Jessica Goethals

I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is

Archivio di Stato di Roma: an archivist came to my desk to chastise me for pretending to be two different people to get double the requests-never mind that my name makes me stick out like a sore, unpronounceable thumb. Gave as “proof” forms in an completely different hand. Only 4 of us in the room.

Photo of the program for the conference “Poesia in dialogo. La forma epistolare della lirica nel Rinascimento”

A great couple days learning from smart colleagues and thinking about my own material from another direction. What a privilege this job is.

This. A thousand times this.

Yep! Toronto (which is doing the lion’s share of Italian Studies now) requires $4,000 CAD, for example. Recently worked with our admin to create a funding pool because the number of presses requiring it is going up.

I think it’s based on the press, but many UPs are moving/have moved to a subvention model.

2 Postdoc Positions in Milan!

Are you (or is someone you know) interested in modern (17th and 18th C) moral philosophy? Come join Stefano Bacin and I on the @erc.europa.eu Grant '18ETHICS': 18ethics.unimi.it/two-further-...

Please share widely!

Hah, well the Sack does have its trashy side! Unlike Civility, which is in my queue 😉

I had the honor of joining In Our Time for last year’s Sack of Rome episode. I recorded in Chicago so didn’t get to meet Melvyn in person, but I was struck by his preparation, curiosity, and erudition. His team was also incredibly impressive. I hope the show finds a way to continue Melvyn’s success.

How long, inquiring minds want to know?

Introduction to Renaissance Italian 2025

Gain confidence reading Renaissance Italian sources with our intensive 5-day online course.

📅 17–19 & 22–23 Sept 2025
🕒 11am–1pm & 2–3pm daily
💻 Online via Zoom

Early booking advised:

Want.

One of those times I wished I lived in the UK!

How do I become the academic equivalent of that billionaire tech bro who injects his son’s blood in a quixotic attempt to stay forever young?

Call for papers for the Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World Conference, taking place at the University of Exeter on 30-31 October. We are exploring early modern conflict in all its forms. We particularly seek to unpack the interactions between the more traditional aspects of conflict, such as the political, tactical and strategic, with the more human side of it, including sociocultural approaches that explore experiences, representations and impacts of violence. As such, we particularly welcome proposals that look beyond purely military history and break chronological, geographical and disciplinary boundaries. We welcome proposals for individual papers of up to 20 minutes, or full panels of three to four papers, on any aspect of conflict, war and violence in the early modern period. Speakers might consider, but are not limited to, the following themes: Physical, tactical, operational and strategic aspects of warfare. Martial identities, values and motivations. Notions of gender, race, class and religion. Remembering, (re)imagining and representing violence and/or conflict. The experience of violence, its impact and the everyday at war. Popular allegiance in early modern conflict. Maritime violence and naval warfare. The bureaucracy of conflict, finance and the law. Abstracts of up to 300 words, along with a biographical note, should be sent to earlymodernwar@gmail.com by Friday 5th September.

We are thrilled to announce that the Conflict, War and Violence in the Early Modern World Conference, with a keynote address by Professor Mark Stoyle, will be held on 30-31 October at the University of Exeter.

Please help us spread the world, and consider submitting a proposal!🗡️

Respectfully, Senator, “agonizing” is trying to figure out what on earth to do when your sick, frail parent has to leave their nursing home.

Virtual attendance option for this great event on early modern war’

#Renaissance & #earlymodern folks: Delighted that my intermittent recommending of BlueSky to @rsaorg.bsky.social for years is over. Time & bandwidth have aligned enough for them to arrive! Do add them to your #StarterPacks and personal lists, and share with interested folks. 🗃 #AcademicSky

When you finally submit a big project…

The Medici Archive Project is offering 12 short-term fellowships for pre-doc students and postdoc candidates, working on fields related to early modern Italy (preferably with a specific emphasis on Tuscan or Medici history). Deadline: 15 June.
www.medici.org/fellowships/

How the Trump Administration Is Weakening the Enforcement of Fair Housing Laws Starting with cases involving sexual orientation and identity, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is hobbling enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. Said one HUD attorney: “People are…

Kennell Staten filed a complaint with HUD, saying he was denied an apartment for being gay — a complaint the agency had long taken seriously.

Two days later, HUD informed him that it did not view allegations like his as subject to federal law.

A manuscript gilded capital A with flowers.

“A” for “A good first day back in the archives”

As long as we don’t deprive students of real skills in the humanities as an offering to the AI gods in the meantime…

Very keen to read this, and excited I can do so via open access!

A silver tetradrachm (four-drachma coin) stamped in high relief on the obverse with a bee viewed from above, within a dotted border. Details include legs, wings, antennae, segmented abdomen and sting. The Greek letters, Ε (‘epsilon’) and Φ (‘phi’), an abbreviation of the name Ephesus, are placed either side of the bee. Diameter 7 mm.

Happy #WorldBeeDay! 🐝

Silver tetradrachm coin minted in Ephesus, 390-380 BC.

Photo Getty Museum

#Archaeology

On May 15 and 16, the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa will host the conference "I Triumphi di Petrarca: testo, esegesi, fortuna". The meeting will be an opportunity for scholars to discuss the most recent philological and hermeneutical acquisitions relating to Petrarch's poem. Online via Teams

Any suggestions out there for student-friendly studies on dress, fashion, and cosmetics in Ancient Rome? Will serve as an intro unit for a course on the cultural history of Italian fashion.

Save Medicaid Please call your Representative right now and leave a voicemail, or first thing on Monday morning before the mark up session begins.

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TODAY the House will be marking up deeply unpopular massive Medicaid cuts.

MANY GOP on the committee are in tight districts. Calls and pressure ARE effective here.

Call today. Type your zip to get a script ⬇️
OcasioCortez.com/savemedicaid

A Chicago Pope implies the existence of an MLA Pope and APA Pope