Seth Barry Watter
@sbwatter.bsky.social
new york, ny | author of The Human Figure on Film (SUNY, 2023) and of articles on film, media, the human sciences, psychiatry
scholarly writing here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Seth-Watter
scholarly writing here: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Seth-Watter
I just saw that the great Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai has passed away. Ichikawa's Conflagration, while a mediocre film, has one of Nakadai's finest performances as the disabled student Togari. His halting, twisted walk in the schoolyard has to be one of the most striking entrances in cinema.
November 11, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I just saw that the great Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai has passed away. Ichikawa's Conflagration, while a mediocre film, has one of Nakadai's finest performances as the disabled student Togari. His halting, twisted walk in the schoolyard has to be one of the most striking entrances in cinema.
If I had to live in any American city other than New York, I'm starting to think it should be Baltimore
November 10, 2025 at 9:08 PM
If I had to live in any American city other than New York, I'm starting to think it should be Baltimore
Because the two really do belong together
November 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Because the two really do belong together
This is already impossible to find in Manhattan. A colleague appears to have bought the last copy at the nearest Gristedes (appropriately enough, one of the businesses that has vowed to leave New York if Mamdani won the election)
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is already impossible to find in Manhattan. A colleague appears to have bought the last copy at the nearest Gristedes (appropriately enough, one of the businesses that has vowed to leave New York if Mamdani won the election)
Recreationally, that is
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Recreationally, that is
For anyone in or around the College Park area, I'll be speaking on the topic of "Research and Surveillance in a Total Institution" at the University of Maryland on this Friday November 7, 1pm; details below
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
For anyone in or around the College Park area, I'll be speaking on the topic of "Research and Surveillance in a Total Institution" at the University of Maryland on this Friday November 7, 1pm; details below
A new queer classic?
October 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
A new queer classic?
Also these from Kunihiko Kasahara
October 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Also these from Kunihiko Kasahara
We're all set for Halloween here with some origami models courtesy of Oriol Esteve and Jo Nakashima
October 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
We're all set for Halloween here with some origami models courtesy of Oriol Esteve and Jo Nakashima
If Marie Antoinette were queen, we'd be eating cake
October 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
If Marie Antoinette were queen, we'd be eating cake
What my daughter brought home from the library yesterday
October 21, 2025 at 7:01 PM
What my daughter brought home from the library yesterday
This may be the best title of a book ever. Imagine if all titles were equally descriptive: "Academic Monograph with Tedious Descriptions of Gothic Architecture." "Collection of Previously Published Essays with No Unity Among Them or Discernible Point."
September 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
This may be the best title of a book ever. Imagine if all titles were equally descriptive: "Academic Monograph with Tedious Descriptions of Gothic Architecture." "Collection of Previously Published Essays with No Unity Among Them or Discernible Point."
Really sad to hear that Bluestockings is closing for good. It was one of the first places I started going to in New York, 20 years ago. Indeed some of these bookmarks are starting show their age, much like me.
September 22, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Really sad to hear that Bluestockings is closing for good. It was one of the first places I started going to in New York, 20 years ago. Indeed some of these bookmarks are starting show their age, much like me.
Just a reminder that there is still time (10/1) to apply to SCMSSP's parallel conference, to be held "both virtually (online) and, simultaneously, in person in/from
Chicago (exact physical location TBA) during the same dates as SCMS March 26-29, 2026.... contingent upon agreement not to attend SCMS"
Chicago (exact physical location TBA) during the same dates as SCMS March 26-29, 2026.... contingent upon agreement not to attend SCMS"
September 22, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Just a reminder that there is still time (10/1) to apply to SCMSSP's parallel conference, to be held "both virtually (online) and, simultaneously, in person in/from
Chicago (exact physical location TBA) during the same dates as SCMS March 26-29, 2026.... contingent upon agreement not to attend SCMS"
Chicago (exact physical location TBA) during the same dates as SCMS March 26-29, 2026.... contingent upon agreement not to attend SCMS"
Whenever I think of Robert Redford, I think of this scene in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore:
Bea: Listen, I wonder what kind of build he's got on him.
Alice: Did you ever see his feet?
Bea: Feet?
Alice: I heard one time that's supposed to be an indication.
Bea: Listen, I wonder what kind of build he's got on him.
Alice: Did you ever see his feet?
Bea: Feet?
Alice: I heard one time that's supposed to be an indication.
September 17, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Whenever I think of Robert Redford, I think of this scene in Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore:
Bea: Listen, I wonder what kind of build he's got on him.
Alice: Did you ever see his feet?
Bea: Feet?
Alice: I heard one time that's supposed to be an indication.
Bea: Listen, I wonder what kind of build he's got on him.
Alice: Did you ever see his feet?
Bea: Feet?
Alice: I heard one time that's supposed to be an indication.
Plants gesturing like people; people gesturing like plants.
September 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Plants gesturing like people; people gesturing like plants.
Not even origami is safe from transphobia. (From a book published in 2001.)
September 14, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Not even origami is safe from transphobia. (From a book published in 2001.)
What I always wear when I'm settling in for a long period of artistic production:
September 11, 2025 at 6:26 PM
What I always wear when I'm settling in for a long period of artistic production:
Facebook informs me that 10 years ago I received my first ever page proofs (for this piece that appeared in Camera Obscura). I guess despite everything I'm happy this whole scholarship thing is still the path that I'm on.
September 11, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Facebook informs me that 10 years ago I received my first ever page proofs (for this piece that appeared in Camera Obscura). I guess despite everything I'm happy this whole scholarship thing is still the path that I'm on.
Death by cereals: A Corner in Wheat (1909) and Vampyr (1932). I wonder if there is any evidence, direct or indirect, that Dreyer could have seen Griffith's film and paid it homage.
September 8, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Death by cereals: A Corner in Wheat (1909) and Vampyr (1932). I wonder if there is any evidence, direct or indirect, that Dreyer could have seen Griffith's film and paid it homage.
My daughter after covering me with eight stuffed animals: "It could have been worse. It could have been, like, eleven!"
September 8, 2025 at 6:47 PM
My daughter after covering me with eight stuffed animals: "It could have been worse. It could have been, like, eleven!"
Interesting misprint
September 8, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Interesting misprint
Is it just me, or does the free version of Duolingo have the craziest ads? Why is this man who looks like a cross between Zizek and Brendan Gleeson supposed to be an incentive to start gambling?
September 2, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Is it just me, or does the free version of Duolingo have the craziest ads? Why is this man who looks like a cross between Zizek and Brendan Gleeson supposed to be an incentive to start gambling?
Me waiting for the "professional development fund" portal to open:
September 1, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Me waiting for the "professional development fund" portal to open:
Freud really is the best
August 27, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Freud really is the best