R.J. the Narratologist

This all can’t end with “Xbox did more to punish Epstein than law enforcement” can it?

I've been accepted to Marquette University's Ph.D program in literature. I haven't accepted their offer yet, as OSU is still my number one choice. Good times ahead.

Found and booted up my old Zune... The latest podcast is episode 289 of The Instance with @scottjohnson.zip, released 8/31/2012. Talk about a time capsule.

If I wasn't presenting at the ICMS on Tolkien that same week I'd totally be there 😭

Omg my pebbles were my favorite watches 😭

Waitlisted at The Ohio State University for their PhD program in literature. Rank 30 program, funded with a TA position. Wish me luck, they're my number 1 choice!

I'm the head barista over at a local immigrant owned specialty coffee shop and roaster. I'm so worried for the shop if it becomes that expensive. They've put everything into this wonderful cafe and it breaks my heart to think about 😭

Elon just spoke at the AfD event in Germany encouraging nationalism and spreading a fear of multiculturalism, so, yes? Not that I think Altman, Zuck, or any tech goon bros are better. But Elon has gone completely mask-off about being a fascist.

Watching Elon Musk speak at the AfD event in Germany sent chills down my spine. I've seen the archival footage from 70 years before I was born. He's the new Henry Ford in more ways than just cars.

Bless this, Nosferatu was amazing 🙏🏻

When you study narrative, what you're really looking at is the architecture of how meaning is disseminated through a reader. Aesthetic illusion is one of the most powerful tools for rhetorical delivery known to man. This is why I give a shit about genre fiction.

My good friend @arthurhwalker.bsky.social has written 9 books in a hope-punk sci-fi set post dystopia. You should check em out!

MFW Monopoly was originally a game criticizing capitalism, but now the Wichita mayor, paid for by Koch, is posing with the mascot for a Wichita Monopoly.

This would've been great satire 🥲

Uroboros Saga Book 9 Amazon.com: Uroboros Saga Book 9: 9781945452062: Walker, Arthur: Books

Uroboros Saga Book 9 closes the loop around Eamon's story in book 8. Writing this series used to help me parse the world. Writing Books 10 - 12 is going to help me escape it. 💕

www.amazon.com/Uroboros-Sag...

Use your voice. Use your art. Use your actions. Speak out. Speak truth. As Ursula K. Le Guin said, "Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art. Very often in our art, the art of words."

The interpretation that it means "good intentions lead to bad results," is just a twisted way to say "you have to do bad things to get good results."

My interpretation of the quote, originally "L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés ou désirs," or, "Hell is full of good intentions and wills," is that good intentions and will are NOT ENOUGH, and that good ACTION is needed.

Any time I hear someone say "the road to hell is paved with good intentions," I'm pretty sure they're a fascist with no actual argument against leftist policies.

I'm so sorry for your loss 💔

Oh lovely 🤢

Did something happen with them?

My birthday is next Wednesday and, yeah, same 😭

I just want to remind everyone that in 2008, the right labeled a fist bump as a "terrorist fist jab," and now they're celebrating an actual sieg heil salute from Elon Musk. Tell me again how this administration isn't racist. Tell me again that I've been overreacting.

To white people who have marginalized identities, I know we're feeling deathly afraid. But please remember that PoC have lived under similar threats for centuries. Now is not the time to center ourselves.

Activism without intersectionality is useless.

Elon Musk doing a Nazi salute during Trump's inauguration festivities is something that, yes, I had on my 2025 bingo card.

You know, just creating art in the face of generative AI is a pretty beautiful rebellion.

This photo is giving "there is no war in Ba-Sing-Se."

It's time to start my fifth year teaching college freshmen. In a week I turn thirty-five. I'm eagerly awaiting news from my PhD applications. I'm terrified of the next four years. Let's get this bread, I guess.

One of the privileges afforded to wealth is the privilege to fail. Everyone fails when trying new things, but wealth enables the ability to fail over and over again without losing everything.