Adam Kotanko
@akotanko.bsky.social
PhD candidate at Purdue Sociology / Studying how people work together to (de)humanize others & make world more/less inclusive
Original footage from Pete Hegseth's speech today
a cartoon character from futurama is waving at the camera
ALT: a cartoon character from futurama is waving at the camera
media.tenor.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Original footage from Pete Hegseth's speech today
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
What's the collective in this #collectiveaction?
A. Kotanko’s (@akotanko.bsky.social) #Socius study of an #immigration clinic demonstrates how #socialmovement organizations draw on #personalidentity to encourage collective action participation.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
A. Kotanko’s (@akotanko.bsky.social) #Socius study of an #immigration clinic demonstrates how #socialmovement organizations draw on #personalidentity to encourage collective action participation.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
September 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
What's the collective in this #collectiveaction?
A. Kotanko’s (@akotanko.bsky.social) #Socius study of an #immigration clinic demonstrates how #socialmovement organizations draw on #personalidentity to encourage collective action participation.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
A. Kotanko’s (@akotanko.bsky.social) #Socius study of an #immigration clinic demonstrates how #socialmovement organizations draw on #personalidentity to encourage collective action participation.
Read: doi.org/10.1177/2378...
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
NEW ARTICLE/OPEN ACCESS
Proud to share my PhD advisee, @akotanko.bsky.social's, recent publication in Qualitative Soc. Adam and I worked on this one together, which was a great collaborative experience, but he is very much the lead author.
The first of many to come from the future Dr. Kotanko!
Proud to share my PhD advisee, @akotanko.bsky.social's, recent publication in Qualitative Soc. Adam and I worked on this one together, which was a great collaborative experience, but he is very much the lead author.
The first of many to come from the future Dr. Kotanko!
Making a Martyr?: Scandal, Symbolic Power, and the Controversial Death of Evangelical Missionary John Chau - Qualitative Sociology
How do groups respond to accusations of scandal? Because scandals pose significant risks of moral stigma and loss of status to those associated with them, sociologists have analyzed how actors within ...
link.springer.com
June 23, 2025 at 4:29 PM
NEW ARTICLE/OPEN ACCESS
Proud to share my PhD advisee, @akotanko.bsky.social's, recent publication in Qualitative Soc. Adam and I worked on this one together, which was a great collaborative experience, but he is very much the lead author.
The first of many to come from the future Dr. Kotanko!
Proud to share my PhD advisee, @akotanko.bsky.social's, recent publication in Qualitative Soc. Adam and I worked on this one together, which was a great collaborative experience, but he is very much the lead author.
The first of many to come from the future Dr. Kotanko!
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
They want more MOMS at home. And not just because they hate women.
Their *economic* model depends on unpaid labor. And the most effective way to coerce unpaid labor is to create a second class of people and teach them that they're only "naturally" suited for labor they're forced to do for free.
Their *economic* model depends on unpaid labor. And the most effective way to coerce unpaid labor is to create a second class of people and teach them that they're only "naturally" suited for labor they're forced to do for free.
May 12, 2025 at 1:06 PM
They want more MOMS at home. And not just because they hate women.
Their *economic* model depends on unpaid labor. And the most effective way to coerce unpaid labor is to create a second class of people and teach them that they're only "naturally" suited for labor they're forced to do for free.
Their *economic* model depends on unpaid labor. And the most effective way to coerce unpaid labor is to create a second class of people and teach them that they're only "naturally" suited for labor they're forced to do for free.
So contrary to many post-election analyses, Dems don't need to move rightward to win. Rather, they need to figure out what those nearly 40% of nonvoters want & how to help them vote. A good place to start: protect voting rights, make election-day a federal holiday, fight disenfranchisement, etc.
A visualization of the razor thin margin of this election.
Of the 244+ million voting-eligible population:
31.5% voted for Trump
30.6% voted for Harris
37.7% did not vote
Popular is not a word that would accurately describe Trump or the MAGA movement.
Of the 244+ million voting-eligible population:
31.5% voted for Trump
30.6% voted for Harris
37.7% did not vote
Popular is not a word that would accurately describe Trump or the MAGA movement.
December 17, 2024 at 7:59 PM
So contrary to many post-election analyses, Dems don't need to move rightward to win. Rather, they need to figure out what those nearly 40% of nonvoters want & how to help them vote. A good place to start: protect voting rights, make election-day a federal holiday, fight disenfranchisement, etc.
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
Seeing someone use “woke” as a derrogatory descriptor is useful in that it lets me know I don’t need to take whatever they say next seriously.
Judith Butler is 100% correct. The word "woke" is pure reactionary bullshit. Its contemporary meaning also distorts history by making it seem as if every positive cultural change of the past 200 years has happened naturally, without agitation by people considered, at the time, dangerously "woke."
December 16, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Seeing someone use “woke” as a derrogatory descriptor is useful in that it lets me know I don’t need to take whatever they say next seriously.
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
AI, MOOCS, etc. = tech solutions for symptoms, not the disease. #Learning is a messy, inefficient, personal, relational process. It’ll never be rational (in the Weberian sense). We need to embrace the messy, costly process bc it’s good in itself, not instrumentally (eg for profit, jobs, etc.)
It was MOOCs 15 years ago. Now, it's AI. Wonder what silver bullet the higher-ed consultants and tech set will offer next that will simultaneously lower standards for students and increase workloads for instructors.
December 15, 2024 at 4:22 PM
AI, MOOCS, etc. = tech solutions for symptoms, not the disease. #Learning is a messy, inefficient, personal, relational process. It’ll never be rational (in the Weberian sense). We need to embrace the messy, costly process bc it’s good in itself, not instrumentally (eg for profit, jobs, etc.)
Reposted by Adam Kotanko
When I was a young writer, I received a LOT of rejections. Now, after decades of hard work, I am no longer young.
December 14, 2024 at 1:08 PM
When I was a young writer, I received a LOT of rejections. Now, after decades of hard work, I am no longer young.
I regularly wake up in the middle of the night. If I can't get back to sleep & don't start working, I often listen to a couple eps of Star Talk w/ @neildegrassetyson.com. It's perfect, bc it's fascinating/fun & not tied to my work. I'll usually understand the 1st ep & fall asleep during the 2nd
December 15, 2024 at 6:25 AM
I regularly wake up in the middle of the night. If I can't get back to sleep & don't start working, I often listen to a couple eps of Star Talk w/ @neildegrassetyson.com. It's perfect, bc it's fascinating/fun & not tied to my work. I'll usually understand the 1st ep & fall asleep during the 2nd
We're never going to catch everyone, or even a majority, who "cheat," esp given AI capabilities, & trying to do so is emblematic of a bigger problem in education: a focus on what students do wrong over over an emphasis on intrinsic reasons to care about learning even when it's difficult
December 15, 2024 at 5:48 AM
We're never going to catch everyone, or even a majority, who "cheat," esp given AI capabilities, & trying to do so is emblematic of a bigger problem in education: a focus on what students do wrong over over an emphasis on intrinsic reasons to care about learning even when it's difficult
My extroverted wife: My sister’s graduation party went until 4am
Introverted me: That sounds horrible
Wife: Everyone had fun
Introverted me: That sounds horrible
Wife: Everyone had fun
December 14, 2024 at 10:11 PM
My extroverted wife: My sister’s graduation party went until 4am
Introverted me: That sounds horrible
Wife: Everyone had fun
Introverted me: That sounds horrible
Wife: Everyone had fun
Kid: I’m hungry
Me: You just ate
Kid: I just ate FIRST bfreakfast. What abt second breakfast? Elevensies? Lunch? Tea time? Dinner? Supper? Once? Midnight snack? Pre-bfast snack? Random treats?
My kids are basically hobbits
Me: You just ate
Kid: I just ate FIRST bfreakfast. What abt second breakfast? Elevensies? Lunch? Tea time? Dinner? Supper? Once? Midnight snack? Pre-bfast snack? Random treats?
My kids are basically hobbits
December 14, 2024 at 10:09 PM
Kid: I’m hungry
Me: You just ate
Kid: I just ate FIRST bfreakfast. What abt second breakfast? Elevensies? Lunch? Tea time? Dinner? Supper? Once? Midnight snack? Pre-bfast snack? Random treats?
My kids are basically hobbits
Me: You just ate
Kid: I just ate FIRST bfreakfast. What abt second breakfast? Elevensies? Lunch? Tea time? Dinner? Supper? Once? Midnight snack? Pre-bfast snack? Random treats?
My kids are basically hobbits
To distract you from end-of-term #grading, here's @alfiekohn.bsky.social's wonderful essay (which I have my students read in a module on Foucault & discipline) laying out reasons why u should stop (or at least minimize) grading www.alfiekohn.org/article/case...
Big spoiler: grading impedes learning
Big spoiler: grading impedes learning
The Case Against Grades (##)
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP November 2011 The Case Against Grades By Alfie Kohn [This is a slightly expanded version of the published article.] “I remember the first time that a grading rubric was attached...
www.alfiekohn.org
December 10, 2024 at 6:46 PM
To distract you from end-of-term #grading, here's @alfiekohn.bsky.social's wonderful essay (which I have my students read in a module on Foucault & discipline) laying out reasons why u should stop (or at least minimize) grading www.alfiekohn.org/article/case...
Big spoiler: grading impedes learning
Big spoiler: grading impedes learning
"Innovation" is one of the most powerful controlling ideas of capitalism. Defenders of neoliberalism flippantly assert that #capitalism drives innovation in ways that other economic systems don’t. They're right. BUT . . .
November 28, 2024 at 8:19 AM
"Innovation" is one of the most powerful controlling ideas of capitalism. Defenders of neoliberalism flippantly assert that #capitalism drives innovation in ways that other economic systems don’t. They're right. BUT . . .
My wife: "I had a dream last night with either you or
Henry Cavill."
Me: "It's easy to confuse us. We're so similar."
Henry Cavill."
Me: "It's easy to confuse us. We're so similar."
November 24, 2024 at 3:12 PM
My wife: "I had a dream last night with either you or
Henry Cavill."
Me: "It's easy to confuse us. We're so similar."
Henry Cavill."
Me: "It's easy to confuse us. We're so similar."
This is the irrationality of rationality (in the Weberian sense), where bureaucratic fidelity to procedure contradicts the purpose (learning) & public image of an institution/social system, hurting everyone, especially those who aren't the institutional default (e.g., straight, white, cis men).
It shouldn't take a public pressure campaign for a university to accommodate the needs of a new parent. And yet, that's where we are.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
After outcry, law school says student due to give birth soon can delay final
Georgetown Law has agreed to extend a period to defer exams for a pregnant student after she was initially denied.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 23, 2024 at 3:53 PM
This is the irrationality of rationality (in the Weberian sense), where bureaucratic fidelity to procedure contradicts the purpose (learning) & public image of an institution/social system, hurting everyone, especially those who aren't the institutional default (e.g., straight, white, cis men).
Harris won all racial/ethnic groups except white folks and “other.” So a key question in this election is “why did white people prefer a candidate that majorities of other racial/ethnic groups saw as deeply problematic?” There’s no one reason, but here are a few thoughts:
November 23, 2024 at 3:34 PM
Harris won all racial/ethnic groups except white folks and “other.” So a key question in this election is “why did white people prefer a candidate that majorities of other racial/ethnic groups saw as deeply problematic?” There’s no one reason, but here are a few thoughts:
I’ve seen a bunch of takes on the election that don’t mention racism & misogyny. That’s like trying to explain pizza without mentioning bread/dough or cheese. Sure, we can discuss pineapple & inflation. But that stuff makes no sense apart from these more fundamental things.
November 23, 2024 at 3:01 PM
I’ve seen a bunch of takes on the election that don’t mention racism & misogyny. That’s like trying to explain pizza without mentioning bread/dough or cheese. Sure, we can discuss pineapple & inflation. But that stuff makes no sense apart from these more fundamental things.
A t-rex regularly eats my 3.5yo son’s arms. His 6.5yo sister builds him robot arms, & we hunt the dinosaur to make it into soup (birds are dinosaurs, so why not?). Today my daughter built biological arms using carrots for muscles/bones & tortillas for skin. Daughter’s now waiting on her Noble Prize.
November 22, 2024 at 3:54 PM
A t-rex regularly eats my 3.5yo son’s arms. His 6.5yo sister builds him robot arms, & we hunt the dinosaur to make it into soup (birds are dinosaurs, so why not?). Today my daughter built biological arms using carrots for muscles/bones & tortillas for skin. Daughter’s now waiting on her Noble Prize.