Ben Mechen
@benmechen.bsky.social
Historian of 20thC Britain, London: liberalism, capitalism, media and sexuality, 1960s-90s / new thing on late 20thC political ecologies.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/people/academic-staff/dr-ben-mechen
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/history/people/academic-staff/dr-ben-mechen
Pinned
Ben Mechen
@benmechen.bsky.social
· Sep 26
New on advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928*
Abstract. This article examines changes in the bodies and environment of labourers carrying timber imported into London’s docks in the 1860s to the 1920s t
doi.org
V happy to share a new OA article in @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social written with Sim Koole. It’s about dock work, dockside life and the changing river in turn of the century Rotherhithe.
Reposted by Ben Mechen
But I think it can only really work if you come to those sources with an approach shaped by creative history / storytelling - the thing that lets you fill in the gaps and join the dots.
Which is a long-winded way of saying: thank you.
Which is a long-winded way of saying: thank you.
November 17, 2025 at 12:18 PM
But I think it can only really work if you come to those sources with an approach shaped by creative history / storytelling - the thing that lets you fill in the gaps and join the dots.
Which is a long-winded way of saying: thank you.
Which is a long-winded way of saying: thank you.
Reposted by Ben Mechen
At the same time, adding names and snapshots of lives lived makes a real difference.
It presses against quantitative and mass tendencies of earlier generation of scholarship.
And it's only possible because of keyword genealogical and newspaper databases.
It presses against quantitative and mass tendencies of earlier generation of scholarship.
And it's only possible because of keyword genealogical and newspaper databases.
November 17, 2025 at 12:15 PM
At the same time, adding names and snapshots of lives lived makes a real difference.
It presses against quantitative and mass tendencies of earlier generation of scholarship.
And it's only possible because of keyword genealogical and newspaper databases.
It presses against quantitative and mass tendencies of earlier generation of scholarship.
And it's only possible because of keyword genealogical and newspaper databases.
Reposted by Ben Mechen
I've been thinking about those microbiographies in relation to older traditions of social history.
They reflect that enduring & important ethical emphasis on recovering experience and listening to voices of ordinary people.
They reflect that enduring & important ethical emphasis on recovering experience and listening to voices of ordinary people.
November 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
I've been thinking about those microbiographies in relation to older traditions of social history.
They reflect that enduring & important ethical emphasis on recovering experience and listening to voices of ordinary people.
They reflect that enduring & important ethical emphasis on recovering experience and listening to voices of ordinary people.
Disagree w/ quite a lot of this overview of Agamben’s work, which (jokily) positions him as a poet, mystic + hyperbolist.
Yes, there are elements of all of this in GA
But to me, in 2025, his claims in Homo Sacer about bare life and the the camp as a biopolitical paradigm seem as relevant as ever?
Yes, there are elements of all of this in GA
But to me, in 2025, his claims in Homo Sacer about bare life and the the camp as a biopolitical paradigm seem as relevant as ever?
November 17, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Disagree w/ quite a lot of this overview of Agamben’s work, which (jokily) positions him as a poet, mystic + hyperbolist.
Yes, there are elements of all of this in GA
But to me, in 2025, his claims in Homo Sacer about bare life and the the camp as a biopolitical paradigm seem as relevant as ever?
Yes, there are elements of all of this in GA
But to me, in 2025, his claims in Homo Sacer about bare life and the the camp as a biopolitical paradigm seem as relevant as ever?
Reposted by Ben Mechen
‘Could this unknown white session musician in fancy dress actually be an authentic Louisiana hoodoo man, a root doctor, a gris-gris man? Is the whole thing so fake it’s real?’
Francis Gooding on Dr John’s ‘musico-magical palimpsest of New Orleans history’.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Francis Gooding on Dr John’s ‘musico-magical palimpsest of New Orleans history’.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Francis Gooding · Hoodoo Man: Dr John and ‘Gris-Gris’
Beyond or beneath the theatrics there is a disconcerting sense that something much more serious is going on, that all...
www.lrb.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 5:42 PM
‘Could this unknown white session musician in fancy dress actually be an authentic Louisiana hoodoo man, a root doctor, a gris-gris man? Is the whole thing so fake it’s real?’
Francis Gooding on Dr John’s ‘musico-magical palimpsest of New Orleans history’.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Francis Gooding on Dr John’s ‘musico-magical palimpsest of New Orleans history’.
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
Highly recommend this gripping, beautifully written article on Valerie Solanas, the ownership of ideas, art, madness, and feminist praxis + memory in @historyworkshop.org.uk
By @marybethhamilton13.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
By @marybethhamilton13.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
Feminism, Artistry, Madness, and the Ghost of Valerie Solanas
Abstract. Valerie Solanas holds an unsettled place in feminist history, notorious for both her incendiary 1967 diatribe the SCUM Manifesto and her near-fat
academic.oup.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Highly recommend this gripping, beautifully written article on Valerie Solanas, the ownership of ideas, art, madness, and feminist praxis + memory in @historyworkshop.org.uk
By @marybethhamilton13.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
By @marybethhamilton13.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
Looking fwd to teaching with Tom Harrisson’s 1938 essay on jazz dancing in “Worktown” tmrw—“Whistle While You Work”. (Sub)cultural studies before the fact…captures well that tension in youth culture btw escape from work, expectation, into *fun*, social life—and subsumption by the DISNEY DEATHMACHINE
October 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Looking fwd to teaching with Tom Harrisson’s 1938 essay on jazz dancing in “Worktown” tmrw—“Whistle While You Work”. (Sub)cultural studies before the fact…captures well that tension in youth culture btw escape from work, expectation, into *fun*, social life—and subsumption by the DISNEY DEATHMACHINE
Nice big loud PCS picket line at the BL this morning. Info on the strike here: www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
Support the British Library strikers
More than 300 PCS members at the British Library in London are striking over their poverty wages for two weeks from Monday (27) to Sunday, 9 November and need your support in person and online.
www.pcs.org.uk
October 27, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Nice big loud PCS picket line at the BL this morning. Info on the strike here: www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Ben Mechen
New on advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928*
Abstract. This article examines changes in the bodies and environment of labourers carrying timber imported into London’s docks in the 1860s to the 1920s t
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:10 AM
New on advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
This paper is tonight! Teresa Doherty (RCN) on “The Fragility of Feminist Futures in Digital Collections”
Registration link below. It’s at the IHR at 5.30pm.
Registration link below. It’s at the IHR at 5.30pm.
Thank you to @katrinanavickas.bsky.social for a brilliant start to our seminar series last night!
Next session is 22 Oct, 5.30pm UK time, online/in-person when @dohertyta.bsky.social will speak on The Fragility of Feminist Futures in Digital Collections.
Sign up: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
Next session is 22 Oct, 5.30pm UK time, online/in-person when @dohertyta.bsky.social will speak on The Fragility of Feminist Futures in Digital Collections.
Sign up: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
The Fragility of Feminist Futures in Digital Collections
www.history.ac.uk
October 22, 2025 at 9:11 AM
This paper is tonight! Teresa Doherty (RCN) on “The Fragility of Feminist Futures in Digital Collections”
Registration link below. It’s at the IHR at 5.30pm.
Registration link below. It’s at the IHR at 5.30pm.
Reposted by Ben Mechen
There's just a day to go until @manchesterup.bsky.social publish my latest book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London.
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
October 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
There's just a day to go until @manchesterup.bsky.social publish my latest book Songs of Seven Dials: An intimate history of 1920s and 1930s London.
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
I thought I should explain a bit about where the book came from.
1/15
Reposted by Ben Mechen
We're excited to announce the call for papers for #MBS26, the next Modern British Studies conference, at Birmingham in June 2026. We'll be launching the #MBS Association at this event, to support further regular conferences in Modern British Studies.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...
Modern British Studies Conference 2026 - University of Birmingham
Conference information
www.birmingham.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 8:47 PM
We're excited to announce the call for papers for #MBS26, the next Modern British Studies conference, at Birmingham in June 2026. We'll be launching the #MBS Association at this event, to support further regular conferences in Modern British Studies.
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...
www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...
Reposted by Ben Mechen
I wrote a review of Rosanna McLaughlin’s Against Morality for @burlingtoncontemp.bsky.social
contemporary.burlington.org.uk/reviews/revi...
contemporary.burlington.org.uk/reviews/revi...
Burlington Contemporary - Reviews - Against Morality
Rosanna McLaughlin’s Against Morality is the eighth title in Floating Opera Press’s Critic’s Essay Series, which, according to the publisher, ‘gives voice to critics who offer thought-provoking ways i...
contemporary.burlington.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I wrote a review of Rosanna McLaughlin’s Against Morality for @burlingtoncontemp.bsky.social
contemporary.burlington.org.uk/reviews/revi...
contemporary.burlington.org.uk/reviews/revi...
On Weds we welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to IHR @cont-brit-hist.bsky.social seminar
Katrina will talk abt "Public space + popular protest in 20thC England: enclosure, resistance + commoning"
In-person/hybrid. All welcome, register here!
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ihr.bsky.social
Katrina will talk abt "Public space + popular protest in 20thC England: enclosure, resistance + commoning"
In-person/hybrid. All welcome, register here!
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ihr.bsky.social
Public space and popular protest in 20th century England: enclosure, resistance and commoning
This session draws from the book, Contested Commons: a History of Protest and Public Space in England
www.history.ac.uk
October 6, 2025 at 8:11 AM
On Weds we welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to IHR @cont-brit-hist.bsky.social seminar
Katrina will talk abt "Public space + popular protest in 20thC England: enclosure, resistance + commoning"
In-person/hybrid. All welcome, register here!
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ihr.bsky.social
Katrina will talk abt "Public space + popular protest in 20thC England: enclosure, resistance + commoning"
In-person/hybrid. All welcome, register here!
www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
@ihr.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Mechen
How do we teach public history today? Pleasure to join @julialaite.bsky.social, @ktrcarpenter.bsky.social & Anna Maguire in this roundtable for @historyworkshop.org.uk. Image from @qmul.bsky.social qHeritage project with @museumofthehome.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
Teaching Public History in Britain Today: A Roundtable Discussion
Abstract. ‘What is Public History Now?’ This was the question posed by the 2022 AHRC Network led by Julia Laite. The network culminated in a conference of
academic.oup.com
September 29, 2025 at 7:29 AM
How do we teach public history today? Pleasure to join @julialaite.bsky.social, @ktrcarpenter.bsky.social & Anna Maguire in this roundtable for @historyworkshop.org.uk. Image from @qmul.bsky.social qHeritage project with @museumofthehome.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
academic.oup.com/hwj/advance-...
Reposted by Ben Mechen
V happy to share a new OA article in @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social written with Sim Koole. It’s about dock work, dockside life and the changing river in turn of the century Rotherhithe.
New on advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928*
Abstract. This article examines changes in the bodies and environment of labourers carrying timber imported into London’s docks in the 1860s to the 1920s t
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
V happy to share a new OA article in @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social written with Sim Koole. It’s about dock work, dockside life and the changing river in turn of the century Rotherhithe.
V happy to share a new OA article in @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social written with Sim Koole. It’s about dock work, dockside life and the changing river in turn of the century Rotherhithe.
New on advance access: "Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928"
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
by Simeon Koole (@uobrishistory.bsky.social) and @benmechen.bsky.social (@uclhistory.bsky.social)
#OpenAccess
doi.org/10.1093/past...
Bodies, Tides, Timber, and the Global History of London’s Docks, 1860–1928*
Abstract. This article examines changes in the bodies and environment of labourers carrying timber imported into London’s docks in the 1860s to the 1920s t
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:21 AM
V happy to share a new OA article in @pastpresentsoc.bsky.social written with Sim Koole. It’s about dock work, dockside life and the changing river in turn of the century Rotherhithe.
IHR Contemporary British History seminar
Meets every few Weds in person or online
We still have some slots available for presenting in Jan-Jun 2026, so pls DM/email if interested :)
Our definition of “contemporary” is broad, and we’d particularly like more PhD/postdocs/ECRs on the programme
Meets every few Weds in person or online
We still have some slots available for presenting in Jan-Jun 2026, so pls DM/email if interested :)
Our definition of “contemporary” is broad, and we’d particularly like more PhD/postdocs/ECRs on the programme
This year’s programme for our IHR seminar in Contemporary British History is coming together
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
A new academic year is here, and so is our autumn term programme! A thread of our speakers follows.
Sign-up links available soon but note dates in diaries now! 📆
Sign-up links available soon but note dates in diaries now! 📆
September 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
IHR Contemporary British History seminar
Meets every few Weds in person or online
We still have some slots available for presenting in Jan-Jun 2026, so pls DM/email if interested :)
Our definition of “contemporary” is broad, and we’d particularly like more PhD/postdocs/ECRs on the programme
Meets every few Weds in person or online
We still have some slots available for presenting in Jan-Jun 2026, so pls DM/email if interested :)
Our definition of “contemporary” is broad, and we’d particularly like more PhD/postdocs/ECRs on the programme
Reposted by Ben Mechen
🎥ICYMI
A full recording of our "How I Wrote This," event with Matthew Worley is now available on our Youtube channel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntne...
A full recording of our "How I Wrote This," event with Matthew Worley is now available on our Youtube channel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntne...
How I Wrote This with Matthew Worley
YouTube video by North American Conference on British Studies
www.youtube.com
September 25, 2025 at 2:50 PM
🎥ICYMI
A full recording of our "How I Wrote This," event with Matthew Worley is now available on our Youtube channel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntne...
A full recording of our "How I Wrote This," event with Matthew Worley is now available on our Youtube channel.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntne...
This year’s programme for our IHR seminar in Contemporary British History is coming together
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
A new academic year is here, and so is our autumn term programme! A thread of our speakers follows.
Sign-up links available soon but note dates in diaries now! 📆
Sign-up links available soon but note dates in diaries now! 📆
September 24, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This year’s programme for our IHR seminar in Contemporary British History is coming together
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
This side of Xmas we’re excited to welcome @katrinanavickas.bsky.social @garylove.bsky.social @evansmithhist.bsky.social @dohertyta.bsky.social
If you’d like to present next spring/summer, drop me a line!
Reposted by Ben Mechen
Not sure what 'secure' even looks like for most of right now, be it early, middle, or late career.
A good summary of how it’s going. Finished my PhD 9 years ago and am still stringing things together. As the first Anon says, what does ECR (or Mid-career) even mean anymore? That kind of career linearity depends on first vaulting over the fault line of secure/insecure - now a nearly impossible task
“Cataclysmically bad”
This new series of ECR blog posts on the French History Network makes for grim reading, perhaps grimmer even than some in UK #FrenchHistory might have realised.
1st post, anon ECRs in French History on what it’s like right now out there:
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6691/
🗃️
This new series of ECR blog posts on the French History Network makes for grim reading, perhaps grimmer even than some in UK #FrenchHistory might have realised.
1st post, anon ECRs in French History on what it’s like right now out there:
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6691/
🗃️
September 17, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Not sure what 'secure' even looks like for most of right now, be it early, middle, or late career.
A good summary of how it’s going. Finished my PhD 9 years ago and am still stringing things together. As the first Anon says, what does ECR (or Mid-career) even mean anymore? That kind of career linearity depends on first vaulting over the fault line of secure/insecure - now a nearly impossible task
“Cataclysmically bad”
This new series of ECR blog posts on the French History Network makes for grim reading, perhaps grimmer even than some in UK #FrenchHistory might have realised.
1st post, anon ECRs in French History on what it’s like right now out there:
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6691/
🗃️
This new series of ECR blog posts on the French History Network makes for grim reading, perhaps grimmer even than some in UK #FrenchHistory might have realised.
1st post, anon ECRs in French History on what it’s like right now out there:
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6691/
🗃️
ECR in 2025: Part One- What is it like? – SSFH
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk
September 17, 2025 at 9:30 AM
A good summary of how it’s going. Finished my PhD 9 years ago and am still stringing things together. As the first Anon says, what does ECR (or Mid-career) even mean anymore? That kind of career linearity depends on first vaulting over the fault line of secure/insecure - now a nearly impossible task
Reposted by Ben Mechen
Modern British History maternity leave cover (7 months in first instance) teaching position, predominantly 20th century, UCL History Dept. Starts 1 October 2025. Friendly department with excellent students and great library resources. PhD required. Deadline 24 July.
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 9, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Modern British History maternity leave cover (7 months in first instance) teaching position, predominantly 20th century, UCL History Dept. Starts 1 October 2025. Friendly department with excellent students and great library resources. PhD required. Deadline 24 July.
I took photos at BL of a 19thC UK magazine and I'd like to use one in an article. I have limited funds.
Is my assumption the mag is out of copyright correct?
If I took the photo at the BL do I need to tell/pay them?
If I bought the mag (ebay?) and photo'd it at home, could I reproduce it freely? 🙏
Is my assumption the mag is out of copyright correct?
If I took the photo at the BL do I need to tell/pay them?
If I bought the mag (ebay?) and photo'd it at home, could I reproduce it freely? 🙏
May 16, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I took photos at BL of a 19thC UK magazine and I'd like to use one in an article. I have limited funds.
Is my assumption the mag is out of copyright correct?
If I took the photo at the BL do I need to tell/pay them?
If I bought the mag (ebay?) and photo'd it at home, could I reproduce it freely? 🙏
Is my assumption the mag is out of copyright correct?
If I took the photo at the BL do I need to tell/pay them?
If I bought the mag (ebay?) and photo'd it at home, could I reproduce it freely? 🙏
Reposted by Ben Mechen
Our response to the recent Supreme Court ruling ‘For Women Scotland Ltd. v. The Scottish Ministers’: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Response to Supreme Court ruling ‘For Women Scotland Ltd
Response to Supreme Court ruling ‘For Women Scotland Ltd. V. The Scottish Ministers’ Centre for Gender History, 02/05/2025 The Centre for Gender History at the University of Glasgow expresses dismay...
docs.google.com
May 2, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Our response to the recent Supreme Court ruling ‘For Women Scotland Ltd. v. The Scottish Ministers’: docs.google.com/document/d/1...