Dr Christine Plastow
@chrissieplastow.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University | Co-artistic director of Theatre of the @GentleFuries | researching Athenian forensic oratory & theatrical receptions of myth | she/her | catposting
Pinned
Getting started on ancient Greek
This free course, Getting started on ancient Greek, offers a taster of the ancient Greek world through the study of one of its most distinctive and enduring features: its language.The course ...
www.open.edu
Because I'm updating them today, I'd like to remind #AncientBluesky that we have *FREELY ACCESSIBLE* Ancient Greek resources at the Open University! 🏺
First, we have a 16 hour free OpenLearn course, which takes you from learning the alphabet to reading simple sentences: www.open.edu/openlearn/hi...
First, we have a 16 hour free OpenLearn course, which takes you from learning the alphabet to reading simple sentences: www.open.edu/openlearn/hi...
Trying to work on a chapter on rhetorical theory and getting distracted by thoughts like 'on earth we're briefly Gorgias'
October 2, 2026 at 8:42 AM
Trying to work on a chapter on rhetorical theory and getting distracted by thoughts like 'on earth we're briefly Gorgias'
Lovely to see a positive review of 'Female Agency in the Ancient Mediterranean World' this morning in Historische Zeitschrift - danke schön to the reviewer! www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
www.degruyterbrill.com
October 1, 2026 at 10:39 AM
Lovely to see a positive review of 'Female Agency in the Ancient Mediterranean World' this morning in Historische Zeitschrift - danke schön to the reviewer! www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
Reposted by Dr Christine Plastow
"Hear me out, we all agree to cancel Monday..."
📷️ Paul Browning
📷️ Paul Browning
September 28, 2026 at 7:01 AM
"Hear me out, we all agree to cancel Monday..."
📷️ Paul Browning
📷️ Paul Browning
Haven't posted Waffle for a while, so here you go. He wants to play.
August 20, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Haven't posted Waffle for a while, so here you go. He wants to play.
I've just heard that the great Pat Easterling has died. I never had the chance to meet her, but she was my PhD supervisor's PhD supervisor, so I always felt I was in her lineage somehow. A trailblazer for women in Classics.
August 19, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I've just heard that the great Pat Easterling has died. I never had the chance to meet her, but she was my PhD supervisor's PhD supervisor, so I always felt I was in her lineage somehow. A trailblazer for women in Classics.
#AncientBluesky friends! Looking for recommendations for books or podcasts on Mesopotamian mythology. Can be specialist or not!
August 19, 2026 at 9:10 AM
#AncientBluesky friends! Looking for recommendations for books or podcasts on Mesopotamian mythology. Can be specialist or not!
I know hummingbird hawk-moths are fairly common, especially this year, but I'm still excited to have seen a few around the garden.
August 17, 2026 at 9:26 AM
I know hummingbird hawk-moths are fairly common, especially this year, but I'm still excited to have seen a few around the garden.
Reposted by Dr Christine Plastow
“I have to be blunt here: Our critics are really fucking stupid, and we’ve given them way too much leeway to conjure senile fantasies out of their own illiteracy. We need to stop taking their trolling in good faith, and we need to stop apologizing for our work.”
This is exquisite on The Discourse.
This is exquisite on The Discourse.
Humanists Have Done Nothing Wrong | Defector
For many years, I’ve held a pet theory that cultural consumers can be grouped into two broad categories: Primary Source People and Secondary Source People. The former are the book lovers, cinephiles, ...
defector.com
August 13, 2026 at 3:06 PM
“I have to be blunt here: Our critics are really fucking stupid, and we’ve given them way too much leeway to conjure senile fantasies out of their own illiteracy. We need to stop taking their trolling in good faith, and we need to stop apologizing for our work.”
This is exquisite on The Discourse.
This is exquisite on The Discourse.
It's that time of year again!
Here's your annual reminder: whether you received A-level results today, years ago, or never, there's space for you at the @openuniversity.bsky.social!
August 13, 2026 at 11:02 AM
It's that time of year again!
Excellent vibes on the @openuniversity.bsky.social campus for the eclipse! Everyone sharing glasses and chatting - so fun to experience with so many people 🌝 🌚
August 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Excellent vibes on the @openuniversity.bsky.social campus for the eclipse! Everyone sharing glasses and chatting - so fun to experience with so many people 🌝 🌚
#ClassicsBluesky! What books are we recommending to folks who have little previous knowledge of the ancient world, who want to get excited about it, and who are generally averse to trad, male/pale/stale stuff?
August 12, 2026 at 3:45 PM
#ClassicsBluesky! What books are we recommending to folks who have little previous knowledge of the ancient world, who want to get excited about it, and who are generally averse to trad, male/pale/stale stuff?
Today's writing goals: finally understand and convey something even somewhat comprehensible and fairly brief (!!!) about Athenian inheritance disputes, while listening to the new @themountaingoats.bsky.social album.
August 7, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Today's writing goals: finally understand and convey something even somewhat comprehensible and fairly brief (!!!) about Athenian inheritance disputes, while listening to the new @themountaingoats.bsky.social album.
What do we think about short articles? I have a conference paper from a few years ago that I think has something to say, but probably like no more than 5000 words worth of something. Are (classics) journals publishing pieces of that length?
August 5, 2026 at 3:24 PM
What do we think about short articles? I have a conference paper from a few years ago that I think has something to say, but probably like no more than 5000 words worth of something. Are (classics) journals publishing pieces of that length?
A funny thing that is happening today is that I'm feeling guilty about not writing (yet today, because I've been preparing other bits of work) AND feeling guilty about writing (as a general focus this summer, instead of other 'more important' bits of my job) at the same time!!
August 5, 2026 at 1:30 PM
A funny thing that is happening today is that I'm feeling guilty about not writing (yet today, because I've been preparing other bits of work) AND feeling guilty about writing (as a general focus this summer, instead of other 'more important' bits of my job) at the same time!!
I want it to rain now please.
That's it, that's the post.
That's it, that's the post.
August 4, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I want it to rain now please.
That's it, that's the post.
That's it, that's the post.
Back to writing today! Last week I was co-working with a colleague every day, but he's now finished his manuscript so I'm striking out on my own... hoping to keep up momentum nevertheless.
August 3, 2026 at 9:40 AM
Back to writing today! Last week I was co-working with a colleague every day, but he's now finished his manuscript so I'm striking out on my own... hoping to keep up momentum nevertheless.
Right, I have a seriously overdue book manuscript to make progress on. For the next four weeks, I'm going to aim to write 1000 words every day. Follow along! The book is (yes, still) an introduction to Athenian Forensic Oratory.
July 27, 2026 at 10:17 AM
Right, I have a seriously overdue book manuscript to make progress on. For the next four weeks, I'm going to aim to write 1000 words every day. Follow along! The book is (yes, still) an introduction to Athenian Forensic Oratory.
It's coming late as I've been on leave, but sending huge congratulations to all OU MA Classical Studies students who received their results last week - whether for part 1 and moving on to the dissertation, or part 2 and finishing your MA. You all worked so hard and it's been an honour to witness!
July 27, 2026 at 9:42 AM
It's coming late as I've been on leave, but sending huge congratulations to all OU MA Classical Studies students who received their results last week - whether for part 1 and moving on to the dissertation, or part 2 and finishing your MA. You all worked so hard and it's been an honour to witness!
How many excellent EC scholars lost?
In addition to today's data on staffing in UK HE, @britishacademy.bsky.social has produced several briefings, including one on the very significant decline in early career academics, 2012-24: bit.ly/4wGBTcl
History has seen a 32% decline in early career staff numbers since 2012/13 #Skystorians 1/2
History has seen a 32% decline in early career staff numbers since 2012/13 #Skystorians 1/2
July 15, 2026 at 9:44 PM
How many excellent EC scholars lost?
Oxford classicists have really infiltrated every level of politics, haven't they
An Oxford classics graduate has won cross-party endorsements in the upcoming Clacton by-election. Count Binface, who studied at Corpus Christi, was described as “maybe the people[’s candidate]” by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, while defence secretary Dan Jarvis said “good luck to him”.
July 8, 2026 at 11:15 AM
Oxford classicists have really infiltrated every level of politics, haven't they
Important thread highlighting brilliant scholars at risk of redundancy. These aren't numbers - they're people, colleagues, fantastic researchers and teachers. Shame on the University of Exeter.
A brief appreciation thread for some of my colleagues in Classics at Exeter, who the University of Exeter have put at risk of redundancy @exeter.ac.uk. A few are on here, most are not, but I'm going to say nice things about them anyway.
June 26, 2026 at 11:24 AM
Important thread highlighting brilliant scholars at risk of redundancy. These aren't numbers - they're people, colleagues, fantastic researchers and teachers. Shame on the University of Exeter.
Reposted by Dr Christine Plastow
Petition against redundancies at Exeter. Humanities and Social Sciences staff are hardest hit, with 25% of posts in subjects including History, English, Modern Languages and Politics slated to be cut.
Sign the Petition
Stop Redundancies at the University of Exeter
c.org
June 25, 2026 at 5:49 AM
Petition against redundancies at Exeter. Humanities and Social Sciences staff are hardest hit, with 25% of posts in subjects including History, English, Modern Languages and Politics slated to be cut.
So pleased to see our contributors receiving their copies! Read Javal's excellent chapter!
Got my physical copy of this exciting volume! Please go read the chapters in this volume edited by @chrissieplastow.bsky.social and Hilary Lehmann.
June 23, 2026 at 4:52 PM
So pleased to see our contributors receiving their copies! Read Javal's excellent chapter!
Hard copies are here! Hooray!
June 18, 2026 at 2:31 PM
Hard copies are here! Hooray!