Mark Masterson
@markjmasterson.bsky.social
Byzantinist. Flutist. Author of Between Byzantine Men (Routledge 2022) and Man to Man (Ohio 2014) Former Associate Professor of Classics, Victoria University, New Zealand (now retired).
Orcid: 0000-0001-9964-8672
Orcid: 0000-0001-9964-8672
Getting ready for some hardcore code switching!
November 26, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Getting ready for some hardcore code switching!
One would think this does not need to be said, but it sure does.
Reviewers are allowed to have their opinions about a text but they should not misrepresent what is and is not in the text
November 22, 2025 at 6:01 PM
One would think this does not need to be said, but it sure does.
Playing my bass flute in a concert yesterday.
November 16, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Playing my bass flute in a concert yesterday.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
So, Labour will fiddle around with how to spend 0.4% of the budget in 2027 (futures fund) and then get cracking on a capital gains tax that will increase revenue by around 0.6% by 2030. We could get maybe 20km of new road for that. 'The tranquilising drug of gradualism'.
October 28, 2025 at 2:24 AM
So, Labour will fiddle around with how to spend 0.4% of the budget in 2027 (futures fund) and then get cracking on a capital gains tax that will increase revenue by around 0.6% by 2030. We could get maybe 20km of new road for that. 'The tranquilising drug of gradualism'.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Folks, I would like our research knowledge to get better, not worse. Our publications to become more intentionally structured and phrased, not less. And our experiences and perspectives to find more echoes in the academic language we use, not fewer.
AI slop is the opposite of all that.
AI slop is the opposite of all that.
October 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Folks, I would like our research knowledge to get better, not worse. Our publications to become more intentionally structured and phrased, not less. And our experiences and perspectives to find more echoes in the academic language we use, not fewer.
AI slop is the opposite of all that.
AI slop is the opposite of all that.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
In early Christian literature and art, the turtle was a symbol of heresy and evil.
Why?
Because of its lowness to the ground and its tendency to wallow in mud and filth.
Oh, shell yeah.
Why?
Because of its lowness to the ground and its tendency to wallow in mud and filth.
Oh, shell yeah.
October 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
In early Christian literature and art, the turtle was a symbol of heresy and evil.
Why?
Because of its lowness to the ground and its tendency to wallow in mud and filth.
Oh, shell yeah.
Why?
Because of its lowness to the ground and its tendency to wallow in mud and filth.
Oh, shell yeah.
I wish people would stop posting old analyses of what's going on Washington. I don't need and most assuredly don't want an op ed from March presented as though it is current. Say it's old but it's relevant cuz x or y. Otherwise don't do it.
October 17, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I wish people would stop posting old analyses of what's going on Washington. I don't need and most assuredly don't want an op ed from March presented as though it is current. Say it's old but it's relevant cuz x or y. Otherwise don't do it.
Heading into a concert.
October 10, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Heading into a concert.
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Our book is released today. It's edited following the "grand elementary principle of pleasure". I love all the poems and critical essays we've gathered together, found much insight & delight in my co-editors' insights as poets, & hope youse can too. aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/te-whariki/
Te Whāriki: Reading Ten New Poets from Aotearoa
Chris Tse to Tayi Tibble – what New Zealand poetry looks like now.
aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz
October 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Our book is released today. It's edited following the "grand elementary principle of pleasure". I love all the poems and critical essays we've gathered together, found much insight & delight in my co-editors' insights as poets, & hope youse can too. aucklanduniversitypress.co.nz/te-whariki/
@analocking.bsky.social I hope you will post here, as I have long since left that other place.
October 5, 2025 at 4:52 PM
@analocking.bsky.social I hope you will post here, as I have long since left that other place.
FINALLY OMG
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 2, 2025 at 5:03 AM
FINALLY OMG
Reposted by Mark Masterson
We're all dunking on this post, but we really need to ask ourselves if we would do any better in his position.
Would any of us do better? Would we? Yes. Yes, we would. We would *all* do better than this.
My GOD
Would any of us do better? Would we? Yes. Yes, we would. We would *all* do better than this.
My GOD
The Trump administration’s threat to deploy troops in Portland is unlawful.
Here’s a thought.
Focus on protecting the healthcare of the American people.
Here’s a thought.
Focus on protecting the healthcare of the American people.
September 28, 2025 at 1:37 AM
We're all dunking on this post, but we really need to ask ourselves if we would do any better in his position.
Would any of us do better? Would we? Yes. Yes, we would. We would *all* do better than this.
My GOD
Would any of us do better? Would we? Yes. Yes, we would. We would *all* do better than this.
My GOD
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Challenge to commentators: don't dismiss transphobia and landlordism as 'side' issues in the implosion of Your Party. It's central. Same as Galloway: you can't build a progressive party on petit bourgeois prejudice and hatred masquerading as "community values". That's what we are seeing play out.
September 22, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Challenge to commentators: don't dismiss transphobia and landlordism as 'side' issues in the implosion of Your Party. It's central. Same as Galloway: you can't build a progressive party on petit bourgeois prejudice and hatred masquerading as "community values". That's what we are seeing play out.
That feeling when an American honours student with whom you helped a little via email submits an honours thesis that more or less plagiarizes your book. No really: great big swathes, pages.
(AND RELATEDLY: And students who have little or no Greek and scholars likewise, how about some respect?)
(AND RELATEDLY: And students who have little or no Greek and scholars likewise, how about some respect?)
September 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM
That feeling when an American honours student with whom you helped a little via email submits an honours thesis that more or less plagiarizes your book. No really: great big swathes, pages.
(AND RELATEDLY: And students who have little or no Greek and scholars likewise, how about some respect?)
(AND RELATEDLY: And students who have little or no Greek and scholars likewise, how about some respect?)
Reposted by Mark Masterson
I for one am tired of Humanities academics pushing their elitist agenda of basic literacy, independent thinking and an elementary knowledge of human history
June 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
I for one am tired of Humanities academics pushing their elitist agenda of basic literacy, independent thinking and an elementary knowledge of human history
good work here
June 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
good work here
Decided to test google images on this bit of flute repertoire (orchestral) that was excerpted and played on a reel on Facebook. I know this piece of music and it will come to me eventually (so this was a sincere query). Big fail by google. Suggested Beethoven Symphony 7 and Mahler 6. Please.
June 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Decided to test google images on this bit of flute repertoire (orchestral) that was excerpted and played on a reel on Facebook. I know this piece of music and it will come to me eventually (so this was a sincere query). Big fail by google. Suggested Beethoven Symphony 7 and Mahler 6. Please.
Walking in to town
May 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Walking in to town
Reposted by Mark Masterson
Hannah Maipi-Clarke: “...it was disorderly to bring in a bill like the Treaty Principles Bill.
The problem is not our response to the problem. The problem here is that there is no obligation and no responsibility for MPs in the house to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That is the problem.”
Hear! Hear!
The problem is not our response to the problem. The problem here is that there is no obligation and no responsibility for MPs in the house to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That is the problem.”
Hear! Hear!
May 21, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Hannah Maipi-Clarke: “...it was disorderly to bring in a bill like the Treaty Principles Bill.
The problem is not our response to the problem. The problem here is that there is no obligation and no responsibility for MPs in the house to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That is the problem.”
Hear! Hear!
The problem is not our response to the problem. The problem here is that there is no obligation and no responsibility for MPs in the house to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. That is the problem.”
Hear! Hear!
Reposted by Mark Masterson
I never heard of the man until he died himself, but this poem is beautiful.
One of the many fine works of the Irish poet, Paul Durcan, who passed away this weekend - few have ever written better on death
May 18, 2025 at 7:35 PM
I never heard of the man until he died himself, but this poem is beautiful.
Why shouldn't I just give away pdfs of my 2022 book since my publisher fed it to AI?
May 12, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Why shouldn't I just give away pdfs of my 2022 book since my publisher fed it to AI?
Just found out that a translation by yours truly of the complete letters of Nikephoros Ouranos (10th century important person in the reign of Basil II) will shortly be under contract with Liverpool University Press (in the Translated Texts for Byzantinists series)!
April 29, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Just found out that a translation by yours truly of the complete letters of Nikephoros Ouranos (10th century important person in the reign of Basil II) will shortly be under contract with Liverpool University Press (in the Translated Texts for Byzantinists series)!