Perry Zurn
@perryzurn.bsky.social
Prof @AmericanU. Interested in political theory, social movements, LGBT life, and fungi. Author @UMinnPress @mitpress @dukepress https://www.perryzurn.com/
Really excited to be sharing work on Cornell's own trans histories tonight! As part of trans awareness week.
November 11, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Really excited to be sharing work on Cornell's own trans histories tonight! As part of trans awareness week.
Whenever I make up a word (we need more for the things I think about), copyeditors say, "Hey. That's not a word. Use a dictionary word." I want to reply: "Hey. How do you think words got in the dictionary?!" What is this regime where we can't publish new words? Where did it come from? whywhywhy
November 4, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Whenever I make up a word (we need more for the things I think about), copyeditors say, "Hey. That's not a word. Use a dictionary word." I want to reply: "Hey. How do you think words got in the dictionary?!" What is this regime where we can't publish new words? Where did it come from? whywhywhy
No but really... all you writers, how DO you make yourself sit still for these copy edits on a full manuscript? I'm already a heavily distractible person, but I become a literal dandelion tuft in the breeze with these.
October 30, 2025 at 8:32 PM
No but really... all you writers, how DO you make yourself sit still for these copy edits on a full manuscript? I'm already a heavily distractible person, but I become a literal dandelion tuft in the breeze with these.
deargod I love writing, but I do not love copy editing. calling on this blewitt to give me strength today.
October 17, 2025 at 3:32 PM
deargod I love writing, but I do not love copy editing. calling on this blewitt to give me strength today.
A giant cyclops puffball guttating this morning…
September 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
A giant cyclops puffball guttating this morning…
It’s drizzling and an older woman, with dyed red hair but deep grey roots, stands leaning against her weed wacker in a blue raincoat. She tenderly snips the tiniest edges of her sidewalk, while her bare feet turn slowly green with the cuttings. Her stance infinite.
September 17, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It’s drizzling and an older woman, with dyed red hair but deep grey roots, stands leaning against her weed wacker in a blue raincoat. She tenderly snips the tiniest edges of her sidewalk, while her bare feet turn slowly green with the cuttings. Her stance infinite.
.... but also what if I get buried alive by email?
September 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
.... but also what if I get buried alive by email?
Earthstars appearing nearby. I’m taking it as a good omen--in a world seemingly so short of such things …
August 27, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Earthstars appearing nearby. I’m taking it as a good omen--in a world seemingly so short of such things …
y'all I just saw this headline in Science and now I can't unsee it--both for its truth value and for its dad-joke quality.
August 11, 2025 at 3:10 PM
y'all I just saw this headline in Science and now I can't unsee it--both for its truth value and for its dad-joke quality.
A magical moth moment. Look at that tuft!
August 11, 2025 at 1:53 PM
A magical moth moment. Look at that tuft!
Fungal romance #fungifriends #mushrooms
August 2, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Fungal romance #fungifriends #mushrooms
These grow in the same spot year to year. Delighted to see them back!
July 21, 2025 at 8:21 PM
These grow in the same spot year to year. Delighted to see them back!
Years ago, I visited the Leslie Feinberg Library at @Ben Power's @Sexual Minorities Archives. I snapped a photo of the philosophy shelf. Plato, Socrates, Foucault, and @Shannon Winnubst. Such a leap there that for a long time had been unthinkable. And trans philosophy still off in the distance.
July 12, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Years ago, I visited the Leslie Feinberg Library at @Ben Power's @Sexual Minorities Archives. I snapped a photo of the philosophy shelf. Plato, Socrates, Foucault, and @Shannon Winnubst. Such a leap there that for a long time had been unthinkable. And trans philosophy still off in the distance.
From CHOICE reviews:
Zurn "is a wonderful stylist," "sections & subsections are organizational genius." Focused on "the poetics of the this-ness & here-ness of each other," Zurn has created "somehow both a beach read & serious academic literature." "Essential. Advanced undergrads through faculty."
Zurn "is a wonderful stylist," "sections & subsections are organizational genius." Focused on "the poetics of the this-ness & here-ness of each other," Zurn has created "somehow both a beach read & serious academic literature." "Essential. Advanced undergrads through faculty."
July 3, 2025 at 2:44 PM
From CHOICE reviews:
Zurn "is a wonderful stylist," "sections & subsections are organizational genius." Focused on "the poetics of the this-ness & here-ness of each other," Zurn has created "somehow both a beach read & serious academic literature." "Essential. Advanced undergrads through faculty."
Zurn "is a wonderful stylist," "sections & subsections are organizational genius." Focused on "the poetics of the this-ness & here-ness of each other," Zurn has created "somehow both a beach read & serious academic literature." "Essential. Advanced undergrads through faculty."
Slug respite with rusulla!
June 30, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Slug respite with rusulla!
1980 underhand term for assimilationist queers? WAX FRUIT. amazing.
June 19, 2025 at 7:27 PM
1980 underhand term for assimilationist queers? WAX FRUIT. amazing.
Ever wonder how we started using "cis" to refer to nontrans ppl? In a new article, I briefly recount cis' origins, before tracking how it got mainstreamed. I pay special attention to the citational injustices & intersectional silences whereby cis became what it is now. ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fp...
June 18, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Ever wonder how we started using "cis" to refer to nontrans ppl? In a new article, I briefly recount cis' origins, before tracking how it got mainstreamed. I pay special attention to the citational injustices & intersectional silences whereby cis became what it is now. ojs.lib.uwo.ca/index.php/fp...
The 1st Binghamton (NY) pride was 1983. They asked the mayor to designate June 24 as Gay Pride Day. She refused. They pressed on. The celebration was not a parade but a candlelight vigil after dark. Attendees wore dark clothes & masks to mark centuries of invisibility & to protect themselves.
June 14, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The 1st Binghamton (NY) pride was 1983. They asked the mayor to designate June 24 as Gay Pride Day. She refused. They pressed on. The celebration was not a parade but a candlelight vigil after dark. Attendees wore dark clothes & masks to mark centuries of invisibility & to protect themselves.
Got my hands on an advance copy!
June 12, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Got my hands on an advance copy!
A little magic in the morning
June 2, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A little magic in the morning
So honored to be one of the inaugural Eames Institute #curious100! In the incredible company of folks like adrienne maree brown, ALOK, Krista Tippett, and Alice Wong! Curiosity can be tuned (& attuned) to the soulful transformation of our world.
Full list:
www.eamesinstitute.org/curious-100/...
Full list:
www.eamesinstitute.org/curious-100/...
March 12, 2025 at 6:34 PM
So honored to be one of the inaugural Eames Institute #curious100! In the incredible company of folks like adrienne maree brown, ALOK, Krista Tippett, and Alice Wong! Curiosity can be tuned (& attuned) to the soulful transformation of our world.
Full list:
www.eamesinstitute.org/curious-100/...
Full list:
www.eamesinstitute.org/curious-100/...
"Theory can be a dew that rises from the earth and collects in the rain cloud and returns to earth over and over. But if it doesn't smell of the earth, it isn't good for the earth." -Adrienne Rich
January 18, 2025 at 4:41 PM
"Theory can be a dew that rises from the earth and collects in the rain cloud and returns to earth over and over. But if it doesn't smell of the earth, it isn't good for the earth." -Adrienne Rich
Perhaps my favorite smell in the whole world is live tomato vine. Here’s to smelling more of it in 2025!
January 1, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Perhaps my favorite smell in the whole world is live tomato vine. Here’s to smelling more of it in 2025!