Curt Hansman
@achinatiger.bsky.social
art historian, Sinologist, teaches at DePaul, distance runner, voracious omnivorous reader, potter
Reposted by Curt Hansman
"In a sequel to her influential 'Library as Infrastructure', contributing writer Shannon Mattern delves into the organizing force of libraries at a time when public knowledge is under attack."
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
Extralibrary Loan: Making the Civic Infrastructure We Need
Amid a war on public knowledge, libraries are pushing outward, enlarging the commons through new configurations of civic and creative life.
placesjournal.org
November 22, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"In a sequel to her influential 'Library as Infrastructure', contributing writer Shannon Mattern delves into the organizing force of libraries at a time when public knowledge is under attack."
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
placesjournal.org/article/extr... @shannonmattern.bsky.social
Reposted by Curt Hansman
First came the call from his own parents. Then dozens of cancellations came pouring in.
How the director of an inaugural film festival in New York City...came under pressure from China to cancel the festival in the U.S.
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
How the director of an inaugural film festival in New York City...came under pressure from China to cancel the festival in the U.S.
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
Film festival organizer cancels event, citing pressure from China's government
The director of a Chinese-language film festival in New York City says he's been forced to cancel the event because of pressure from the Chinese government on the films' directors.
www.npr.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
First came the call from his own parents. Then dozens of cancellations came pouring in.
How the director of an inaugural film festival in New York City...came under pressure from China to cancel the festival in the U.S.
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
How the director of an inaugural film festival in New York City...came under pressure from China to cancel the festival in the U.S.
www.npr.org/2025/11/13/n...
Reposted by Curt Hansman
This. Save me the "be angry at the yes votes only" business. If your senator isn't loudly condemning all of this they're part of it even if they voted no. They just coordinated to have exactly 8 senators who are retiring/not up for next year's election to take the hit.
this is really important imo. The sellout is not a handful of bad apples underminding an organization that's generally on the side of angels. It's an action orchestrated by the dominant forces in the party. If nondominant forces in the party aren't actively fighting then they're part of the problem.
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
November 10, 2025 at 3:08 AM
This. Save me the "be angry at the yes votes only" business. If your senator isn't loudly condemning all of this they're part of it even if they voted no. They just coordinated to have exactly 8 senators who are retiring/not up for next year's election to take the hit.
@durbin.senate.gov @duckworth.senate.gov do not capitulate
November 10, 2025 at 3:06 AM
@durbin.senate.gov @duckworth.senate.gov do not capitulate
See Black Harvest Festival films in Chicago!!
With Black Harvest Film Festival just around the corner, for @ebertvoices.bsky.social, I wrote up a quick preview highlighting 5 films that you should go see!
A Preview of the 2025 Black Harvest Film Festival | Festivals & Awards | Roger Ebert
A preview of the 2025 Black Harvest Film Festival.
www.rogerebert.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:05 AM
See Black Harvest Festival films in Chicago!!
Reposted by Curt Hansman
“No aspect of cognitive understanding is perfunctory.”
Having to insist on this, over and over again, to administrators and—god help me—other *faculty* pushing AI in colleges is one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced professionally
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Having to insist on this, over and over again, to administrators and—god help me—other *faculty* pushing AI in colleges is one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced professionally
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Opinion | Why Even Basic A.I. Use Is So Bad for Students
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“No aspect of cognitive understanding is perfunctory.”
Having to insist on this, over and over again, to administrators and—god help me—other *faculty* pushing AI in colleges is one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced professionally
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Having to insist on this, over and over again, to administrators and—god help me—other *faculty* pushing AI in colleges is one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced professionally
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Reposted by Curt Hansman
This incident is spreading through Chicago running circles. A 67 year old man, driving back from a long run with his friends, is pulled from the car and thrown to the ground by ICE (or BP?) agents because he did... something.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAw...
67-year old American citizen left with broken ribs by ICE #breakingnews #iceraids #savedemocracy
YouTube video by Nick Valencia News
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This incident is spreading through Chicago running circles. A 67 year old man, driving back from a long run with his friends, is pulled from the car and thrown to the ground by ICE (or BP?) agents because he did... something.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAw...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWAw...
@HereandNow re discussion with pilot ask him why there should be any trust in Republicans in Congress to negotiate after passage of a "clean CR" the party has proved itself time and time again untrustworthy in their commitment to by partisan negotiation, even those already agreed
October 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
@HereandNow re discussion with pilot ask him why there should be any trust in Republicans in Congress to negotiate after passage of a "clean CR" the party has proved itself time and time again untrustworthy in their commitment to by partisan negotiation, even those already agreed
@hereandnow.bsky.social Now why not ask the pilot you were talking to why he wasn't pressing the Republicans to agree to the continuation of healthcare subsidies prior to agreement on the continuing resolution
October 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
@hereandnow.bsky.social Now why not ask the pilot you were talking to why he wasn't pressing the Republicans to agree to the continuation of healthcare subsidies prior to agreement on the continuing resolution
Reposted by Curt Hansman
Librarians are out here defending democracy. Just a reminder.
October 18, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Librarians are out here defending democracy. Just a reminder.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
The city of Chicago is doing a whole series of events in November to honor the 50th anniversary of Siskel & Ebert’s very first episode. If I lived there, I’d be at all of these.
www.chicago.gov
October 17, 2025 at 2:05 AM
The city of Chicago is doing a whole series of events in November to honor the 50th anniversary of Siskel & Ebert’s very first episode. If I lived there, I’d be at all of these.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
As a historian, I can certify that we are in the bad times. But bad times eventually end.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive
And do it often.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive
And do it often.
October 15, 2025 at 9:40 PM
As a historian, I can certify that we are in the bad times. But bad times eventually end.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive
And do it often.
In the meantime:
• Figure out a small way to help someone
• Figure out a small way to fight back
• Figure out a small place to find joy
• Figure out a small way to grow and thrive
And do it often.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
from me -- a profile of Jafar Panahi, a filmmaker whose work has perfectly met our age of surveillance and interrogation and asks the imperative question of: Who are we, and what comes next? IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT = masterpiece, imo.
Since his 2010 imprisonment, the director has been in an endless game of chicken with the Iranian regime. In his defiant new film, ‘It Was Just an Accident,’ a group of Iranians consider killing the man who tortured them in prison.
Jafar Panahi’s Cinematic Rebellions
Since his 2010 imprisonment, the director has been in an endless game of chicken with the Iranian regime. In his defiant new film, ‘It Was Just an Accident,’ a group of Iranians consider killing the man who tortured them in prison.
www.vulture.com
October 14, 2025 at 1:08 PM
from me -- a profile of Jafar Panahi, a filmmaker whose work has perfectly met our age of surveillance and interrogation and asks the imperative question of: Who are we, and what comes next? IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT = masterpiece, imo.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
Oh, here we go - prepping the military to be used against the US population.
"This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
"This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
Trump: "The ones that are run by radical left Democrats -- what they've done to San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles. They're very unsafe places & we're gonna straighten them out one by one. This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
September 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Oh, here we go - prepping the military to be used against the US population.
"This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
"This is gonna be a major part for some people in this room. That's a war too. It's war from within"
Reposted by Curt Hansman
This is the President of the United States talking to the US military about his domestic political opposition.
Trump to generals: "America is under invasion from within. We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in any ways because they don't wear uniforms. At least when they're wearing a uniform you can take them out."
September 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
This is the President of the United States talking to the US military about his domestic political opposition.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
Chicago folks, the Art Institute's exhibition of Elizabeth Catlett's work is open and I highly encourage you to visit. I saw the exhibition 3 times when it was at the Brooklyn Museum. You will thank me later. www.artic.edu/articles/121...
Meet Elizabeth Catlett in 11 Facts | The Art Institute of Chicago
For Elizabeth Catlett, art was activism.
www.artic.edu
September 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Chicago folks, the Art Institute's exhibition of Elizabeth Catlett's work is open and I highly encourage you to visit. I saw the exhibition 3 times when it was at the Brooklyn Museum. You will thank me later. www.artic.edu/articles/121...
Reposted by Curt Hansman
One thing that is so dispiriting about our present moment is how so much is going to just keep getting worse and new students and faculty won’t know what they are missing only the misery of shitty AI and overworked people trying to hold things together with nails and duct tape
"When faculty returned to campus this fall, some found their subject librarians were no longer with them." Duke Libraries has lost a number of librarians because of budget cuts. Faculty weren't told or consulted, @dukechronicle.bsky.social reports. #libraries
www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke...
www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke...
Duke cut librarians. It never told the faculty they worked with
Thirty-three of the more than 200 full time library staff members accepted voluntary severance packages, prompting their departure from Duke. Their absences leave the future of a key aspect of academi...
www.dukechronicle.com
September 3, 2025 at 10:13 PM
One thing that is so dispiriting about our present moment is how so much is going to just keep getting worse and new students and faculty won’t know what they are missing only the misery of shitty AI and overworked people trying to hold things together with nails and duct tape
Reposted by Curt Hansman
Today, the New York Times published this exceptional opinion piece by Robert Lee Williams.
Incarcerated at Eastern NY Correctional Facility, Robert — in addition to his work as an essayist — is a full-time Bard student enrolled through BPI.
Incarcerated at Eastern NY Correctional Facility, Robert — in addition to his work as an essayist — is a full-time Bard student enrolled through BPI.
Opinion | In Prison, Trees Are a Symbol of Freedom (Gift Article)
These trees were the only living beings that I could touch without fear.
www.nytimes.com
August 30, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Today, the New York Times published this exceptional opinion piece by Robert Lee Williams.
Incarcerated at Eastern NY Correctional Facility, Robert — in addition to his work as an essayist — is a full-time Bard student enrolled through BPI.
Incarcerated at Eastern NY Correctional Facility, Robert — in addition to his work as an essayist — is a full-time Bard student enrolled through BPI.
Reposted by Curt Hansman
This is very cool @friede.bsky.social - for all who put it to use, would love to see what you did, how it went with your students! I was so pleased with responses from mine after we folded, cut and assembled them together and then read and discussed…
Quoted (with citation) in my own syllabi this term:
My statement on Ai from the mini-comic as syllabus i made for new class I'm teaching that starts tomorrow! It robs you of your decisions & struggles - and the joy of being surprised. We won’t to be robbed of our learning - this is essential. This & the full mini at post:
bsky.app/profile/nsou...
bsky.app/profile/nsou...
August 30, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This is very cool @friede.bsky.social - for all who put it to use, would love to see what you did, how it went with your students! I was so pleased with responses from mine after we folded, cut and assembled them together and then read and discussed…
Reposted by Curt Hansman
I curate the history series at public media's journal Current. We're looking for pieces on the history of NPR & PBS, educational, community, and affiliate stations. We accept academic articles repurposed for wide readership. Plus, we pay. Please circulate! current.org/series/rewind/
August 21, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I curate the history series at public media's journal Current. We're looking for pieces on the history of NPR & PBS, educational, community, and affiliate stations. We accept academic articles repurposed for wide readership. Plus, we pay. Please circulate! current.org/series/rewind/
August 16, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by Curt Hansman
thanks to everyone sharing and contributing!
thousands of individual visitors this afternoon already suggests how much we need to work together, carry one another, take heart in solidarity. and the students want more too.
thousands of individual visitors this afternoon already suggests how much we need to work together, carry one another, take heart in solidarity. and the students want more too.
teachers!
excited to share a new website at this late date of Aug 15 to try to help us collectively prepare for back to school in the interpretative humanities classroom assaulted by the AI grift, so we don't have to go it alone.
take a look, share, + most importantly: CONTRIBUTE
against-a-i.com
excited to share a new website at this late date of Aug 15 to try to help us collectively prepare for back to school in the interpretative humanities classroom assaulted by the AI grift, so we don't have to go it alone.
take a look, share, + most importantly: CONTRIBUTE
against-a-i.com
AGAINST AI
against-a-i.com
August 15, 2025 at 11:58 PM
thanks to everyone sharing and contributing!
thousands of individual visitors this afternoon already suggests how much we need to work together, carry one another, take heart in solidarity. and the students want more too.
thousands of individual visitors this afternoon already suggests how much we need to work together, carry one another, take heart in solidarity. and the students want more too.