Jason Mittell

@jmittell.bsky.social

6.6K followers 1.2K following 1.9K posts

Media studies professor at Middlebury College; video essayist & author of videographic book on Breaking Bad; author of written books on TV, narrative theory, etc.; journal manager of @intransition.bsky.social . [he/him] https://linktr.ee/jmittell .. more

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Jason Mittell is a professor of American studies and film and media culture at Middlebury College whose research interests include the history of television, media, culture, new media, and digital humanities. He is author of four books, Genre and Television (2004), Television and American Culture (2009), Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling, and Narrative Theory and Adaptation. He also co-edited How To Watch Television and co-authored The Videographic Essay: Practice and Pedagogy. His digital-humanities activities focus primarily on videographic media criticism and, in 2015, he co-founded the first "Scholarship in Sound & Image" workshop, supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Moreover, he is journal manager and co-editor of [in]Transition: Journal of Videographic Film & Moving Studies, published by the Open Library of Humanities and supported by the Society for Cinema and Media Studies. .. more

Communication & Media Studies 39%

Art 14%

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Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · Nov 10

There wasn't a good list of accounts related to video essays - so I made this starter pack! Who did I miss? Who do you know who should join Bluesky to share & talk about video essays?
go.bsky.app/PtthhCc

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 5h

Truly the enshittification of the USA - which is why the tech bros are all in as well.

Reposted by Jason Mittell, Daxton R. Stewart, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Bill Grueskin @bgrueskin.bsky.social · 8h

If you see federal agents pulling into your driveway, reporters, power down your electronic devices ASAP.

That's the advice from @runasand.bsky.social, via @columjournreview.bsky.social

www.cjr.org/news/hannah-...

The full extent of what the FBI will be able to gather from Natanson’s devices will rest on her, and the Post’s, digital security hygiene. “It really depends on, were the devices up to date?” Sandvik told me. “What type of authentication was used? Was encryption enabled on the drive? Was lockdown mode enabled on the phone? Were disappearing messages used on Signal?” If Natanson uses Macs, for instance, even if they are fully encrypted, “that encryption only kicks in when the device is fully powered off,” she said. “When you power the device on and you log in that first time, that is when you unlock or decrypt the drive.” The same would apply to a phone. “So if she knew this and she saw the FBI outside her door,” Sandvik noted, “the smartest thing to do would have been to go and power off all her devices.”

Reposted by Jason Mittell, Alan Richardson

JVG 骨 @jasonv.bsky.social · 20h

Every example of ai being useful begins with "okay imagine you're in a situation, and you are very dumb"

"Here’s an example that Google’s Josh Woodward, VP of the Gemini app, Google Labs, and AI Studio, shared in a blog post about how Personal Intelligence can work. Google also put together a similar example in a video that I’ve embedded below:

For example, we needed new tires for our 2019 Honda minivan two weeks ago. Standing in line at the shop, I realized I didn’t know the tire size. I asked Gemini. These days any chatbot can find these tire specs, but Gemini went further. It suggested different options: one for daily driving and another for all-weather conditions, referencing our family road trips to Oklahoma found in Google Photos. It then neatly pulled ratings and prices for each. As I got to the counter, I needed our license plate. Instead of searching for it or losing my spot in line to walk back to the parking lot, I asked Gemini. It pulled the seven-digit number from a picture in Photos and also helped me identify the van’s specific trim by searching Gmail. Just like that, we were set."

https://www.theverge.com/news/861576/google-gemini-ai-personal-intelligence-gmail-search-youtube-photos

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 1d

This makes me think of a great episode of TAXI, where Bobby picks a fight with a critic. Instead of writing pan in revenge, the critic just rips up his (rave) review - being ignored is worse than being attacked

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Miss Aja @brat2381.bsky.social · 1d

I’m sure this is all about economic anxiety. I mean it couldn’t possibly be about racism and hatred.

granitepostnews.com/2026/01/14/l...

Leaked Signal chat shows NH House education chair advocating whites-only schools

The group chat allegedly shows NH House Education Committee Chair Kristin Noble suggesting test scores would rise if students were split into white and

granitepostnews.com

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 1d

All except the "Work 8 Hours" - more like "Try to work for 8 distracted hours, but give up by 2pm"

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Jason Mittell, Elizabeth Saunders , and 1 more Kim L. Scheppele, Jason Mittell, Elizabeth Saunders, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · 1d

WASHINGTON — With the support of nearly 70 colleagues, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) on Wednesday introduced three articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. www.huffpost.com/entry/democr...

Democrats Unveil 3 Articles Of Impeachment Against Kristi Noem

"Secretary Noem, you have violated your oath of office and there will be consequences," said Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.).

www.huffpost.com

Reposted by Jason Mittell, Rebecca Tushnet, Fiona Moore

Sarah Ford 🐍🎨🖥️ Time Zone Era @angeloslh.bsky.social · 2d

RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'

Bill Kuchman @billkuchman.bsky.social · 2d

What? www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-featur...

You’ve got super fans pausing and zooming in on individuals frames of your documentary. One allegedly shows one of the Duffers with a ChatGPT tab open on their computer. In your presence, what did they use ChatGPT for?

I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?

I’m personally not, but the internet seems sure.

Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, “We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.” But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?

I do.

How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.

Reposted by Jason Mittell, Rebecca Tushnet

Bill Kuchman @billkuchman.bsky.social · 2d

What? www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-featur...

Reposted by Jason Mittell

pixelatedboat aka “mr bluesky” @pixelatedboat.bsky.social · 2d

Can’t believe he said this, seems somewhat disrespectful

Jim Davis quote - “Today, I buried another one of the fuckers”

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 2d

We live in the worst possible timeline, but in the spirit of finding joy where you can: Elie Mystal live-skeeting SCOTUS is as good as you can get!

ElieNYC @elienyc.bsky.social · 2d

For today's horribles: the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on banning trans athletes. It's the most bigoted thing they'll do this term. I'll be jotting down my thoughts here.

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 2d

Hahaha People Mag comes out blasting

Reposted by Jason Mittell

ElieNYC @elienyc.bsky.social · 2d

For today's horribles: the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on banning trans athletes. It's the most bigoted thing they'll do this term. I'll be jotting down my thoughts here.

Laura Jedeed @laurajedeed.bsky.social · 2d

A few months ago, ICE hired me

I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I almost certainly failed the drug test. I'm real outspoken about my opposition to the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable

And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"

My latest for Slate

You’ve Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I’m the Proof.

What happens when you do minimal screening before hiring agents, arming them, and sending them into the streets? We're all finding out.

slate.com

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Kevin Gannon (now a Moo Deng fan account) @thetattooedprof.bsky.social · 2d

"The wall looks permanent until the day it comes down." Read this. You'll be glad you did.

The Wall Looks Permanent Until It Falls

On the optimism of preparation in a time of democratic decay.

data4democracy.substack.com

Reposted by Jason Mittell, John R. Hutchinson, Caroline Krafft , and 6 more Jason Mittell, John R. Hutchinson, Caroline Krafft, Bonnie Honig, Smith, Aaron Sojourner, Sam Kamin, Gerardo Martí, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò

Michael Tisserand @tisserand.bsky.social · 3d

In Minneapolis

A Baptist church sign reads Blessed Are the Whistle Blowers for They Play the Music of Salvation

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 3d

Today's newsletter: www.readtpa.com/p/a-conserva...

A Conservative Influencer Apologized for Her Anti-Trans Past. Elon Musk is Trying to Take Her Kid.

Ashley St. Clair wrote an anti-trans children's book, had Elon Musk's baby, and got targeted by his AI. Then she did something almost no one in conservative media ever does.

www.readtpa.com

Barred and Boujee aka Madiba Dennie @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social · 3d

semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003

when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 3d

We recently visited a former international student we are close to - we were his host family from 2008-12. Our youngest was 2yo when he started college. She is now the age he was when we met him - and he is the age we were when we met him!
#WeAreOld

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Sam Adams @samadams.bsky.social · 3d

at long last, it’s @isaacbutler.bsky.social on Hamnet

This Awards Season’s Villain Isn’t This Year’s Shakespeare in Love. It’s Something Worse.

Comparing Hamnet to Shakespeare in Love is an insult to Shakespeare in Love.

slate.trib.al

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 3d

Just saw Neko Case deliver her incomparable genius in Burlington VT - her otherworldly voice never sounded better, the band & arrangements were phenomenal, and she dove deep into her library of truly unique songwriting. Just the best - catch her on this tour if you can!

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 4d

That’s not a simple pun

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 4d

Yep - see also bsky.app/profile/rebe...

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 4d

"She made him do it" strikes again. He's not concerned the murder will anger us; he's insisting that saying it was murder and the officer a murderer will anger them and then our fault if they lash out. "She made him do it" is the burdening of Democrats and the left for right-wing/Republican acts.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

Homan: "We gotta stop the hateful rhetoric. Saying this officer is a murderer is dangerous. It's just ridiculous. It's gonna infuriate people more which means there's gonna be more incidents like this."

Jason Mittell @jmittell.bsky.social · 4d

Best kind of Dad Joke is the Obscure Cultural Reference Dad Joke!

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Noel Murray @noelmu.bsky.social · 4d

John Cage, submitting the sheet music for "4'33"" to his publisher: What do you think?

Publisher: No notes.

Reposted by Jason Mittell

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 4d

As I was saying: "The two parties are unconsciously regarded as akin to a husband and wife in a traditional marriage in which it's the job of the wife to placate and soothe the husband and help him realize his goals or be held responsible for his outbursts and outrages."

The She Made Him Do It Theory of Everything

The rhetoric and logic of the abuse of power operates similarly at all scales, which is why I've found feminism such useful equipment for understanding authoritarians in public and political life. Bec...

www.meditationsinanemergency.com

Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Jason Mittell, Simon L. Lewis , and 3 more Timothy Snyder, Jason Mittell, Simon L. Lewis, Rosemary A. Joyce, Pamela K. Gilbert, Matthew P. McAllister

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 4d

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 4d

Reposted by Jason Mittell, Silvia Secchi, Pamela K. Gilbert

Nathan K. Hensley @nathankhensley.bsky.social · 4d

surprise, the inside candidate hand-picked from the business school by the right wing board is a scammer who cooked his CV and systematically misrepresented credentials to impress idiots and politicals who know nothing about academic work