Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 3h

most continental philosophers working today in the US actually write pretty clearly

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

1 1 5

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 3h

I will be in the Bay Area the first week of March for a conference, would love to book some other talks out west while I'm out there. I can talk about the vibes book, my alt-rock-to-alt-right stuff, or my new stuff on masculinity, cool/taste, and AI

1 3 6

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 6h

Read my new piece in The Wire on why I have never found the concept of hauntology especially helpful

The Wire Magazine @thewiremagazine.bsky.social · 8h

Against The Grain: What’s wrong with hauntology?

In The Wire 501, @robinjames.bsky.social argues that the influential cultural theory of hauntology does not account for developments in Black creative practices and music of the late 20th and early 21st centuries

www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/c...

Against The Grain: What’s wrong with hauntology? - The Wire

In The Wire 501, Robin James argues that the influential cultural theory of hauntology does not account for developments in Black creative practices and music of the late 20th and early 21st centuri...

www.thewire.co.uk

3 9

Reposted by Robin James

Michelle Chen @michellechn.bsky.social · 7h

Love this breakdown! Explains so neatly and simply why buying direct (from the press) is the best way to support authors.

Aubrey Hirsch @aubreyhirsch.bsky.social · 9h

Did you know that if you buy my book on Amazon, Jeff Bezos makes 5 times as much as I do on each copy sold? Sharing some behind-the-scenes book math on why buying directly from presses is best for EVERYONE (except Bezos) in my newsletter today! aubreyhirsch.substack.com/p/book-math

1 5 14

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 21h

It is funny but unsurprising that Facebook thinks I live in Cincinnati

Reposted by Robin James

Anna Kornbluh @annakornbluh.bsky.social · 22h

exceedingly rare mainstream coverage of real college

Jessica Wakeman @jessicawakeman.bsky.social · 22h

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

He was a homeless college student. He found hope in a parking lot.

Long Beach City College reserves 15 spots in a parking lot for homeless students. For Edgar Rosales Jr., the program has been a lifeline.

www.washingtonpost.com

25 84

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 1d

Hm now that I have this radio show I'm listening to a ton of new music every week. Should I do a monthly round-up on the blog of my favorite new stuff?

18

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 1d

Nicky Siano. Giorgio Moroder. Madonna.

Katelyn Boo-urns @katelynburns.com · 1d

name an italian more worthy of an american holiday than columbus

5 17

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 1d

good to know. it is just such a stark contrast to philosophy, where there is like no institutional outreach beyond the academy.

1

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 1d

In my experience the American Musicological Society is better than other humanities orgs at partnering with extra-academic institutions like the Rock & Roll HoF. Not sure why that is, but it's a good example of what's possible.

1 4

Reposted by Robin James

Armen Nalbandian @armennalbandian.com · 1d

is Spotify (and its distribution partners) retaliating against artists who boycott?

this video is about what happened after I removed my music from Spotify.

please reach out if you’ve experienced something similar

6 19 38

Reposted by Robin James

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 4d

As w AI slop, content slop/ordinary slop takes the sociality out of art & aesthetics: "To succeed as licensable content, “Ordinary” had to be flexible enough to adapt and give voice to a wide array of private individual feelings and experiences"
www.its-her-factory.com/2025/10/ordi...

Ordinary Slop & Reactionary Centrism, or what Alex Warren’s hit “Ordinary” has in common with AI and Adele’s “Hello”

www.its-her-factory.com

1 4 5

Reposted by Robin James

Andrea Kaston Tange @aktange.bsky.social · 2d

My latest: "Numerous studies show that majors in the humanities—typically, in departments of English, history, philosophy, religious studies, classics and languages—lead students to employment and life satisfaction outcomes as positive as those for majors traditionally championed as 'practical.'”

Counterpoint | Minnesota humanities graduates thrive in meaningful careers

"The stereotype of the underemployed history major is simply not true," professor Andrea Kaston Tange writes.

www.startribune.com

2 66 190

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you!!

1

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

My 20th wedding anniversary is Weds and spouse and I have the day off to spend together

1 3

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

TBH if i was still teaching this would be my AI policy

K2S0'Hara, but pumpkin spice flavored @oharawe.bsky.social · Aug 21

wake up babe, new key signatures just dropped.

[Adding an AI policy to my syllabus this semester, and wanted an illustration so I went to ChatGPT. Now I'm really considering just making the policy, "If you'd like me to give you grades based on stuff like this, knock yourself out"]

ChatGPT's diagram of the Circle of Fifths. Many wrong key names (including two Bs, and the enharmonic pair C-sharp, G-flat, and 100% incorrect key signatures, mostly mixing flats, sharps, and the occasional double sharp)

10

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Goldfrapp on air rn, and SO MUCH SIDECHAIN

5

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Just went from 2 Many DJs from 2002 to new Soulwax

1

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Tune into Inhailer.com now to hear me for two hours spinning new indie (Like Guerilla Toss rn) and bring it back to 2005 to celebrate my 20th wedding anniversary to @christianryan99.bsky.social this Wednesday

Inhailer Radio | Cincinnati | Independent Radio | Indie Music

Inhailer Radio is Cincinnati independent radio. Founded in 2017 to fill the void left by beloved radio station WNKU.

Inhailer.com

2 2 7

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

45 min from now, I’ll be on the Inhailer Discord too!

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 3d

TOMORROW 5-7pm Eastern on Inhailer.com I spin some brand new indie music and take us back to 2005 for a bit with some forgotten indie bangers and I'll explain how that year Gang of Four scooped Taylor Swift on the thing she's most highly-regarded for

Inhailer Radio | Cincinnati | Independent Radio | Indie Music

Inhailer Radio is Cincinnati independent radio. Founded in 2017 to fill the void left by beloved radio station WNKU.

Inhailer.com

1

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Thanks Annie!

1

Reposted by Robin James

anniegoh.bsky.social @anniegoh.bsky.social · 2d

@robinjames.bsky.social ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Thank you for this much needed piece in @thewiremagazine.bsky.social #501!! Eyes were rolling out of my head reading said piece in previous issue but you’ve been incisive and gracious in rebuking. On point!!

1 2 6

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

Trying to decide if the storm today and tomorrow is going to be bad enough to impact the New Haven to Manhattan commute I was planning on making tomorrow…

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 2d

TODAY!

Robin James @robinjames.bsky.social · 3d

TOMORROW 5-7pm Eastern on Inhailer.com I spin some brand new indie music and take us back to 2005 for a bit with some forgotten indie bangers and I'll explain how that year Gang of Four scooped Taylor Swift on the thing she's most highly-regarded for

Inhailer Radio | Cincinnati | Independent Radio | Indie Music

Inhailer Radio is Cincinnati independent radio. Founded in 2017 to fill the void left by beloved radio station WNKU.

Inhailer.com

1

Reposted by Robin James

Dean Dettloff @deandettloff.bsky.social · 2d

Have to agree, the man is a testament to the dangers of doing philosophy unsupervised. Don't handle this hazardous material without proper safety equipment (a learning community, other readers who aren't sycophants, the arduous task of building a knowledge base, basic literacy, etc.).

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 2d

most normies are mad at thiel for being incomprensible

we are mad at thiel for not understanding philosophy and theology

Orddu, Orwen, or Orgoch @troynovaunt.bsky.social · 2d

I DEEPLY resent that I have to take seriously the stunted, juvenile political and theological opinions of Peter Thiel

3 20