Simon Trafford
@simonjptrafford.bsky.social
Early medievalist at IHR, Univ. of London, with a current research focus on water and human immersions. Also ethnicity, identity, migration and modern medievalisms. Regrettably likely to propose a lovely long walk given half a chance.
Well, let's be honest, I'd be lying if I tried to pretend I'm anything other than pleased as punch that people are interested! Proof once again that the Vikings are some sort of pop history catnip, though. It's mad.
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Well, let's be honest, I'd be lying if I tried to pretend I'm anything other than pleased as punch that people are interested! Proof once again that the Vikings are some sort of pop history catnip, though. It's mad.
Esp with the increasing interest in the involvement of insular elites in Byzantine wars and politics - Helen Gittos's work on Sutton Hoo.
November 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Esp with the increasing interest in the involvement of insular elites in Byzantine wars and politics - Helen Gittos's work on Sutton Hoo.
Ohhh, interesting thought! I think they're from different roots, unfortunately, but I'd bow to the knowledge of someone better informed on this than I am.
November 17, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Ohhh, interesting thought! I think they're from different roots, unfortunately, but I'd bow to the knowledge of someone better informed on this than I am.
Yes, I agree that's much the most convincing argument. So interesting that mead is the target prestige drink intact context!
November 17, 2025 at 8:43 AM
Yes, I agree that's much the most convincing argument. So interesting that mead is the target prestige drink intact context!
It doesn't quite work all the time in Iceland, though, where there is C12th evidence of permission being asked to use ale rather than wine for the sacraments in church, presumablydue to supply issues.
November 17, 2025 at 8:41 AM
It doesn't quite work all the time in Iceland, though, where there is C12th evidence of permission being asked to use ale rather than wine for the sacraments in church, presumablydue to supply issues.
Thanks, Emlyn! Yes, those long-distance exchange networks either persisting or renewed and able to provide the top end of society with prestige exotics/romanitas.
November 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Thanks, Emlyn! Yes, those long-distance exchange networks either persisting or renewed and able to provide the top end of society with prestige exotics/romanitas.
Yes, that's so fascinating! Cameron Moffett was kind enough to discuss her work with me whilst I was writing the book chapter that this article is lifted from.
November 16, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Yes, that's so fascinating! Cameron Moffett was kind enough to discuss her work with me whilst I was writing the book chapter that this article is lifted from.
The substantive research here, it's important to acknowledge, is Christine Fell's from fifty years ago and Fernando Guerrero Rodriguez's 2007 DPhil thesis. But those haven't really impinged more widely on public consciousness, hence this little bit of popularisation.
November 15, 2025 at 8:14 AM
The substantive research here, it's important to acknowledge, is Christine Fell's from fifty years ago and Fernando Guerrero Rodriguez's 2007 DPhil thesis. But those haven't really impinged more widely on public consciousness, hence this little bit of popularisation.
Difficult, I discover after a few minutes of experimentation, to fit that phrase to the refrain of 'Papa was a rollin' stone'. Shame. It's almost there, but not quite.
November 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Difficult, I discover after a few minutes of experimentation, to fit that phrase to the refrain of 'Papa was a rollin' stone'. Shame. It's almost there, but not quite.
Layla is looking forward to seeing you, as am I!
November 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Layla is looking forward to seeing you, as am I!
Yeah, although ripping off is a slightly different category from sampling. But in that vein I've heard Nirvana play Come as You Are and also Killing Joke do Eighties, which CAYA blatantly plagiarises.
October 27, 2025 at 8:44 AM
Yeah, although ripping off is a slightly different category from sampling. But in that vein I've heard Nirvana play Come as You Are and also Killing Joke do Eighties, which CAYA blatantly plagiarises.
I wonder what percentage of The Prodge's audience have heard Max Romeo do Chase the Devil live? I certainly haven't, but that sample is the making of Out of Space!
October 27, 2025 at 8:29 AM
I wonder what percentage of The Prodge's audience have heard Max Romeo do Chase the Devil live? I certainly haven't, but that sample is the making of Out of Space!
A similar thing, though: I've heard Alice Cooper interpolate the chorus of Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2 into the live version of School's Out and also heard Roger Waters live do exactly the reverse.
October 27, 2025 at 8:25 AM
A similar thing, though: I've heard Alice Cooper interpolate the chorus of Another Brick in the Wall pt. 2 into the live version of School's Out and also heard Roger Waters live do exactly the reverse.
This has now set me thinking if there are any other bands where I've seen both the originator and the sampler of a famous phrase. There's Stones/Verve of course as a likely one for many people, although I've never seen the Stones so not for me!
October 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
This has now set me thinking if there are any other bands where I've seen both the originator and the sampler of a famous phrase. There's Stones/Verve of course as a likely one for many people, although I've never seen the Stones so not for me!
Arguably a generation and a half: those who know it from Rock of Ages off Pyromania by Def Leppard in 1983 and those who know it from the sample at the start of Pretty Fly for a White Guy by the Offspring in 1998.
October 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Arguably a generation and a half: those who know it from Rock of Ages off Pyromania by Def Leppard in 1983 and those who know it from the sample at the start of Pretty Fly for a White Guy by the Offspring in 1998.
I've spoken to the events team and I gather that the need for provision of instructions is recognised and in hand: there have been a few issues arising that have delayed it, but instructions should be there soon.
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 AM
I've spoken to the events team and I gather that the need for provision of instructions is recognised and in hand: there have been a few issues arising that have delayed it, but instructions should be there soon.
The email only goes to the named principal convenor for each seminar, but any convenor can attend, I think, and it's online as well as in the building. I'll forward you the email w the link.
October 9, 2025 at 8:44 AM
The email only goes to the named principal convenor for each seminar, but any convenor can attend, I think, and it's online as well as in the building. I'll forward you the email w the link.
I think it would probably be worth mentioning it at the Convenors' Meeting, and I'm happy to do that. I suspect that the tech people will say that an auto-update is a difficult contingency to proof against, but given the havoc it wreaks mid-paper, it'd be good at least to think about it.
October 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
I think it would probably be worth mentioning it at the Convenors' Meeting, and I'm happy to do that. I suspect that the tech people will say that an auto-update is a difficult contingency to proof against, but given the havoc it wreaks mid-paper, it'd be good at least to think about it.
Yeah, good point. It's the seminar convenors' meeting on the 22nd, and that would be a good thing to propose there. I'm happy to do it, or back you up or whatever.
October 9, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Yeah, good point. It's the seminar convenors' meeting on the 22nd, and that would be a good thing to propose there. I'm happy to do it, or back you up or whatever.
Sorry on behalf of my institution! Do report it, please: it isn't niggling and it's important to have this logged so the Institute can do something about it.
October 9, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Sorry on behalf of my institution! Do report it, please: it isn't niggling and it's important to have this logged so the Institute can do something about it.