Jonathan Davies
LightNews LightNews
banner
jddavies66.bsky.social
Jonathan Davies
@jddavies66.bsky.social
680 followers 840 following 29 posts
Historian of early modern Europe with particular interests in folklore and violence.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
jddavies66.bsky.social
Jonathan Davies @jddavies66.bsky.social · Nov 14
Hello Bluesky friends! I am an historian who has worked on violence but my interests are now focused on the #folklore of Europe, including the British Isles. I am also trying to understand this increasingly crazy world. All help is welcome! It is nice to meet you!
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
amandamadden.bsky.social
The Center for Humanities Research at GMU is hosting a hybrid book talk for my monograph Civil Blood: Vendetta Violence and the Civic Elites in Early Modern Italy this upcoming Friday from noon-12:30. Register at this link: chr.gmu.edu/events/17595
CHR Book Launch, "Civil Blood: Vendetta Violence and the Civic Elites in Early Modern Italy" by Amanda Madden
Friday, November 21, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM EST
chr.gmu.edu
November 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
folkloringpodcast.bsky.social
Editing today. I would like to formally apologize to anyone I have ever spoken to about the number of times I say "and, so" #editing #podcastsky #podcaster #folkloring #folklore
November 18, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Eleanora of Toledo in a glorious dress, with her son Giovanni de’ Medici. Painted in 1544, by Agnolo Bronzino. He was born OTD in 1503, in Florence.
November 17, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Wonderful tribute to a teacher: young Sofonisba Anguissola paints herself being created by Bernardino Campi -- yet at same time, she is of course creating him! Today is her day.
November 16, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
purseigle.bsky.social
🚨#History #envhist Job Alert: My Department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Environmental History.
🗃️

Come work with us at Warwick. You'll get both excellent colleagues and great students!

See details below... And do not hesitate to spread the word...
👇👇👇

www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPK289/a...
Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125) at University of Warwick
Explore an exciting academic career as a Assistant Professor in Environmental History (111009-1125). Don't miss out on other academic jobs. Click to apply and explore more opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 12, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
steverichards.bsky.social
It’s ironic but predictable that the BBC duo -who tried so hard to please the right wing papers-are removed by the right wing papers.
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
srsrensoc.bsky.social
CFP: Gender, Violence and the Early Moderns

Confirmed keynote speaker: @jddavies66.bsky.social

Deadline: 20 December 2025
Conference: 22 May 2026, European University Institute, Florence
all info: www.rensoc.org.uk/event/gender... #EarlyModern #SkyStorians
Gender, Violence and the Early Moderns European University Institute, Florence, May 22, 2026 - May 22, 2026 Deadline for submission/application: December 20, 2025 Call for Papers Organiser: Dr Giada Pizzoni Keynote Speaker: Dr Jonathan Davies (Warwick) Violence puts the gender roles in a society firmly on records. Although we can never fully grasp the motives behind past acts of violence, through them we can gauge what was tolerated or sanctioned in any given society. Historical violence can suggest which meaning early modern people had of assault and abuse, whether physical, verbal or psychological. This brings us to the fundamental methodological question of how modern categories can capture past social realities. In this regard, the aim of the workshop is to offer a more precise picture of gender violence, with a quantitative study on survivors, their witnesses, and the negotiating process. This gathering aims to promote a discussion on how to defy certain stereotypes around gender-based violence by investigating how women and men in the past viewed and talked about their roles within the abusive act. While some treated the violence suffered as an intimate matter, charged with shame and danger and therefore difficult to articulate, others saw it as a matter to be publicly outed and put into words. This workshop invites proposals for short papers (4,000-5,000 words) on any aspect of gender and violence in early modernity. Papers that investigate the possibility to offer significant input for the study of what we would regard as psychological/physical trauma; dynamics of power; for understanding responses to assault; to investigate the status and forms of victims and perpetrators. The past can share its feelings as violent acts are always initially expressed through language and shaped by specific social and cultural norms.
November 2, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
theguardian.com
What did Pasolini know? Fifty years after his brutal murder, the director’s vision of fascism is more urgent than ever
What did Pasolini know? Fifty years after his brutal murder, the director’s vision of fascism is more urgent than ever
With mystery still surrounding Pier Paolo Pasolini’s death, the poet and film-maker’s warnings of corruption and rising totalitarianism offer a chilling message for our times
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
hishamzerriffi.bsky.social
A major US academic conference is offering a special info session with immigration attorney for int’l attendees.

Sad it’s necessary and great they’re doing it.

But it’s always been tough for some people (eg “Global South” scholars). So this should have always been happening.
October 18, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Infinitely enigmatic Flagellation of Christ, c. 1455, by spatial genius Piero della Francesca. Today is his day.
October 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
juliarosekraut.bsky.social
Rest in Peace, Diane Keaton. Thank you for your work and for your many wonderful performances. My favorite was your role as Louise Bryant in "REDS" (1981). 🗃️

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ur1...
"Alone with your work" -- Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson in Reds
YouTube video by David Gibson
www.youtube.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
odavies9.bsky.social
A folklorist sees the modern far-right trigger motifs and reads it like a folk tale of distraction ... #vegans #tampons #toilets #NationalTrust. So simple. Don't be a sucker. See through it.
October 10, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
cathfletcher.bsky.social
Read all about the history in THE FIREARM REVOLUTION, out in April 26 and now up for pre-order: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The Firearm Revolution
A groundbreaking account of how firearms changed Europe and the world
press.princeton.edu
October 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Most glorious Annunciation ever. Yet Mary is clearly not convinced! Painted in 1333 by Simone Martini of Siena, whose day is today, with some help from Lippo Memmi.
September 26, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
gabpassabi.bsky.social
Marc Bloch will be admitted to the Pantheon in Paris! The date for the "Panthéonisation" is set for 16 June 2026. Meanwhile, @sorbonneparis1.bsky.social has launched a website to keep track of the many conferences to celebrate the event. Some of them start this month.

marcbloch.pantheonsorbonne.fr
Marc Bloch | Marc Bloch
marcbloch.pantheonsorbonne.fr
September 24, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
folklorepod.bsky.social
Today is WORLD DAY OF FOLKLORE, which has been celebrated as a UNESCO initiative since 2018.

This is the anniversary of the day in 1846 when antiquarian William Thoms first used the term ‘folk-lore’ as an alternative to the more cumbersome ‘popular antiquaries’

Happy World Folklore Day to you all!
A number of feet pointing to a central point
August 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
chriswoodyard.bsky.social
#WyrdWednesday Spring-heeled Jack, the Terror of London, (and all of the UK) c. 1837-1904. He began as a devilish penny-dreadful villain, belching blue flame, clawing at victims, and making impossible leaps over walls and buildings. He later morphed into a heroic protector & avenger of wrongs.
devil-horned man leaps over a wall with a man in pursuit.
August 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
paullewismoney.bsky.social
For a moment a majority was for it. And at peak leave we voted bit.ly/45cjF6p Like every summit, all around it was only downside. “The greatest act of national self harm” as many have said from Geldof to Ian Kershaw to Heseltine.
Only 29% would back Brexit now — poll proves tables have turned
We asked Britain about Europe, China and their least favourite world leaders, but one answer stands out
bit.ly
August 3, 2025 at 5:52 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
stoneclub.bsky.social
Folk culture is everywhere in Britain. You just have to look for it

www.bigissue.com/culture/folk...
Folk culture is everywhere in Britain. You just have to look for it
The revival of our folk traditions could bring about radical change in our communities; to help us be kinder and more in tune with nature.
www.bigissue.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
profdarryljones.bsky.social
‘For the Dead Remember: The Life of M. R. James’ will be published by Oxford University Press on 10 September 2026. Set your watches, mark your calendars, and spread the word!
July 29, 2025 at 6:25 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
sarahcoomer.bsky.social
Hello! It's no doubt partly due to my spectacularly poor marketing skillz, but sales of prints have been pretty woeful of late. So if you are after a gloomy antidote to all this pesky fine weather and sunshine etc, do have a gander. Reposts also much appreciated. sarahcoomershop.etsy.com
An illustration inspired by the Brocken Spectre phenomenon - a figure full of light in the foreground is projected into shadow on the horizon. Or something. A black and white illustration inspired by the Jonathan Miller adaptation of the M R James story Oh Whistle and I'll Come to you, My Lad. A dark figure in the distance pursues a man pictured in silhouette against a sun setting over the sea A black and white illustration of the Robert Eggars film Nosferatu. The figure of a woman in early Victorian high mourning walks through a snowy graveyard, flanked by two metal cross shaped grave markers An ink drawing of the side view of a crow cawing
July 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
simoninsuffolk.bsky.social
'Around the Rings of Saturn', a twenty minute film exploring the journey made through Norfolk and Suffolk in WG Sebald's 'The Rings Of Saturn', is now on Youtube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELn...
Here's a short excerpt:
July 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
ela-bambust.bsky.social
"why does restaurant food taste better than food cooked at home"

The cook does not care if you live or die and uses salt and butter accordingly
July 2, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
xingwu.bsky.social
The Picture of Cranes by Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song(960-1127) is a masterpiece of balance and grace. Twenty cranes, each uniquely posed—soaring, gliding, or skimming low—fill the sky with dynamic life, while the palace roof’s silhouette anchors the scene in quiet dignity. 1/2
July 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Reposted by Jonathan Davies
tds153.bsky.social
Night of the Long Tweets.
June 5, 2025 at 9:13 PM