Ian Hunt
@ianhunt.bsky.social
art, architecture, environment & politics | former UKHE worker | GPEW (but here as a civilian) | chief distractions: novels, poetry, botany, buildings | he/him | Green Light (2006) https://www.barquepress.com/media/12/pdf/ian_hunt_green_light.pdf
Hisham Matar's essay on Titian's Flaying of Marsyas (in context of other works), and on Abu Ghraib, Gaza, cruelty and humiliation. The essay ends with an account of one image in particular produced by an Israeli soldier.
Hisham Matar on a Renaissance master: Diana and Actaeon ... records the moment Actaeon startles Diana and her nymphs, sealing his fate. His shadow falls on the scene, as though Titian is suggesting that, innocent or not, the act of looking implicates the viewer. www.equator.org/articles/pit...
November 23, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Hisham Matar's essay on Titian's Flaying of Marsyas (in context of other works), and on Abu Ghraib, Gaza, cruelty and humiliation. The essay ends with an account of one image in particular produced by an Israeli soldier.
minor literature[s] looks like it has longevity as an edited space for original writing, reviews and responses, and for experimental writing traditions to meet social claims. Alongside @equatormag.bsky.social it is one of the new enterprises I like and am learning from, in these dark etc
ALSO! Monthly Dispatch #29 — ft. everything we published in November (and more!) — goes out Friday ...
sign up here:
minorlits.substack.com
sign up here:
minorlits.substack.com
minor literature[s] | Substack
minor literatures ; stuttering cultures. Click to read minor literature[s], a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
minorlits.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:16 AM
minor literature[s] looks like it has longevity as an edited space for original writing, reviews and responses, and for experimental writing traditions to meet social claims. Alongside @equatormag.bsky.social it is one of the new enterprises I like and am learning from, in these dark etc
Poem about a street sweeper I forgot I had written. Complete text is in alt text for image 1
November 23, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Poem about a street sweeper I forgot I had written. Complete text is in alt text for image 1
Reposted by Ian Hunt
anyone else quietly building a stack of books for strictly non-work holiday reading already?
if so, what’s on it?
if so, what’s on it?
November 22, 2025 at 7:17 PM
anyone else quietly building a stack of books for strictly non-work holiday reading already?
if so, what’s on it?
if so, what’s on it?
Reposted by Ian Hunt
❤️❤️
Wonderful obituary for South African writer Zoë Wicomb here, in good company with the late Geoffrey Bindman.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Last Word - Baroness Newlove, Zoe Wicomb, Sir Geoffrey Bindman KC, Professor Roland Paxton - BBC Sounds
Matthew Bannister on a campaigner, an author, a lawyer and a civil engineer.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 4:41 PM
❤️❤️
Cleveland Street Workhouse, 1775-78, latterly part of Middlesex Hospital, London: scrubbed, bleached, repointed. The postcard is from 1930, the year in which workhouses were formally abolished. #ArchitecturalHistory #Hospitals
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Cleveland Street Workhouse, 1775-78, latterly part of Middlesex Hospital, London: scrubbed, bleached, repointed. The postcard is from 1930, the year in which workhouses were formally abolished. #ArchitecturalHistory #Hospitals
Reposted by Ian Hunt
In an article originally published by @versobooks.bsky.social, Vashti editor Kate Greenberg reflects on the impending demolition of the village of Umm al-Khair. www.vashtimedia.com/umm-al-khair...
The death that keeps on going
Months after the murder of activist Awdah Hathaleen, Israel's plan to demolish Umm al-Khair exposes a ruthless new level of impunity in the West Bank.
www.vashtimedia.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:36 AM
In an article originally published by @versobooks.bsky.social, Vashti editor Kate Greenberg reflects on the impending demolition of the village of Umm al-Khair. www.vashtimedia.com/umm-al-khair...
Reposted by Ian Hunt
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Went to see North Shields’ new Mary Ann Macham statue this morning.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
I love that she’s looking out to the mouth of the Tyne, signalling Shields’ maritime histories and those who arrived from distant ports.
She clearly echoes too the other ship figureheads in the town, our “wooden dollies”.
Fascinating and woeful insights into how the final texts are arrived at from Aruna Chandrasekhar. #COP30
Tripling adaptation finance goal: we've gone from "decides", "urges" and "acknowledges" from the v1.0 options, to "calls", the weakest verb in between.
L: Mutirão text v2.0.
R: Mutirão text v1.0.
L: Mutirão text v2.0.
R: Mutirão text v1.0.
November 21, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Fascinating and woeful insights into how the final texts are arrived at from Aruna Chandrasekhar. #COP30
Reposted by Ian Hunt
'Is it less possible to raise an A1 community in a properly planned township of flats than in a garden city or suburb?', City Architect Lancelot Keay, 1935. New on Substack, my post on Liverpool's interwar multi-storey tenement housing:
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/liverpools...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/liverpools...
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 AM
'Is it less possible to raise an A1 community in a properly planned township of flats than in a garden city or suburb?', City Architect Lancelot Keay, 1935. New on Substack, my post on Liverpool's interwar multi-storey tenement housing:
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/liverpools...
municipaldreams.substack.com/p/liverpools...
Reposted by Ian Hunt
Between the Sainsbury's carpark & the flashy new builds wedged into the corner that Dalston Lane turns south then west there's a grudging concession of a walkway that allows you to short cut the main road. I say short. Citymapper pretends it's not there & maybe it's a false economy but it's nicer
November 20, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Between the Sainsbury's carpark & the flashy new builds wedged into the corner that Dalston Lane turns south then west there's a grudging concession of a walkway that allows you to short cut the main road. I say short. Citymapper pretends it's not there & maybe it's a false economy but it's nicer
I miss old architecture Twitter -- am here, usually first thing, for low to medium level architecture/urban/ walking chat, usually with a London focus, not always serious. Where are your best places for #nipping ?
#Nipping is an important part of good public architecture. Dodging the congested bits, getting where you want not where the signs want or channel you. Everyone likes to nip, and has their own preferences for nipping, their secret (ish) public ways they like to show & share with other people.
November 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I miss old architecture Twitter -- am here, usually first thing, for low to medium level architecture/urban/ walking chat, usually with a London focus, not always serious. Where are your best places for #nipping ?
Reposted by Ian Hunt
In which I recommend @mortenhoijensen.bsky.social's THE MASTER OF CONTRADICTIONS to lovers and new readers of Thomas Mann's THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
Thomas Mann’s Pessimistic Humanism
What can we still learn from the The Magic Mountain?
www.thenation.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
In which I recommend @mortenhoijensen.bsky.social's THE MASTER OF CONTRADICTIONS to lovers and new readers of Thomas Mann's THE MAGIC MOUNTAIN
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
www.thenation.com/article/cult...
The side bit of Victoria Station (1906-08, Sir Charles Morgan) is slightly less bombastic than the front and has two good passages for nipping out the side. I love the way it glows green after dark with the light from Wicked: the musical opposite. #London #Architecture #Edwardian
November 19, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The side bit of Victoria Station (1906-08, Sir Charles Morgan) is slightly less bombastic than the front and has two good passages for nipping out the side. I love the way it glows green after dark with the light from Wicked: the musical opposite. #London #Architecture #Edwardian
Reposted by Ian Hunt
"Despite being the second-largest rainforest on Earth – and one of the most vital carbon sinks – the Congo basin remains the rainforest the world forgot, often overlooked when it comes to global climate policy and funding."
The rainforest the world forgot: the Congo basin is the second largest on Earth, so why is it being neglected?
It is one of the world’s most vital carbon sinks, but this tropical rainforest is losing out when it comes to climate policy and funding
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 4:29 PM
"Despite being the second-largest rainforest on Earth – and one of the most vital carbon sinks – the Congo basin remains the rainforest the world forgot, often overlooked when it comes to global climate policy and funding."
Reposted by Ian Hunt
This isn't a rare curiosity. Happening all over the country. Starmer claimed drones and "new tech" were going to stop it. But without funding local councils it is impossible to deal with this properly everywhere. bsky.app/profile/rive...
🚨 SHOCKING 🚨
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
A HUGE illegal waste dump has appeared between the A34 and River Cherwell, linked to organised crime.
Every rainfall risks toxins washing into the river.
We’re calling on the Environment Agency & Cherwell Council to act NOW.
Our rivers cannot wait. 👇👇
November 19, 2025 at 7:25 AM
This isn't a rare curiosity. Happening all over the country. Starmer claimed drones and "new tech" were going to stop it. But without funding local councils it is impossible to deal with this properly everywhere. bsky.app/profile/rive...
Reposted by Ian Hunt
wrote an article for @thebookseller.com outlining to the industry why small presses are the lifeforce & future of book production. Pls share esp w people who may not know what small press publishers do!
www.thebookseller.com/comment/dont...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/dont...
Don’t invest in AI, invest in the future of the book
Why the publishing industry must back small presses, rather than LLMs.
www.thebookseller.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 AM
wrote an article for @thebookseller.com outlining to the industry why small presses are the lifeforce & future of book production. Pls share esp w people who may not know what small press publishers do!
www.thebookseller.com/comment/dont...
www.thebookseller.com/comment/dont...
Reposted by Ian Hunt
What a real government policy on immigration looks like:
“Immigration is not a problem for Spain because it generates wealth and contributes to added prosperity" Felix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, told a reporter
www.infomigrants.net/en/post/6725...
“Immigration is not a problem for Spain because it generates wealth and contributes to added prosperity" Felix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, told a reporter
www.infomigrants.net/en/post/6725...
Immigration not a problem in Spain, government tells opposition
The Spanish government has highlighted the benefits generated by immigration, after the center-right People's Party in opposition proposed implementing a points-based visa system for foreigners.
www.infomigrants.net
November 17, 2025 at 10:41 PM
What a real government policy on immigration looks like:
“Immigration is not a problem for Spain because it generates wealth and contributes to added prosperity" Felix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, told a reporter
www.infomigrants.net/en/post/6725...
“Immigration is not a problem for Spain because it generates wealth and contributes to added prosperity" Felix Bolaños, Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Parliamentary Relations, told a reporter
www.infomigrants.net/en/post/6725...
Reposted by Ian Hunt
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Asylum system in UK ‘out of control’ and dividing country, home secretary says
Shabana Mahmood to unveil new proposals modelled on Denmark’s controversial system
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The Prime Minister said in September that we are at a fork in the road. These asylum proposals suggest we have taken the wrong turning.
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Yesterday's announcements by the Home Secretary marked a particularly low moment in #ukpolitics. If you have a Labour MP, especially, now is a time to write to them to protest these proposed changes and to encourage them to start looking at Spain's policies on immigration and asylum, not Denmark's.
November 18, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Yesterday's announcements by the Home Secretary marked a particularly low moment in #ukpolitics. If you have a Labour MP, especially, now is a time to write to them to protest these proposed changes and to encourage them to start looking at Spain's policies on immigration and asylum, not Denmark's.
Reposted by Ian Hunt
Only 2 years since the ban on neonics, France's population of insect-eating birds has risen 2-3% - from banning a single type of insecticide. Demonstrating just how much harm we cause birds when pesticides kill off the insects they need for food.
@paneurope.bsky.social
@paneurope.bsky.social
Good news: Study shows France’s birds making tentative recovery after neonicotinoid pesticide ban
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
UK has only just closed loophole in neonics ban (‘derogations’) so may be too soon to see recovery here?
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
With neonicotinoid pesticide ban, France’s birds make a tentative recovery - study
Analysis shows small hike in populations of insect-eating species after 2018 ruling, but full recovery may take decades
www.theguardian.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Only 2 years since the ban on neonics, France's population of insect-eating birds has risen 2-3% - from banning a single type of insecticide. Demonstrating just how much harm we cause birds when pesticides kill off the insects they need for food.
@paneurope.bsky.social
@paneurope.bsky.social
I have been reading some of what @equatormag.bsky.social is publishing. When I heard about this new enterprise (which Nesrine Malik and Daniel Trilling a.o. are involved in) I thought: great. It is, and distinctive. Here is Rahmane Idrissa on Statemania / www.equator.org/articles/sta...
Statemania • EQUATOR
When the American Dream came to Africa
www.equator.org
November 17, 2025 at 8:35 AM
I have been reading some of what @equatormag.bsky.social is publishing. When I heard about this new enterprise (which Nesrine Malik and Daniel Trilling a.o. are involved in) I thought: great. It is, and distinctive. Here is Rahmane Idrissa on Statemania / www.equator.org/articles/sta...
Walking in Cape Town and in London
"Recent studies highlight what most African city dwellers already know: walking is the main way of getting around, and essential for daily life. This is true for people who live in low-income neighbourhoods across the world." theconversation.com/we-studied-t...
We studied the walking habits of young men in Cape Town and London – and debunked a myth
Young men in low-income communities in Cape Town and London often walk with great fear.
theconversation.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Walking in Cape Town and in London
Reposted by Ian Hunt
‘Government sources said rules that mean most asylum seekers are not allowed to have jobs will not change.’ It’s absurd that the govt chooses to continue with a rule that puts asylum seekers in a situation of dependency, then attacks then for needing ‘handouts’ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
UK government set to make support for asylum seekers ‘discretionary’
Home secretary expected to change system to deny help to those who can work or who have assets
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:56 AM
‘Government sources said rules that mean most asylum seekers are not allowed to have jobs will not change.’ It’s absurd that the govt chooses to continue with a rule that puts asylum seekers in a situation of dependency, then attacks then for needing ‘handouts’ www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...