit while removed; mistaking knowledge of global liberation struggle for engagement. Complex complexities. Incredible cast.
Local independent news co-operatives like Bristol Cable doing essential work. Institutional racist police forces are not going to hold themselves to account — only communities can do that
A Bristol Cable investigation into Avon & Somerset police's huge sec 60 operation after a fatal stabbing found police had only stopped people of colour, had stopped children as young as 13, and found.... no knives
February 15, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Local independent news co-operatives like Bristol Cable doing essential work. Institutional racist police forces are not going to hold themselves to account — only communities can do that
Only a few filmmakers make art, fewer still can make serious work that captures & revels in the utter bizarreness of human emotion & everyday life. A rare gift
Anyway. Here are my parents enjoying David Lynch’s invitation to loose their heads in his work
(Manchester International Festival 2019)
Anyway. Here are my parents enjoying David Lynch’s invitation to loose their heads in his work
(Manchester International Festival 2019)
January 16, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Only a few filmmakers make art, fewer still can make serious work that captures & revels in the utter bizarreness of human emotion & everyday life. A rare gift
Anyway. Here are my parents enjoying David Lynch’s invitation to loose their heads in his work
(Manchester International Festival 2019)
Anyway. Here are my parents enjoying David Lynch’s invitation to loose their heads in his work
(Manchester International Festival 2019)
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
It's been obvious for some time that the scale of Israel's mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza has been grossly underreported.
This won't stop the denialists here and elsewhere, of course.
This won't stop the denialists here and elsewhere, of course.
January 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
It's been obvious for some time that the scale of Israel's mass slaughter of civilians in Gaza has been grossly underreported.
This won't stop the denialists here and elsewhere, of course.
This won't stop the denialists here and elsewhere, of course.
“Zuckerberg [believes] that he knows better than the rest of us and that his company’s services are good for us. He is not acting as a mercenary capitalist. He is acting as a megalomaniacal ideologue”
Informed, historical analysis of #Meta (ignore the headline)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Informed, historical analysis of #Meta (ignore the headline)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Mark Zuckerberg has gone full Maga | Siva Vaidhyanathan
It’s a mistake to describe the Meta CEO’s move as a retreat from ‘fact-checking’: it’s a retreat from limiting harm to users
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2025 at 9:19 AM
“Zuckerberg [believes] that he knows better than the rest of us and that his company’s services are good for us. He is not acting as a mercenary capitalist. He is acting as a megalomaniacal ideologue”
Informed, historical analysis of #Meta (ignore the headline)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Informed, historical analysis of #Meta (ignore the headline)
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
The same headline must have been repeated over a dozen times already - America ‘trying’ to get a ceasefire in Gaza while its ally Israel, the one America arms and funds, commits another massacre
January 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
The same headline must have been repeated over a dozen times already - America ‘trying’ to get a ceasefire in Gaza while its ally Israel, the one America arms and funds, commits another massacre
Dangerous & notable that so many journalists & Labour MPs are dodging talking about the explicit racism in Reform/ Musk/ Jenrick etc “calls” for new rape gang inquiry
It’s a shift from response to Braverman/Sunak (April ‘23). As with ‘24 riots, they will not name Islamophobia
Only fuels the fire
It’s a shift from response to Braverman/Sunak (April ‘23). As with ‘24 riots, they will not name Islamophobia
Only fuels the fire
January 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Dangerous & notable that so many journalists & Labour MPs are dodging talking about the explicit racism in Reform/ Musk/ Jenrick etc “calls” for new rape gang inquiry
It’s a shift from response to Braverman/Sunak (April ‘23). As with ‘24 riots, they will not name Islamophobia
Only fuels the fire
It’s a shift from response to Braverman/Sunak (April ‘23). As with ‘24 riots, they will not name Islamophobia
Only fuels the fire
📽️ Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat traces how colonial & capitalist subterfuge pulled jazz icons into battles over Congolese independence, Cold War geopolitics & UN power
Its compelling beats skip across time & place, drumming into life a complex mosaic of archive clips with reverberations for today. 5⭐️
Its compelling beats skip across time & place, drumming into life a complex mosaic of archive clips with reverberations for today. 5⭐️
January 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM
📽️ Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat traces how colonial & capitalist subterfuge pulled jazz icons into battles over Congolese independence, Cold War geopolitics & UN power
Its compelling beats skip across time & place, drumming into life a complex mosaic of archive clips with reverberations for today. 5⭐️
Its compelling beats skip across time & place, drumming into life a complex mosaic of archive clips with reverberations for today. 5⭐️
Reposted by Siobhán McGuirk
The work of a generation of historians - to sweep aside jingoistic fairytales and give us a richer, more accurate understanding of our colonial histories - will continue unabated. And over time, the embittered, chauvinistic backlash against their work will fade into background noise.
December 26, 2024 at 8:45 AM
The work of a generation of historians - to sweep aside jingoistic fairytales and give us a richer, more accurate understanding of our colonial histories - will continue unabated. And over time, the embittered, chauvinistic backlash against their work will fade into background noise.