hometown 4.5.18+hometown-1.2.1I research (library & field), write on, & talk about folklore. Am proud to have been described as an 'expert in morbid eschatology' and a 'cannibalism celebrity'.
A friend and I have been talking about our regrets at #books not bought over the years. I hadn't seen myself as bibliomanic, but the exchange exposed some unhealthy truths. (I still rue an edition of Thucydides I didn't buy when I was 17). Her summary is spot on:
We are the folk whose unbought books will forever whisper to us "Never let me go"
There being no straightforward paths into #folklore, I'm not particularly surprised to find myself constantly revisiting my youthful background in #Classics, which trained me intellectually more than I perhaps realised at the time.
I wasn't much about Late Antiquity in those studies, so the work of Averil Cameron didn't loom so large for me. The responses to her death, however, have brought home a significance well beyond even her expertise.
This great autobiographical keynote is excellent on class and gender inequalities and imbalances in academia. Two things stand out in her and Mary Beard's experience of the London ancient history seminar:
1) the way in which even the cool radical guy pose can still just be reinforcing inequalities rather than redressing them
2) the absolutely excellent advice on making a contribution anyway.
https://wcc-uk.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2017/05/22/starting-out-in-the-1960s-working-class-and-female/
@slevelt@aus.social Songhoy Blues?
I finally got over to the reopened #Southampton City #Art Gallery at the weekend. I'd gone for the #PaulDelvaux #IthellColquhoun, but this #EmmaRichardson show caught me by surprise with its marvellousness. Highly recommended, and I'll be back before it ends.
On this verge the finite mind must pause
https://poundhammers.blogspot.com/2026/04/on-this-verge-finite-mind-must-pause.html
@slevelt@aus.social I don't listen to much radio, so it was a wild punt, but glad you like it!
CfP for the latest in the joint Folklore Society/Royal Anthropological Institute '#Folklore and #Anthropology in Conversation' seminar series.
‘When Loud Rumour Speaks’: Informal communication in the modern online world
In-person seminar, Thurs, 15 Oct 2026, 10:00-17:00, London
CfP open till 30 Jun
The Doctrine of Werewolves
#surrealism #poetry
https://poundhammers.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-doctrine-of-werewolves.html
The two best #storytellers on the #isleofwight are doing another joint show 26 Feb.
This one combines their solo shows from last year's #VentnorFringe, both of which were absolute knockouts. I highly recommend this.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1544986679915808/
#storytelling
I believe this is the first time I have ever been picture-captioned as a #folklorist, so I'll take that as a win, even if the article then doesn't say anything more about it.
It was a real privilege to be part of the New #Carnival Company's 2026 launch last week.
https://www.countypress.co.uk/news/25834061.iw-mardi-gras-2026-carnival-kicks-off-theme-reveal/ #folklore