Tommy Lynch
@tommylynch.bsky.social
Reader in Political Theology
Vague yet rigorous
Currently trying to watch every Hollywood end of the world film
https://letterboxd.com/ApocaLynch/
Vague yet rigorous
Currently trying to watch every Hollywood end of the world film
https://letterboxd.com/ApocaLynch/
Tonight's end of the world film is the appropriately named End of the World (1977). I'm not sure which is more jarring: the size of the computers or the size of the cars.
November 14, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Tonight's end of the world film is the appropriately named End of the World (1977). I'm not sure which is more jarring: the size of the computers or the size of the cars.
I'll never forget @stephenshapiro.bsky.social's land acknowledgment in Heidelberg, stating that the University is housed (in part) in buildings stolen from Jews. Obviously not the same thing, but seeing the form deployed in a new context reinforced its original function (at least for me).
my wokest opinion is that land acknowledgements are fine. people knowing a little bit about the land you're on, even if one isn't invested in a land back project, is not particularly worse than the status quo, even if one comes by this info in a way that is somewhat cringe and forced
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I'll never forget @stephenshapiro.bsky.social's land acknowledgment in Heidelberg, stating that the University is housed (in part) in buildings stolen from Jews. Obviously not the same thing, but seeing the form deployed in a new context reinforced its original function (at least for me).
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
hemmed and hawed with shobhana xavier about the book newbooksnetwork.com/the-dread-he...
Basit Kareem Iqbal, "The Dread Heights: Tribulation and Refuge after the Syrian Revolution" (Fordham UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
hemmed and hawed with shobhana xavier about the book newbooksnetwork.com/the-dread-he...
It's like that HIMYM plot line where Barney is convinced that Johnny is the good guy. These people watched 90s sci-fi and Black Mirror and thought it was an ideas incubator rather than a warning.
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
It's like that HIMYM plot line where Barney is convinced that Johnny is the good guy. These people watched 90s sci-fi and Black Mirror and thought it was an ideas incubator rather than a warning.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
"a formalist reconstruction of aspects of this song that seem so generic as to go unnoticed, and at the same time a little pocket general-theory-of-music as an art+activity of making repetition—+ with it, rhythm, period, time itself—possible."
www.boundary2.org/2025/05/seth...
www.boundary2.org/2025/05/seth...
Seth Brodsky–Losing and Finding Death Drive’s Beat
Screenshot of Brittany Howard, “Stay High” music video. This article is part of the b2o: an online journal special issue "(Rhy)pistemologies", edited by Erin Graff Zivin. Losing and Finding Death Dr...
www.boundary2.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:10 AM
"a formalist reconstruction of aspects of this song that seem so generic as to go unnoticed, and at the same time a little pocket general-theory-of-music as an art+activity of making repetition—+ with it, rhythm, period, time itself—possible."
www.boundary2.org/2025/05/seth...
www.boundary2.org/2025/05/seth...
I'm now well past 100 films in my attempt to watch every mainstream, English language apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic film. Today was the first day I came across a film (1974's Planet Earth) and just couldn't remember if I had seen it. I'm glad I took extensive notes...
November 13, 2025 at 2:44 PM
I'm now well past 100 films in my attempt to watch every mainstream, English language apocalyptic or post-apocalyptic film. Today was the first day I came across a film (1974's Planet Earth) and just couldn't remember if I had seen it. I'm glad I took extensive notes...
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft Office, saying it’s too dependent on US tech, in favor of Open Desk, a German open source alternative.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
International Criminal Court to ditch Microsoft Office for European open source alternative | Euractiv
The court will move its internal work environment to Open Desk, a German-developed open source software
www.euractiv.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
The International Criminal Court is ditching Microsoft Office, saying it’s too dependent on US tech, in favor of Open Desk, a German open source alternative.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
The move comes after Microsoft revoked ICC head Karim Khan’s email access when he was sanctioned by the US for the warrant against Netanyahu.
Is it infiltration if the government is actively seeking out partnerships?
Our latest issue has just hit newsstands! Here’s a peek at what’s inside... 🧵
For our cover story, Mark Wilding from @libertyhq.bsky.social investigates how the government handed our data to Peter Thiel’s controversial company Palantir: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
For our cover story, Mark Wilding from @libertyhq.bsky.social investigates how the government handed our data to Peter Thiel’s controversial company Palantir: www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/dem...
November 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Is it infiltration if the government is actively seeking out partnerships?
I'm teaching Wendy Brown on tolerance this afternoon and its interesting how revisiting the same text allows you to experience arguments in different historical moments. I think Brown's argument is still compelling, but it lands differently in Trump's second term than it did during Obama's.
November 12, 2025 at 6:22 AM
I'm teaching Wendy Brown on tolerance this afternoon and its interesting how revisiting the same text allows you to experience arguments in different historical moments. I think Brown's argument is still compelling, but it lands differently in Trump's second term than it did during Obama's.
I'm against neoliberal approaches to climate change that emphasise individual consumer choice over large scale political interventions, but I'm not clear how you are supposed to separate out your individual chat session and all the energy that goes into training these models.
Worried that using ChatGPT harms the planet? A new analysis shows each query uses less energy than a Google search – and far less than lighting a bulb or streaming TV. Alan Jones reports
eastangliabylines.co.uk/technology/h...
eastangliabylines.co.uk/technology/h...
How much energy does ChatGPT really use?
You shouldn’t really worry about your energy use when using domestic AI, it’s probably no worse than watching your favourite soap
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
I'm against neoliberal approaches to climate change that emphasise individual consumer choice over large scale political interventions, but I'm not clear how you are supposed to separate out your individual chat session and all the energy that goes into training these models.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
University of Vienna, Tenure Track Professorship in Jewish literary, cultural, and religious history
jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Tenure-T...
jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Tenure-T...
Tenure-Track Professorship in Jewish literary, cultural and religious history (from 1040)
Tenure-Track Professorship in Jewish literary, cultural and religious history (from 1040)
jobs.univie.ac.at
November 9, 2025 at 3:33 PM
University of Vienna, Tenure Track Professorship in Jewish literary, cultural, and religious history
jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Tenure-T...
jobs.univie.ac.at/job/Tenure-T...
New books acquired after @fmussgnug.bsky.social's excellent inaugural lecture.
November 9, 2025 at 11:03 AM
New books acquired after @fmussgnug.bsky.social's excellent inaugural lecture.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
Watching The Creator this morning and boy Gareth Edwards likes lightening in clouds.
November 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Watching The Creator this morning and boy Gareth Edwards likes lightening in clouds.
I do an exercise with students each year. If we take Musk's wealth to be about £384b and he was giving you £1 a second, when would he have to start in order to be giving you his last £1 now?
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
November 7, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I do an exercise with students each year. If we take Musk's wealth to be about £384b and he was giving you £1 a second, when would he have to start in order to be giving you his last £1 now?
Is Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) the first film to depict something like our contemporary fears about AI? You could make an argument for Hal in 2001, but that feels different than the idea of an AI ceasing control of weapons and resources and using it to force humanity to do its will.
November 7, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Is Colossus: The Forbin Project (1970) the first film to depict something like our contemporary fears about AI? You could make an argument for Hal in 2001, but that feels different than the idea of an AI ceasing control of weapons and resources and using it to force humanity to do its will.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
My new book is out States of Transition: From Governing the Environment to Transforming Society published by @universitypress.cambridge.org
With thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social @profjohnbarry.bsky.social & Jennifer Clapp for generous endorsements
With thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social @profjohnbarry.bsky.social & Jennifer Clapp for generous endorsements
November 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
My new book is out States of Transition: From Governing the Environment to Transforming Society published by @universitypress.cambridge.org
With thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social @profjohnbarry.bsky.social & Jennifer Clapp for generous endorsements
With thanks to @carolinelucas.bsky.social @profjohnbarry.bsky.social & Jennifer Clapp for generous endorsements
This looks very exciting.
Ladelle McWhorter, Unbecoming Persons: The Rise and Demise of the Modern Moral Self - @uchicagopress.bsky.social, November 2025
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Interview with Ladelle McWhorter on the @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social
Thanks to @foucault-news.bsky.social for the links.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Interview with Ladelle McWhorter on the @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social
Thanks to @foucault-news.bsky.social for the links.
Unbecoming Persons
A damning genealogy of modern personhood and a bold vision for a new ethics rooted in belonging rather than individuality. In the face of ecological crisis, economic injustice, and political violenc...
press.uchicago.edu
November 7, 2025 at 8:59 AM
This looks very exciting.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
New book, Divest, coming out in spring 2026 with @uminnpress.bsky.social 🍉 www.upress.umn.edu/978151792148...
Divest
A manifesto for liberating desire from the grip of capital and colonial violence in PalestineCould a psychoanalytic theory of masochism help us to understand...
www.upress.umn.edu
November 4, 2025 at 2:15 PM
New book, Divest, coming out in spring 2026 with @uminnpress.bsky.social 🍉 www.upress.umn.edu/978151792148...
I'm surprised that there aren't more queer readings of Logan's Run. Sandmen, Runners and Cubs all sound like they could be queer subcultures. I thought it was clear that Francis was in love with Logan and jealous of Jessica. Logan has to kill Francis to end the threat to heterosexuality.
November 4, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I'm surprised that there aren't more queer readings of Logan's Run. Sandmen, Runners and Cubs all sound like they could be queer subcultures. I thought it was clear that Francis was in love with Logan and jealous of Jessica. Logan has to kill Francis to end the threat to heterosexuality.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
The old world is dying and the new world (whisper whisper) oh, so it’s just the dying then?
November 3, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The old world is dying and the new world (whisper whisper) oh, so it’s just the dying then?
To be fair, he is an expert on things that history won't forgive.
‘History won’t forgive us’ if UK falls behind in quantum computing race, says Tony Blair
Exclusive: Former PM and ex-Tory leader William Hague warn UK lacks high-risk capital and infrastructure to harness benefits of powerful technology
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 6:40 AM
To be fair, he is an expert on things that history won't forgive.
I've watch The Thing and Frankenstein in the past week and I'm not sure which has the most grisly canine death.
November 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I've watch The Thing and Frankenstein in the past week and I'm not sure which has the most grisly canine death.
Reposted by Tommy Lynch
