Martin Kavka
@kavkaesque.bsky.social
Religion prof, fan (and sometimes hatereader) of fashion and wedding journalism. Nothing I write here represents my employer.
“Might improvement also be possible?,” he asked as he began work on _Critique of Tom Clancy’s Judgment_.
August 28, 2025 at 11:38 AM
“Might improvement also be possible?,” he asked as he began work on _Critique of Tom Clancy’s Judgment_.
Dear Voters In NYTimes Best 100 Films From 2000 And Later,
_Anchorman_ has not aged well (except for the scenes with baby Seth Rogen).
xoxo,
Kavka
_Anchorman_ has not aged well (except for the scenes with baby Seth Rogen).
xoxo,
Kavka
June 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Dear Voters In NYTimes Best 100 Films From 2000 And Later,
_Anchorman_ has not aged well (except for the scenes with baby Seth Rogen).
xoxo,
Kavka
_Anchorman_ has not aged well (except for the scenes with baby Seth Rogen).
xoxo,
Kavka
Dear Rolf,
Thanks for letting me know about your new job at McKinsey. Please don't text me again.
Sincerely,
Liesl
(Saint Laurent, Fall 2025)
Thanks for letting me know about your new job at McKinsey. Please don't text me again.
Sincerely,
Liesl
(Saint Laurent, Fall 2025)
January 28, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Dear Rolf,
Thanks for letting me know about your new job at McKinsey. Please don't text me again.
Sincerely,
Liesl
(Saint Laurent, Fall 2025)
Thanks for letting me know about your new job at McKinsey. Please don't text me again.
Sincerely,
Liesl
(Saint Laurent, Fall 2025)
Reposted by Martin Kavka
"Multiple institutions and individuals involved in Holocaust education, remembrance and research silenced their X accounts on Friday... A pivotal moment, however, was when Musk shared an endorsement of the "great replacement" theory." www.dw.com/en/holocaust...
X: Holocaust remembrance organizations quit platform – DW – 12/13/2024
Various Holocaust educational, remembrance and research organizations are leaving X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
www.dw.com
December 13, 2024 at 4:31 PM
"Multiple institutions and individuals involved in Holocaust education, remembrance and research silenced their X accounts on Friday... A pivotal moment, however, was when Musk shared an endorsement of the "great replacement" theory." www.dw.com/en/holocaust...
This is not quite the Bible I remember. But I am old, and therefore have likely forgotten some things.
December 12, 2024 at 7:02 PM
This is not quite the Bible I remember. But I am old, and therefore have likely forgotten some things.
Saucy rich narcissist twinks are on-trend for spring 2025, according to Saint Laurent. Sigh.
December 3, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Saucy rich narcissist twinks are on-trend for spring 2025, according to Saint Laurent. Sigh.
Yesterday, I discovered that I could shock a former teacher by informing him that I have now known him for half of his life.
This may not make me win the American Academy of Religion’s annual meeting, but I feel I’m definitely in medal contention.
<googles>
There are no medals at the AAR. Oh.
This may not make me win the American Academy of Religion’s annual meeting, but I feel I’m definitely in medal contention.
<googles>
There are no medals at the AAR. Oh.
November 24, 2024 at 3:43 PM
Yesterday, I discovered that I could shock a former teacher by informing him that I have now known him for half of his life.
This may not make me win the American Academy of Religion’s annual meeting, but I feel I’m definitely in medal contention.
<googles>
There are no medals at the AAR. Oh.
This may not make me win the American Academy of Religion’s annual meeting, but I feel I’m definitely in medal contention.
<googles>
There are no medals at the AAR. Oh.
Please ditch me to talk to less famous people!
“You’re not really at AAR until the person you’re talking to ditches you to talk to someone more famous.”
-Martin Kavka
-Martin Kavka
November 23, 2024 at 2:50 PM
Please ditch me to talk to less famous people!
Flying to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, I napped, and dreamt I gave a paper about how best to use the bcc field in email communication with colleagues.
Hundreds attended. I fielded many questions on how not to reply inadvertently to an email on which one had been bcc’d.
Hundreds attended. I fielded many questions on how not to reply inadvertently to an email on which one had been bcc’d.
November 23, 2024 at 1:40 AM
Flying to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, I napped, and dreamt I gave a paper about how best to use the bcc field in email communication with colleagues.
Hundreds attended. I fielded many questions on how not to reply inadvertently to an email on which one had been bcc’d.
Hundreds attended. I fielded many questions on how not to reply inadvertently to an email on which one had been bcc’d.
Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell on responding to fascism. From _The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp_ (1943).
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (1943) Clip - Anton Walbrook and Roger Livesey
YouTube video by Dreams Are What Le Cinema Is For
m.youtube.com
November 19, 2024 at 3:35 AM
Emeric Pressburger and Michael Powell on responding to fascism. From _The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp_ (1943).
In which Randall Balmer somewhat short-sells Tammy Faye Bakker, who is one of the most fascinating Christians ever. She was certainly more fascinating than, say, Aquinas.
Why ‘Tammy Faye’ the Musical Feels Like a Redemption
The televangelist defended gay men during the AIDS crisis. Now she’s getting perhaps the gayest tribute: a Broadway show led by Elton John.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2024 at 1:57 PM
In which Randall Balmer somewhat short-sells Tammy Faye Bakker, who is one of the most fascinating Christians ever. She was certainly more fascinating than, say, Aquinas.
Describe yourself using 5 things that are probably in your bag at any given moment:
1. Many pens
2. A gay novel I am reading
3. A work of philosophy I am not reading
4. A toothbrush
5. A therapist’s business card, given to me by a friend fifteen years ago; I promise I’ll make that call next week.
1. Many pens
2. A gay novel I am reading
3. A work of philosophy I am not reading
4. A toothbrush
5. A therapist’s business card, given to me by a friend fifteen years ago; I promise I’ll make that call next week.
Describe yourself using 5 things that are probably in your bag at any given moment:
1. Carmex
2. Trident White gum
3. Ear buds
4. Lotion
5. Sunscreen stick
1. Carmex
2. Trident White gum
3. Ear buds
4. Lotion
5. Sunscreen stick
Describe yourself using 5 things that are probably in your purse/backpack at any given moment:
1. My notebook/Pilot G2 Pen
2. Aveda lip balm
3. MacBook
4. A can of Orange citrus Kickstart
5. Brown claw clip
1. My notebook/Pilot G2 Pen
2. Aveda lip balm
3. MacBook
4. A can of Orange citrus Kickstart
5. Brown claw clip
November 14, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Describe yourself using 5 things that are probably in your bag at any given moment:
1. Many pens
2. A gay novel I am reading
3. A work of philosophy I am not reading
4. A toothbrush
5. A therapist’s business card, given to me by a friend fifteen years ago; I promise I’ll make that call next week.
1. Many pens
2. A gay novel I am reading
3. A work of philosophy I am not reading
4. A toothbrush
5. A therapist’s business card, given to me by a friend fifteen years ago; I promise I’ll make that call next week.
As I get older, I find that I need less from life. Redemption, knowledge, love — all those are less important to me than they once were.
Still, I really really need my students to stop thinking that “theologist” Is a word.
Still, I really really need my students to stop thinking that “theologist” Is a word.
November 12, 2024 at 6:00 PM
As I get older, I find that I need less from life. Redemption, knowledge, love — all those are less important to me than they once were.
Still, I really really need my students to stop thinking that “theologist” Is a word.
Still, I really really need my students to stop thinking that “theologist” Is a word.
Reposted by Martin Kavka
On the UNC Press Presents Podcast via @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social, Paul M. Renfro @renfro.bsky.social on THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RYAN WHITE: AIDS and Inequality in America. Stream/subscribe, or 🎧 via Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts. newbooksnetwork.com/the-life-and...
November 11, 2024 at 8:56 PM
On the UNC Press Presents Podcast via @newbooksnetwork.bsky.social, Paul M. Renfro @renfro.bsky.social on THE LIFE AND DEATH OF RYAN WHITE: AIDS and Inequality in America. Stream/subscribe, or 🎧 via Apple Podcasts, Spotify Podcasts. newbooksnetwork.com/the-life-and...
“The predicament when writing about a sudden, untimely death: the more you remember, the more elusive that death becomes. A sudden, untimely death is a black hole, absorbing all that you can give, not really clamoring for more.”
What Gardening Offered After a Son’s Death, by Yiyun Li
Deep in mourning, I thought, What if spring never returns?
www.newyorker.com
October 26, 2023 at 12:20 PM
“The predicament when writing about a sudden, untimely death: the more you remember, the more elusive that death becomes. A sudden, untimely death is a black hole, absorbing all that you can give, not really clamoring for more.”
Reposted by Martin Kavka
I feel like we need an In Memoriam segment like at the Oscars, where like John Legend sings “I Will Always Love You” real quiet over a montage of everyone who’s run for speaker this year.
October 24, 2023 at 9:06 PM
I feel like we need an In Memoriam segment like at the Oscars, where like John Legend sings “I Will Always Love You” real quiet over a montage of everyone who’s run for speaker this year.
Reposted by Martin Kavka
deeply saddened to announce that Natalie Zemon Davis has passed away
her work on early modern European cultural history profoundly shaped the thinking of successive generations of scholars
her warmth & generosity touched the lives of so many family, friends, students, colleagues, and comrades
RIP
her work on early modern European cultural history profoundly shaped the thinking of successive generations of scholars
her warmth & generosity touched the lives of so many family, friends, students, colleagues, and comrades
RIP
October 23, 2023 at 1:29 PM
deeply saddened to announce that Natalie Zemon Davis has passed away
her work on early modern European cultural history profoundly shaped the thinking of successive generations of scholars
her warmth & generosity touched the lives of so many family, friends, students, colleagues, and comrades
RIP
her work on early modern European cultural history profoundly shaped the thinking of successive generations of scholars
her warmth & generosity touched the lives of so many family, friends, students, colleagues, and comrades
RIP
I don’t parent, but I found some of the lessons here — especially about how to perform a maxim like “act as if everyone around you is having a hard time” — applicable to a wide variety of workplace situations.
Dr. Becky Kennedy Wants to Help Parents Land the Plane
A conversation about grocery-store tantrums, the virtues of disappointment, and the gap between good kids and bad behavior.
www.newyorker.com
October 22, 2023 at 12:01 PM
I don’t parent, but I found some of the lessons here — especially about how to perform a maxim like “act as if everyone around you is having a hard time” — applicable to a wide variety of workplace situations.
Love! Clothes! Foodways! _Schitt’s Creek_ reenactments!
A Spark That Ignited in a Brooklyn Kitchen and Continued Around the World
When Jirair Ratevosian, a Congressional candidate, and Micheal Ighodaro, an activist and filmmaker, first met, both were so busy with work that sometimes a date meant meeting in an airport lounge.
www.nytimes.com
October 20, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Love! Clothes! Foodways! _Schitt’s Creek_ reenactments!
I am battling a cold this week. As a result, I fell asleep in the middle of a Joan Crawford film. I have not felt this much gay shame since I was 20 and <redacted>
October 19, 2023 at 1:49 PM
I am battling a cold this week. As a result, I fell asleep in the middle of a Joan Crawford film. I have not felt this much gay shame since I was 20 and <redacted>
Gay Professional pro tip: when one gets good news from a supervisor, respond with “you’ve made me happier than Liza Minnelli amid the shelves of a fully stocked pharmacy.”
Follow me for more recipes.
Follow me for more recipes.
October 18, 2023 at 8:49 PM
Gay Professional pro tip: when one gets good news from a supervisor, respond with “you’ve made me happier than Liza Minnelli amid the shelves of a fully stocked pharmacy.”
Follow me for more recipes.
Follow me for more recipes.