Jay Shelat
@jshelat1.bsky.social
PhD. Assistant Professor of English at Ursinus College. Contemporary Literature. Writing a book about the War on Terror and domesticity. I know hundreds of Bollywood songs by heart. he/him. Views are my own.
https://www.jayshelat.com
https://www.jayshelat.com
This is an imperative chapter of the war on terror playbook.
Step 1: Deny why Afghanistan is a “failed state” or why there’s a refugee crisis there.
Step 2: Perpetuate monolithic & racist narratives about Afghans to stoke fear.
Step 3: Use those narratives and fear to justify state violence.
Step 1: Deny why Afghanistan is a “failed state” or why there’s a refugee crisis there.
Step 2: Perpetuate monolithic & racist narratives about Afghans to stoke fear.
Step 3: Use those narratives and fear to justify state violence.
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 1:59 PM
This is an imperative chapter of the war on terror playbook.
Step 1: Deny why Afghanistan is a “failed state” or why there’s a refugee crisis there.
Step 2: Perpetuate monolithic & racist narratives about Afghans to stoke fear.
Step 3: Use those narratives and fear to justify state violence.
Step 1: Deny why Afghanistan is a “failed state” or why there’s a refugee crisis there.
Step 2: Perpetuate monolithic & racist narratives about Afghans to stoke fear.
Step 3: Use those narratives and fear to justify state violence.
One of those cold mornings where I walk around the house with my Snuggie on backwards, flowing behind me, as I hold a cup of hot coffee
November 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
One of those cold mornings where I walk around the house with my Snuggie on backwards, flowing behind me, as I hold a cup of hot coffee
The point is that they don’t want to grasp the fact
Homeland Security doesn’t grasp the fact that the first Thanksgiving was about making “room at the table” for European “invaders.”
November 28, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The point is that they don’t want to grasp the fact
Thoughts and prayers to all the people forced to do Turkey Trots or some sort of obscene marathon/race run this morning. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that ❤️❤️❤️
November 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Thoughts and prayers to all the people forced to do Turkey Trots or some sort of obscene marathon/race run this morning. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with that ❤️❤️❤️
My coffee this morning is hitting
a cartoon character is standing on a snow covered mountain .
ALT: a cartoon character is standing on a snow covered mountain .
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:15 PM
My coffee this morning is hitting
Hamnet is a magnificent film. I loved it. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are so great. The final 20 mins are marvelous. I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the theater
a woman in a red dress is carrying a man on her back through a forest
ALT: a woman in a red dress is carrying a man on her back through a forest
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Hamnet is a magnificent film. I loved it. Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal are so great. The final 20 mins are marvelous. I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the theater
Reposted by Jay Shelat
Reposted by Jay Shelat
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
November 25, 2025 at 4:40 PM
ICE deported a woman who owned a home in the US for 30 years. A judge banned ICE from deporting her to Sierra Leone where she had been tortured, so it deported her to Ghana, which kidnapped her and sent her back Sierra Leone anyway. ICE is part of this illegal conspiracy.
This is what pisses me off about the current higher ed crisis. The humanities always take the fall for structural failures of admin or low enrollment.
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
Where I work, grad student enrollment in Engineering and Business is down 70% and 40%, respectively.
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Now, to cover the loss in revenue from these Departments, the rest of the colleges have to take MASSIVE hits. History Dept alone has cut/closed 6 TT lines. Forget about raises or salary equity. 🫠
Enrollment by international students from China dropped by 3 percent, from India by 4 percent, and enrollment from students from Mexico has flatlined. Here are the likely consequences for Texas' education and economy:
November 25, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This is what pisses me off about the current higher ed crisis. The humanities always take the fall for structural failures of admin or low enrollment.
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
We already have to justify our own existences bc STEMy depts and admin refuse to learn what we do!!
Reposted by Jay Shelat
NEW data I've received: Just 5% of people detained by ICE since October 1 have had violent criminal convictions, 3/4 had no criminal convictions at all. Most "criminals" had immigration, traffic, and vice offenses. Not the "worst of the worst"...
November 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
NEW data I've received: Just 5% of people detained by ICE since October 1 have had violent criminal convictions, 3/4 had no criminal convictions at all. Most "criminals" had immigration, traffic, and vice offenses. Not the "worst of the worst"...
Friends, what are your favorite pieces about ICE raids or ICE in general?
November 25, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Friends, what are your favorite pieces about ICE raids or ICE in general?
DEPARTMENT MEETING CANCELLED LFG!!!!! Happy Break!!!
November 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
DEPARTMENT MEETING CANCELLED LFG!!!!! Happy Break!!!
Reposted by Jay Shelat
Falling in love with trees this last year 📸 #photography
November 21, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Falling in love with trees this last year 📸 #photography
A professor I had my sophomore year of college emailed to tell me I “deserved to be an English major.” It changed my life.
November 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM
A professor I had my sophomore year of college emailed to tell me I “deserved to be an English major.” It changed my life.
On top of EVERYTHING stressing me out, my glasses keep slipping off my face
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
On top of EVERYTHING stressing me out, my glasses keep slipping off my face
Reposted by Jay Shelat
The AI bubble may be about to bust.
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
November 17, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The AI bubble may be about to bust.
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
Peter Thiel has sold all of his Nvidia stock.
We all need to say this very clearly:
NO BAILOUTS FOR THEFT-TECH!
Expropriate their asses instead.
They stole from all of us and fully plan to burn the planet.
They owe us - not the other way around. 1/3
I’m throwing a party for faculty and am using the event space in my apartment building. Hot neighbor helped me set stuff up WITHOUT MY ASKING
November 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I’m throwing a party for faculty and am using the event space in my apartment building. Hot neighbor helped me set stuff up WITHOUT MY ASKING
Reposted by Jay Shelat
Action shot of me giving a quick talk today about the Nobel Prize for Literature! Considered this year’s winner László Krasznahorkai, whether this prize even matters, and why reading global and teanslated literature matters. Lovely time!
Leg crossed, arm out is my signature pose it seems!
Leg crossed, arm out is my signature pose it seems!
November 19, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Action shot of me giving a quick talk today about the Nobel Prize for Literature! Considered this year’s winner László Krasznahorkai, whether this prize even matters, and why reading global and teanslated literature matters. Lovely time!
Leg crossed, arm out is my signature pose it seems!
Leg crossed, arm out is my signature pose it seems!
The very last thing I need while doomscrolling on Instagram instead of writing is targeted ads for academic presses to remind me that I in fact need to go back to working
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
The very last thing I need while doomscrolling on Instagram instead of writing is targeted ads for academic presses to remind me that I in fact need to go back to working
I, already very stressed about everything, just remembered that I’m supposed to give a lightning talk about reading international and translated literature on Wednesday 😭😵💫
bart simpson is looking at a piece of paper with a drawing on it
ALT: bart simpson is looking at a piece of paper with a drawing on it
media.tenor.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I, already very stressed about everything, just remembered that I’m supposed to give a lightning talk about reading international and translated literature on Wednesday 😭😵💫
I hope the person who stole my package from the mail room enjoys the books I ordered about transracial solidarity!!
November 17, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I hope the person who stole my package from the mail room enjoys the books I ordered about transracial solidarity!!
Sometimes “the ways in which” is more specific and better than “how”
November 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Sometimes “the ways in which” is more specific and better than “how”
Reposted by Jay Shelat
November 16, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Reposted by Jay Shelat
My autumn photo grid over on IG is stunning
November 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
My autumn photo grid over on IG is stunning