Jason Mittell
@jmittell.bsky.social
Media studies professor at Middlebury College; video essayist & author of videographic book on Breaking Bad; author of written books on TV, narrative theory, etc.; journal manager of @intransition.bsky.social . [he/him] https://linktr.ee/jmittell
Pinned
Jason Mittell
@jmittell.bsky.social
· Nov 10
There wasn't a good list of accounts related to video essays - so I made this starter pack! Who did I miss? Who do you know who should join Bluesky to share & talk about video essays?
go.bsky.app/PtthhCc
go.bsky.app/PtthhCc
Reposted by Jason Mittell
this @katelynburns.com piece about the death of lia smith deserves your full attention
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
Politicizing Transgender Athletes Is Dangerous. Lia Smith Deserved Better.
"Let her passing be an inflection point for how you think about trans rights and trans people more generally."
www.teenvogue.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
this @katelynburns.com piece about the death of lia smith deserves your full attention
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
www.teenvogue.com/story/politi...
Reposted by Jason Mittell
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What an amazing essay from the former chair of Africana Studies at Bowdoin. I'll share a few sections in the reply but seriously, read the whole thing. It's all insightful and beautifully written.
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
lithub.com/maybe-dont-t...
Reposted by Jason Mittell
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:39 PM
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Reposted by Jason Mittell
All day, many of you have been asking for a Cheney obituary from me. Get ready:
His Works Completed, Dick Cheney, Mass Murderer of Iraqis and American Democracy, Dies
As much as the Trumpists claim to disavow the War on Terror, they walk a path paved by the most powerful vice president in U.S. history.
www.thenation.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
All day, many of you have been asking for a Cheney obituary from me. Get ready:
Today's listen in honor of Dick Cheney:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi_Y...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi_Y...
Tramp the Dirt Down
YouTube video by Elvis Costello - Topic
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Today's listen in honor of Dick Cheney:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi_Y...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi_Y...
Reposted by Jason Mittell
The thing about Johnson not swearing in Grijalva is that’s it a test for 2026.
If you think they will accept an outcome they don’t like, they will just Grijalva it.
So what’s the plan when the GOP says “we ain’t leaving, fuck you, make us.”
Because that IS what they are going to say.
If you think they will accept an outcome they don’t like, they will just Grijalva it.
So what’s the plan when the GOP says “we ain’t leaving, fuck you, make us.”
Because that IS what they are going to say.
November 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The thing about Johnson not swearing in Grijalva is that’s it a test for 2026.
If you think they will accept an outcome they don’t like, they will just Grijalva it.
So what’s the plan when the GOP says “we ain’t leaving, fuck you, make us.”
Because that IS what they are going to say.
If you think they will accept an outcome they don’t like, they will just Grijalva it.
So what’s the plan when the GOP says “we ain’t leaving, fuck you, make us.”
Because that IS what they are going to say.
I’m a gray-haired, upper-middle-aged, arguably-esteemed professor and father of adult children. And yet, walking down a street in Berlin, I instantly become a 12-year-old boy:
October 31, 2025 at 10:51 PM
I’m a gray-haired, upper-middle-aged, arguably-esteemed professor and father of adult children. And yet, walking down a street in Berlin, I instantly become a 12-year-old boy:
Sitting in a Berlin café and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” comes on over the sound system. Suddenly I am flooded with images of meth cooking, distribution and money laundering from one of the greatest montage sequences ever put to film.
October 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Sitting in a Berlin café and “Crystal Blue Persuasion” comes on over the sound system. Suddenly I am flooded with images of meth cooking, distribution and money laundering from one of the greatest montage sequences ever put to film.
Had a wonderful time today in Berlin at the Serial Encounters symposium in honor of @fkelleter.bsky.social ! I talked about his contributions to theories of seriality and influence on my own work - but I did make a slide for the hypothetical paper I wish I'd given!
October 30, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Had a wonderful time today in Berlin at the Serial Encounters symposium in honor of @fkelleter.bsky.social ! I talked about his contributions to theories of seriality and influence on my own work - but I did make a slide for the hypothetical paper I wish I'd given!
Reposted by Jason Mittell
Do you use Spotify Premium? Cancel your subscription until Spotify stops running ICE ads. There are other streaming options that don’t profit from exploiting artists while recruiting for ICE: indivisible.org/cancel-spoti... #CancelSpotify
October 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Do you use Spotify Premium? Cancel your subscription until Spotify stops running ICE ads. There are other streaming options that don’t profit from exploiting artists while recruiting for ICE: indivisible.org/cancel-spoti... #CancelSpotify
Reposted by Jason Mittell
This is probably the funniest headline of the year.
October 28, 2025 at 7:50 PM
This is probably the funniest headline of the year.
As always, @biblioracle.bsky.social nails the core challenges and conflicting definitions undermining the teaching/learning of writing right now - this time in a clear list of bullet points that take you through his argument!
I think we should still teach students writing, not AI-assisted document production. www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...
Writing Classes Are About Writing, Not AI-Aided Production
If we want students to learn to write, AI tools shouldn’t have much of a role. If we don’t think students need to learn to write anymore, I’m not sure what we’re doing here.
www.insidehighered.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
As always, @biblioracle.bsky.social nails the core challenges and conflicting definitions undermining the teaching/learning of writing right now - this time in a clear list of bullet points that take you through his argument!
Reposted by Jason Mittell
I couldn't even pick my favorite line from Tressie because it's all of them (gift)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
Opinion | A Nazi Tattoo Exposes Democrats’ Greatest Weakness
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I couldn't even pick my favorite line from Tressie because it's all of them (gift)
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/o...
It's really fun to wake up in Berlin and see a bunch of friends cracking wise in baseball stupors while I drink my morning coffee. Congrats/condolences to all who made it to through the game!
October 28, 2025 at 6:53 AM
It's really fun to wake up in Berlin and see a bunch of friends cracking wise in baseball stupors while I drink my morning coffee. Congrats/condolences to all who made it to through the game!
Reposted by Jason Mittell
Updating my LEGO White House
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Updating my LEGO White House
Reposted by Jason Mittell
Hasan: The great irony is of course that Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant. The grandson of an immigrant and married to an immigrant. In fact two of his three wives were immigrants, proving yet again that immigrants will do the jobs that even Americans are not willing to do.
October 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Hasan: The great irony is of course that Donald Trump is the son of an immigrant. The grandson of an immigrant and married to an immigrant. In fact two of his three wives were immigrants, proving yet again that immigrants will do the jobs that even Americans are not willing to do.
Reposted by Jason Mittell
Ding ding. Lots of protest advice out there, but this is near the top of the list for everybody. No face, no thumbprint, nothing. Passcode only and do not provide it under any circumstances.
Reminder to disable biometrics on your phone before attending any protests. If police ask for the passcode, you do not have to provide it.
October 18, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Ding ding. Lots of protest advice out there, but this is near the top of the list for everybody. No face, no thumbprint, nothing. Passcode only and do not provide it under any circumstances.
Reposted by Jason Mittell
oooh. Bookmarking this! "How to turn off AI tools in Apple, Google, Microsoft, and more." Step-by-step instructions from Consumer Reports.
How to Turn Off AI Tools Like Gemini, Apple Intelligence, Copilot, and More via @ConsumerReports
AI features are crowding into Google search, Gmail, iPhones, Windows laptops, and other products. If you're suffering from AI overload, these settings can help.
www.consumerreports.org
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
oooh. Bookmarking this! "How to turn off AI tools in Apple, Google, Microsoft, and more." Step-by-step instructions from Consumer Reports.
So very excited to announce that as of today the number of Videographic Books in the world has doubled! Check out ADAPTIVE FORMS, Gregory Brophy & Shawn Malley's fabulous new open-access book on contemporary science-fiction - complete with video essays on ARRIVAL, SNOWPIERCER, BLACK PANTHER, etc.!!!
Adaptive Forms: Videographic Criticism and Contemporary Science Fiction Film
An examination of media adaptation in contemporary science fiction film, with 14 video essays <br><i>Part of the <a href="https://www.leverpress.org/videographicbooks/">Videographic Books</a> series</...
www.fulcrum.org
October 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
So very excited to announce that as of today the number of Videographic Books in the world has doubled! Check out ADAPTIVE FORMS, Gregory Brophy & Shawn Malley's fabulous new open-access book on contemporary science-fiction - complete with video essays on ARRIVAL, SNOWPIERCER, BLACK PANTHER, etc.!!!
Reposted by Jason Mittell
It’s so fucking funny that we’re still getting five NYT op-eds a week calling for the left to tone down their rhetoric
Remember when Hillary Clinton called some Trump supporters “deplorable“?
October 3, 2025 at 10:58 AM
It’s so fucking funny that we’re still getting five NYT op-eds a week calling for the left to tone down their rhetoric
Reposted by Jason Mittell
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Submit a Claim
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Hey authors, the official list of Anthropic works is available for searching.
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
secure.anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com/lookup
Saw The Beths tonight in Paris. IMO they're the tops of any band at that stage in their career. Just incredible at every aspect of their craft: writing perfect songs, playing them flawlessly, and putting on a wide-ranging mesmerizing show—even after having their instruments stolen! Check them out!
September 30, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Saw The Beths tonight in Paris. IMO they're the tops of any band at that stage in their career. Just incredible at every aspect of their craft: writing perfect songs, playing them flawlessly, and putting on a wide-ranging mesmerizing show—even after having their instruments stolen! Check them out!
Reposted by Jason Mittell
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
September 30, 2025 at 12:10 PM
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
"Some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily kill civilians."
Reposted by Jason Mittell
I spent much of the days listening to The Beths to prep for seeing them tomorrow in Paris. Then just read this on their (fabulous) travel blog: the band's van was broken into and most of their instruments were stolen! Why can't we have nice things?!
Day 13: Travel Day — Breakfast and Travel Updates
Nau mai.
www.breakfastandtravelupdates.com
September 29, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I spent much of the days listening to The Beths to prep for seeing them tomorrow in Paris. Then just read this on their (fabulous) travel blog: the band's van was broken into and most of their instruments were stolen! Why can't we have nice things?!