Hirah Azhar
@herazhar.bsky.social
Doctoral researcher at University of Southampton and Imperial War Museum | War & influence in digital age | Prev: York + LSE, 🗞️, CVE policy | Sandwiches, cats, duvet caves | Really just all over the place | Views mine
🎙️ I’m joined by the wonderful Dr Pippa Oldfield in the latest episode of The War We See podcast 🎙️
Pippa is a photography curator & historian, whose work on photography, gender, & war is equal parts thought-provoking and exciting. This was a joy to record!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Exh...
Pippa is a photography curator & historian, whose work on photography, gender, & war is equal parts thought-provoking and exciting. This was a joy to record!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Exh...
October 1, 2026 at 9:36 PM
🎙️ I’m joined by the wonderful Dr Pippa Oldfield in the latest episode of The War We See podcast 🎙️
Pippa is a photography curator & historian, whose work on photography, gender, & war is equal parts thought-provoking and exciting. This was a joy to record!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Exh...
Pippa is a photography curator & historian, whose work on photography, gender, & war is equal parts thought-provoking and exciting. This was a joy to record!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6Exh...
I successfully defended my PhD this week! 🎉
Thank you to my examiners: Prof. David Brown & Dr Tom Allbeson.
V. grateful to the AHRC for funding my research.
I had the best supervisors in the world in Dr Chris Fuller (Southampton) & Chris Cooper (IWM) & couldn't have done this w/out them.
Thank you to my examiners: Prof. David Brown & Dr Tom Allbeson.
V. grateful to the AHRC for funding my research.
I had the best supervisors in the world in Dr Chris Fuller (Southampton) & Chris Cooper (IWM) & couldn't have done this w/out them.
July 24, 2026 at 3:42 PM
I successfully defended my PhD this week! 🎉
Thank you to my examiners: Prof. David Brown & Dr Tom Allbeson.
V. grateful to the AHRC for funding my research.
I had the best supervisors in the world in Dr Chris Fuller (Southampton) & Chris Cooper (IWM) & couldn't have done this w/out them.
Thank you to my examiners: Prof. David Brown & Dr Tom Allbeson.
V. grateful to the AHRC for funding my research.
I had the best supervisors in the world in Dr Chris Fuller (Southampton) & Chris Cooper (IWM) & couldn't have done this w/out them.
'The War We See' podcast is back with a second season! 🎙️
First episode out today. I’m joined by the absolutely wonderful Professor Katy Parry @katyjparry.bsky.social for a really special chat!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IXx...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
First episode out today. I’m joined by the absolutely wonderful Professor Katy Parry @katyjparry.bsky.social for a really special chat!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IXx...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
Media framing of contemporary war, soldiers’ visual self-representation, and AI-generated war photos...with Professor Katy Parry
The War We See · Episode
open.spotify.com
July 16, 2026 at 6:50 PM
'The War We See' podcast is back with a second season! 🎙️
First episode out today. I’m joined by the absolutely wonderful Professor Katy Parry @katyjparry.bsky.social for a really special chat!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IXx...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
First episode out today. I’m joined by the absolutely wonderful Professor Katy Parry @katyjparry.bsky.social for a really special chat!
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6IXx...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...
I'm writing up my PhD + I need all these AI-pushers to please god please shut up. I don't WANT my written output to look more polished, have more citations etc. If my writing is meh, FINE, I'm not a fucking chatbot in my area of expertise. What is the POINT of training to become a scholar otherwise?
May 19, 2026 at 2:56 PM
I'm writing up my PhD + I need all these AI-pushers to please god please shut up. I don't WANT my written output to look more polished, have more citations etc. If my writing is meh, FINE, I'm not a fucking chatbot in my area of expertise. What is the POINT of training to become a scholar otherwise?
This is absolutely extraordinary.
They Photographed an Execution in Bosnia. Did They Influence the Killer?
A three-year investigation unravels the rumors and controversy that have long swirled around the award-winning images of a war crime
newlinesmag.com
April 21, 2026 at 7:29 PM
This is absolutely extraordinary.
Nice to see everyone heaving a collective sigh of relief as oil prices start to come down. You know what we can't go back to? The 3000+ Iranian lives and 2000+ Lebanese lives lost in just over two months. Gone.
April 17, 2026 at 7:50 PM
Nice to see everyone heaving a collective sigh of relief as oil prices start to come down. You know what we can't go back to? The 3000+ Iranian lives and 2000+ Lebanese lives lost in just over two months. Gone.
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
Moral rot
The matter-of-fact way she asks what investors should do if Trump destroys Iran. Absolutely wild.
"Let's talk about tonight, this deadline that President Trump has set 8 p.m., has threatened to destroy a civilization. How does an investor process that? Is it a bigger upside risk or downside risk?"
"Let's talk about tonight, this deadline that President Trump has set 8 p.m., has threatened to destroy a civilization. How does an investor process that? Is it a bigger upside risk or downside risk?"
April 7, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Moral rot
Do they even know what beautiful cities Tehran & Beirut are? Thousands of years old. Made unbreakable by their thriving communities, the rich histories etched into their walls. Cities of unimaginable contrasts.
These empty plastic tourist trinkets know nothing except war & greed.
These empty plastic tourist trinkets know nothing except war & greed.
March 5, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Do they even know what beautiful cities Tehran & Beirut are? Thousands of years old. Made unbreakable by their thriving communities, the rich histories etched into their walls. Cities of unimaginable contrasts.
These empty plastic tourist trinkets know nothing except war & greed.
These empty plastic tourist trinkets know nothing except war & greed.
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
We hate kids. Like SO MUCH. We vote for the guns. We vote for the bombs. We protect the rapists. We have LEOs physically restraining parents from trying to save their children in Uvalde. We just blew up a school in Iran. We love Jeffrey Epstein and his friends. They run the country.
February 28, 2026 at 9:26 PM
We hate kids. Like SO MUCH. We vote for the guns. We vote for the bombs. We protect the rapists. We have LEOs physically restraining parents from trying to save their children in Uvalde. We just blew up a school in Iran. We love Jeffrey Epstein and his friends. They run the country.
My podcast has completed its first series 🎉
In this special episode, I offer a recap & share unaired snippets of my conversations w 3 guests. For everyone who has supported this totally independently produced podcast, thank you from the bottom of my ♥️
Back soon!
open.spotify.com/episode/2SGx...
In this special episode, I offer a recap & share unaired snippets of my conversations w 3 guests. For everyone who has supported this totally independently produced podcast, thank you from the bottom of my ♥️
Back soon!
open.spotify.com/episode/2SGx...
The War We See: Reflections & Unheard Moments
open.spotify.com
February 28, 2026 at 12:38 PM
My podcast has completed its first series 🎉
In this special episode, I offer a recap & share unaired snippets of my conversations w 3 guests. For everyone who has supported this totally independently produced podcast, thank you from the bottom of my ♥️
Back soon!
open.spotify.com/episode/2SGx...
In this special episode, I offer a recap & share unaired snippets of my conversations w 3 guests. For everyone who has supported this totally independently produced podcast, thank you from the bottom of my ♥️
Back soon!
open.spotify.com/episode/2SGx...
I've just marked the best 1st year undergrad History essay I've ever seen & I'm a weepy wreck. I love seeing young people learn to become historians. I love that they're still as excited by the discipline as I was 20 years ago & as so many fellow historians continue to be. It's a wonderful feeling.
February 1, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I've just marked the best 1st year undergrad History essay I've ever seen & I'm a weepy wreck. I love seeing young people learn to become historians. I love that they're still as excited by the discipline as I was 20 years ago & as so many fellow historians continue to be. It's a wonderful feeling.
We really are cursed to live in cycles of repeated history. To grow older is to relive the same global currents of batshit stupidity. But while our parents could cushion some of it w financial stability, we’re just stuck in endless loops of absurd evilness & bludgeoned prospects.
January 3, 2026 at 11:57 PM
We really are cursed to live in cycles of repeated history. To grow older is to relive the same global currents of batshit stupidity. But while our parents could cushion some of it w financial stability, we’re just stuck in endless loops of absurd evilness & bludgeoned prospects.
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
look we're all making a big bet on AI! and if it pays off as big as we hope, well, it's going to make a handful of people super rich and you're going to lose your job but get to watch mickey mouse fuck geralt from the witcher. if it doesn't pay off well then you get to pay for the bailouts
December 29, 2025 at 2:25 AM
look we're all making a big bet on AI! and if it pays off as big as we hope, well, it's going to make a handful of people super rich and you're going to lose your job but get to watch mickey mouse fuck geralt from the witcher. if it doesn't pay off well then you get to pay for the bailouts
Looking for something to listen to during this in-between time when the prospect of yet another year feels quite...bleak, may I suggest a wee podcast on conflict imagery?
The War We See is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts (iOS), Pocket Casts & Castbox (Android).
The War We See is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts (iOS), Pocket Casts & Castbox (Android).
December 29, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Looking for something to listen to during this in-between time when the prospect of yet another year feels quite...bleak, may I suggest a wee podcast on conflict imagery?
The War We See is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts (iOS), Pocket Casts & Castbox (Android).
The War We See is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts (iOS), Pocket Casts & Castbox (Android).
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
Getting tired of having to take the tech industry seriously. These are not serious people.
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Getting tired of having to take the tech industry seriously. These are not serious people.
V. pleased to have my friend Dr Ali Fisher on to talk abt terrorist imagery, the visual records from Gaza, navigating study of sensitive content, & developing data tools like BlackLight & Mujahid Mind AI.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7s0y...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7s0y...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
December 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
V. pleased to have my friend Dr Ali Fisher on to talk abt terrorist imagery, the visual records from Gaza, navigating study of sensitive content, & developing data tools like BlackLight & Mujahid Mind AI.
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7s0y...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/7s0y...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
New Blog by Hirah Azhar generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk/history/2025...
The War We See podcast: Conversations about War Imagery
Author Hirah Azhar, Doctoral researcher in the Department of History, University of Southampton and Imperial War Museum Blog Who decides what we see of war? What is censored, erased, or amplified? …
generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 3:16 PM
New Blog by Hirah Azhar generic.wordpress.soton.ac.uk/history/2025...
Ep 5 of The War We See out today! Delighted to talk to Rebecca Newell, Head of Art at the IWM about war art, the evolving role of the war artist & questions around documentation, representation & access.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1lTD...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1lTD...
November 19, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Ep 5 of The War We See out today! Delighted to talk to Rebecca Newell, Head of Art at the IWM about war art, the evolving role of the war artist & questions around documentation, representation & access.
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1lTD...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1lTD...
A complete stranger pointed at me and shouted “dirty little socialist!” when I was parking my car this morning.
I am, yes, but how does he know???
I am, yes, but how does he know???
October 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM
A complete stranger pointed at me and shouted “dirty little socialist!” when I was parking my car this morning.
I am, yes, but how does he know???
I am, yes, but how does he know???
Introducing "The War We See", my podcast on the history of war imagery, feat. conversations w/ some truly excellent guests. Trailer’s out today & first episode drops on the 24th. Pls give it a listen + subscribe/share if it’s of interest!
Spotify: lnkd.in/d4y4_-TT
Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/dHkgp-Mg
Spotify: lnkd.in/d4y4_-TT
Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/dHkgp-Mg
September 17, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Introducing "The War We See", my podcast on the history of war imagery, feat. conversations w/ some truly excellent guests. Trailer’s out today & first episode drops on the 24th. Pls give it a listen + subscribe/share if it’s of interest!
Spotify: lnkd.in/d4y4_-TT
Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/dHkgp-Mg
Spotify: lnkd.in/d4y4_-TT
Apple Podcasts: lnkd.in/dHkgp-Mg
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
AI’s been an amazing case study disproving the concept of supply and demand
Big tech promotes the story that since ChatGPT burst onto the scene, AI has been so popular it's rushed to meet the demand. The reality is different. A study by design scholars shows tech co's have had to push AI on its users with a variety of intrusive tactics.
How big tech is force-feeding us AI:
How big tech is force-feeding us AI:
How big tech is force-feeding us AI
Plus, OpenAI's absurd listening tour, top AI scientists say AI is evolving beyond our control, Facebook is putting data centers in tents, and the AI bubble question — answered?
www.bloodinthemachine.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
AI’s been an amazing case study disproving the concept of supply and demand
There's something otherworldly about forced starvation. It's not explicitly violent. It's slower, more systematic. It kills differently, depending on your physiology. It is so unbelievably cruel, it defies understanding.
How can anyone bear this?
How can anyone bear this?
July 22, 2025 at 7:31 PM
There's something otherworldly about forced starvation. It's not explicitly violent. It's slower, more systematic. It kills differently, depending on your physiology. It is so unbelievably cruel, it defies understanding.
How can anyone bear this?
How can anyone bear this?
Every post about Palestinians in Gaza being systematically starved attracts a long line of the worst people you can imagine. Sneering, jeering, labelling everything "propaganda", denying what's visible & has been legitimately validated.
I can't comprehend this level of cruelty.
I can't comprehend this level of cruelty.
July 20, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Every post about Palestinians in Gaza being systematically starved attracts a long line of the worst people you can imagine. Sneering, jeering, labelling everything "propaganda", denying what's visible & has been legitimately validated.
I can't comprehend this level of cruelty.
I can't comprehend this level of cruelty.
Reposted by Hirah Azhar
interesting thing about the ai discourse is that you will say "companies pumped a trillion into glorified chatbots" and get the answer of "well ai will revolutionize medical diagnosis/chem research etc" and its like ok but those companies didnt fund those, they very pointedly funded the chatbots
July 20, 2025 at 12:25 AM
interesting thing about the ai discourse is that you will say "companies pumped a trillion into glorified chatbots" and get the answer of "well ai will revolutionize medical diagnosis/chem research etc" and its like ok but those companies didnt fund those, they very pointedly funded the chatbots
here we go again with the heavily fetishised bombing of brown people
June 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
here we go again with the heavily fetishised bombing of brown people