Grimly Optimistic Historian
@clioden.bsky.social
Ph.D. in history. Lefthanded leftist. Black-belt in karate. Tax the rich. Universal healthcare. BLM. LGBTQIA+ ally. Care for people, and fix the climate.
You're probably right. But that was the first thing I thought of when I saw his comment--really? Shakespeare? From him?
July 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM
You're probably right. But that was the first thing I thought of when I saw his comment--really? Shakespeare? From him?
You are probably right.
July 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
You are probably right.
That's a good description of the September Massacres. Lots of great characters in the French Revolution. Danton, of course, did get a Gerard Depardieu movie.
July 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
That's a good description of the September Massacres. Lots of great characters in the French Revolution. Danton, of course, did get a Gerard Depardieu movie.
One final thought. Marie Antoinette was genuinely reactionary, and tried to destroy the revolution, but she was vilified in public for made up stories (mostly about sex or opulent consumption) about her that weren't true. Oddly, she also was unfairly demonized in the court society she upheld.
July 10, 2025 at 12:30 AM
One final thought. Marie Antoinette was genuinely reactionary, and tried to destroy the revolution, but she was vilified in public for made up stories (mostly about sex or opulent consumption) about her that weren't true. Oddly, she also was unfairly demonized in the court society she upheld.
And the Dauphin, well, that was based partly on the anger against the aristocracy/monarchy that drove the whole revolution, and partly on a fear that he would be a rallying point for anti-revolutionaries. His imprisonment after his parents died was needlessly cruel, but seemed necessary at the time.
July 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
And the Dauphin, well, that was based partly on the anger against the aristocracy/monarchy that drove the whole revolution, and partly on a fear that he would be a rallying point for anti-revolutionaries. His imprisonment after his parents died was needlessly cruel, but seemed necessary at the time.
A certain segment of American culture reveres her, I think, in a sort of Kardashian way--wealth and fashion, why did they kill her for that?--while a segment of the French Right still seriously reveres monarchy, and is nostalgic for it.
July 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
A certain segment of American culture reveres her, I think, in a sort of Kardashian way--wealth and fashion, why did they kill her for that?--while a segment of the French Right still seriously reveres monarchy, and is nostalgic for it.
Short answer, but here goes. 1) Robespierre, Marat, etc. are not forgotten, but they lost. The moderates won, and then backed Napoleon to end the Revolution. Moderates are embarrassed by the violence of the Jacobins. 2) Marie Antoinette's cult is a weird fusion of several things. (cont.)
July 10, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Short answer, but here goes. 1) Robespierre, Marat, etc. are not forgotten, but they lost. The moderates won, and then backed Napoleon to end the Revolution. Moderates are embarrassed by the violence of the Jacobins. 2) Marie Antoinette's cult is a weird fusion of several things. (cont.)
Twentieth century France, particularly the intersections of political ideology (communism, fascism) and gender. However, I taught for a long time at a small college with just two historians, so I taught everything from World history to the Middle East to environmental history. Roman history is cool.
July 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Twentieth century France, particularly the intersections of political ideology (communism, fascism) and gender. However, I taught for a long time at a small college with just two historians, so I taught everything from World history to the Middle East to environmental history. Roman history is cool.
It's costing us our democracy. That's what it's costing us.
July 8, 2025 at 5:47 PM
It's costing us our democracy. That's what it's costing us.
Nice pinned post. I'll follow back.
July 5, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Nice pinned post. I'll follow back.
I was thinking of the orange one.
July 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I was thinking of the orange one.
No robot could do better for Vlad.
July 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
No robot could do better for Vlad.
Probably right.
July 4, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Probably right.
I had a joke about Theseus’ ship, but it came out of my mouth all different.
June 13, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I had a joke about Theseus’ ship, but it came out of my mouth all different.
I love how your use of "the 405" rather than "I-405" or just "405" signals that you are, in fact, a So. Cal. resident. And I totally agree with you on turn signals. Of course, I never used mine when I lived out there, either, so who am I to talk?
June 10, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I love how your use of "the 405" rather than "I-405" or just "405" signals that you are, in fact, a So. Cal. resident. And I totally agree with you on turn signals. Of course, I never used mine when I lived out there, either, so who am I to talk?
Thanks for including me! I appreciate it.
June 4, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Thanks for including me! I appreciate it.
I am a dinosaur!
June 2, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I am a dinosaur!
Hacked voting machines?
June 2, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Hacked voting machines?