Dr Ian McCormick
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wokestudies.bsky.social
Dr Ian McCormick
@wokestudies.bsky.social
19K followers 15K following 1.5K posts
English Language & Literature. PhD: Monstrosity. Queer history. Gothic. Antifa. Archaic English. NEW BOOK: Woke Shakespeare. Prof. d'Emeritus. https://linktr.ee/drianmccormick
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wokestudies.bsky.social
Dr Ian McCormick @wokestudies.bsky.social · Dec 30
NEW BOOK: Woke Shakespeare: Rethinking Shakespeare for a New Era
#drama #theatre #Shakespeare #performance #adaptation #appropriation #historicism #empire #culture #materialism #TeamEnglish #renaissance #bardolatry #postcolonial #woke #socialjustice #theory #queer
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DQYB2TS5
wokestudies.bsky.social
Students and staff are trying to save the University of Nottingham's music and modern languages courses after their suspension was announced.

#HigherEd #music #languages

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 11:44 AM
wokestudies.bsky.social
"By choice they made themselves immune
To pity and whatever mourns in man
Before the last sea and the hapless stars;
Whatever mourns when many leave these shores;
Whatever shares
The eternal reciprocity of tears."

--- Wilfred Owen, "Insensibility"
Mud, water, total devastation on the battlefield. The Menin Road A devastated battlefield pocked with rain-filled shell-holes, flooded trenches and shattered trees lit by unearthly beams of light from an apocalyptic sky. Two figures pick their way along a tree-lined road, the road punctuated by shell-holes and lined by tree stumps. The foreground is filled with concrete blocks, barbed wire and corrugated iron, while columns of mud from artillery fire rise up in the background. Image: IWM (Art.IWM ART 2242) The Menin Road, 1919, by Paul Nash.
November 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
jim1132.bsky.social
This was a story from just last week.
November 11, 2025 at 8:46 AM
wokestudies.bsky.social
Make no mistake: they want to destroy the BBC (Sun, Daily Mail, GB News, Fox TV, Farage, Putin, Trump ...)
#media #antifa
beast predators circle the BBC. Make no mistake: they want to destroy the BBC (Sun, Daily Mail, GB News, Fox TV, Farage, Putin, Trump ...)
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
"* Read like a novel: As C. S. Lewis suggests, approach the poem as you would a novel to get a more immersive experience"
Poems are less "immersive"?
November 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
rorycj.bsky.social
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
wokestudies.bsky.social
English medieval music: 'Sumer is icumen in'.
13th C. lyrics. British Library, Harley 978, f.11v
The melody is one of the earliest known examples of what is now the major mode, and the earliest example of ground-bass. Besides the English secular text 'Sumer is icumen in', the melody is provided with a Latin sacred one 'Perspice Christicola', and it is the earliest known manuscript in which both secular and sacred words are written to the same piece of music. Mid 13th century SOURCE: British Library, Harley 978, f.11v
November 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
Chaucer, The Knight's Tale (the Ellesmere manuscript)
#medieval #poetry #Literature #English
Once on a time, as old stories tell us, There was a Duke whose name was Theseus. Of Athens he was lord and governor, And in his time so great a conqueror Mightier was there none under the sun. Full many a rich land had he won, What with his wisdom and his chivalry. He conquered all the Amazon country, That long ago was known as Scythia, And wedded its queen Hippolyta, And brought her home to his own country With much glory and great festivity, And also her young sister Emily. And so with victory and melody I’ll let this noble Duke to Athens ride And all his host in arms him beside. And were it not indeed too long to hear, I would have told you fully of the manner In which the Amazon kingdom was seized By Theseus and by his chivalry, And of the great battle on occasion Twixt the Athenian and the Amazon, And how he besieged Hippolyta, The brave and lovely queen of Scythia, And of the feast they had at their wedding And of the tempest at their home-coming; But all of that I must omit for now. I have, God knows, a large field to plough, Weak oxen pull my blade, the field is rough. The remnant of my tale is long enough. Likewise I’ll not delay us on the route; Let every fellow tell his tale about, And let us see who shall that supper win! – Where I left off, I will again begin. This Duke of whom I now make mention, When he was almost come into the town, In all his splendour and his great pride, Became aware, as he glanced aside, That there kneeled in the highway Two by two, a company of ladies, One behind the other, in clothes black.
October 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
thebookerprizes.com
‘We had never read anything quite like it. It is, in many ways, a dark book but it is a joy to read’

We're delighted to announce Flesh by David Szalay as the winner of the #BookerPrize2025.
November 10, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
"because China is ruled by an ostensibly Marxist cadre, the country has an ability to restrict electronic opiates far beyond anything an American could imagine. In 2019, China limited under-eighteen-year-olds to ninety minutes of video games a day."
November 9, 2025 at 4:03 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
Last tune of the day : Everly Brothers- "All I Have To Do Is Dream/Cathy's Clown" (1960)
youtu.be/lTYe9eDqxe8?...
Everly Brothers- "All I Have To Do Is Dream/Cathy's Clown" 1960 (Reelin' In The Years Archives)
YouTube video by ReelinInTheYears66
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 5:01 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
The Platters performing "The Great Pretender", released originally in 1959.
youtu.be/RBj2HN2uuNA?...
The Platters - The Great Pretender (1959) 4K
YouTube video by Classic Hits Studio
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 4:58 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
Possibly first heard this in the pram when I was 12 months old.
youtu.be/08083BNaYcA?...
Gerry & The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey (1965)
YouTube video by vinylsolution
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 4:45 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
Political wisdom of Adorno ?
#antifa #politics #history
All modern fascist movements, including the practices of contemporary American demagogues, have aimed at the ignorant; they have consciously manipulated the facts in a way that could lead to success only with those who were not acquainted with the facts. Ignorance with respect to the complexities of contemporary society makes for a state of general uncertainty and anxiety, which is the ideal breeding ground for the modern type of reactionary mass movement. Such movements are always ‘populist’ and maliciously anti-intellectual.
November 10, 2025 at 4:13 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
"The 2025 AI Index Report states that only 34 percent of Americans are excited for the AI future. China is the most excited, with 80 percent."
thebaffler.com/salvos/we-us...
We Used to Read Things in This Country | Noah McCormack
Technology changes us—and it is currently changing us for the worse.
thebaffler.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:02 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
How many days in a week?
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
wokestudies.bsky.social
The easiest section in this Italian vocabulary list?
November 9, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
"A publicly accessible tool that invents false criminal allegations about a sitting US senator represents a catastrophic failure of oversight and ethical responsibility.”
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Experts find flaws in hundreds of tests that check AI safety and effectiveness
Scientists say almost all have weaknesses in at least one area that can ‘undermine validity of resulting claims’
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
Posters - Ferry the Human Frog (aka Ferry the Frog / The Mystery Man)
Contortionist, equilibrist. [aka William Ferry] "Considered one of the greatest contortionists to visit Australasia, Ferry the Frog toured the region three times (1899-1903, 1920-23, and 1945-46). Films of Ferry performing were also exhibited between ca. 1906 and 1911. Ferry’s act, which evolved over the years, was initially played out in a swamp setting and typically ran for about 15 minutes. Ferry first came to the region with McAdoo’s Minstrels and Cakewalkers in late 1899. The following year he began touring his own variety and bioscope company. Ferry’s Australasian engagements included leading vaudeville circuits (Harry Rickards, Percy Dix, and Fullers’ Theatres etc), circus and buckjumping troupes. He also featured in pantomime, burlesque and the occasional drama." https://ozvta.com/practitioners-f/ Contortionist, equilibrist. [aka William Ferry] "Considered one of the greatest contortionists to visit Australasia, Ferry the Frog toured the region three times (1899-1903, 1920-23, and 1945-46). Films of Ferry performing were also exhibited between ca. 1906 and 1911. Ferry’s act, which evolved over the years, was initially played out in a swamp setting and typically ran for about 15 minutes. Ferry first came to the region with McAdoo’s Minstrels and Cakewalkers in late 1899. The following year he began touring his own variety and bioscope company. Ferry’s Australasian engagements included leading vaudeville circuits (Harry Rickards, Percy Dix, and Fullers’ Theatres etc), circus and buckjumping troupes. He also featured in pantomime, burlesque and the occasional drama." https://ozvta.com/practitioners-f/
November 7, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
peterpaulrubens.bsky.social
Angel with a lute, by Melozzo da Forli in 1480. It's his day.
November 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
"Ferry, the Human Frog."
Manawatu Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7226, 27 June 1901, Page 2
Ferry, the Human Frog. The local theatre-going people have heard a great deal of late about Ferry, the contortionist, who is known as " the human frog," but last evening they had an opportunity of seeing his wonderful performance at the Theatre Royal. The fact that Ferry was to appear in the town naturally caused him to be talked about, and the large audience that assembled at the Theatre Royal last night was quite expected. When the curtain was raised it was found that the stage had undergone a complete transformation, being arranged in such a way as to give a capital representation of a swamp. Suddenly a large green frog made its appearance, coming, it seemed, from the bottom of a pool on the stage. This was Ferry, the human frog, his make up being as perfect as it could possibly be. After imitating the different movements of a frog, Ferry sprang to the top of a tree stump, about 5ft in height, where he executed some marvellously clever feats while balancing himself on a small piece of wood; The audience were exceedingly appreciative, and Ferry received quite a storm of applause. As a contortionist, his equal has certainly never been seen in this town, and so marvellously clever are his feats that many people are almost tempted to believe that he is a "boneless" man. " Little Barto". a clever juvenile, also appeared in patriotic and comic songs, and took part in the duet "Cynthia" with Mr Fitzgerald, in which an allusion to the recent presentation of members of the Borough Council to Royalty caused considerable amusement. The performance concluded with some bioscope pictures of the Passion Play and several miscellaneous subjects were also shown. Ferry and his company will give their final performance this evening. Behold Ferry the Human Frog – inimitable of inimitables. A performer from 1921. National Archives of Australia
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
wokestudies.bsky.social
"by offering music of such extraordinary intensity and fervour, Elgar helped explode the myth of Victorian emotional restraint"

-- Michael Downes, director of music (University of St Andrews)

#Wagner #Chorus #film #classical
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...
Amara Okereke in the Choral. Photograph: Nicola Dove
November 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
drawnandquartered.bsky.social
Meanwhile in the U.S.A.
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
markhamillofficial.bsky.social
The Sociopath-In-Chief couldn't be bothered to even turn his head in the direction of a man in the midst of a medical emergency who collapsed in his office. Completely incapable of empathy, the EPSTEIN Files can't be released soon enough.

25/47
November 7, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Reposted by Dr Ian McCormick
politicalcartoon.bsky.social
Dave Brown’s #RoguesGallery after #NCWyeth on #ElonMusk #Tesla #MuskTrillions @Independent – political cartoon gallery in London original-political-cartoon.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:56 PM