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Adrian Vickers

Adrian Vickers

@avick.bsky.social

2.2K followers 1.5K following 1.1K posts

Professor Emeritus. Historian and art historian, especially of Indonesia/Bali. DH, cricket, representation. Comments personal and not related to my university’s views. Projects include http://balipaintings.org/ and https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/ .. more

Adrian Vickers is an Australian author, historian and professor of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Sydney. He writes a blog on Indonesian subjects. He has studied and documented Gambuh dance traditions, Panji (prince) stories, and other Indonesian art and cultural subjects as well as historiography and colonialism. He has a BA and PhD from the University of Sydney, is the Professor of Southeast Asian Studies and Director of the Asian Studies Program. Vickers' most recent book, The Pearl Frontier, co-written with Julia Martínez, won the University of Southern Queensland History Book Award at the 2016 Queensland Literary Awards. He is a fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. .. more

Political science 45%

Sociology 38%

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Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · Nov 19

The Virtual Museum of Balinese Painting has undergone a major make-over. We're still fixing some things (like the bibliography link), but thanks to the Systemik team, I've been able to add a lot more: heurist-usyd.cloud.edu.au/heurist/?db=...

The Virtual Museum of Balinese Painting

Enter a concise description of the Heurist database / website here, which will be used eg. in lists of websites and in search engine discovery. Remember to indicate the institution and/or project, t...

heurist-usyd.cloud.edu.au

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 1h

It's not a new thread, that's my point. It simplifies a very old set of threads, as a way of claiming the importance of quantitative methods. I'd be interested if it had something new to say.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Max Walden @maxwalden.bsky.social · 2h

A 13-year search for one of the world's rarest flowers in Indonesia ends in a 'magical experience' www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

Researcher cries after finding rare flower in Indonesia

A team of researchers describe the "magical" experience of finding a rare species of flower in bloom deep in the Sumatran rainforest after a 23-hour trek.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Kate Littlejohn @kelittlejohn.bsky.social · 3h

I feel really sorry for kids right now. They are swimming in genAI slop everywhere they go. It's pushed on them by everyone. My kids regularly tell me that teachers advise them to use it for *everything*. How do they become great at things when they're actively supported to avoid mental work? /1

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Max Walden @maxwalden.bsky.social · 3h

Fraudsters and intermediaries claiming to have access to Indonesian immigration officials have been scamming workers eager to come to Australia.
www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

'The names have been selected': Crooked operators rig working visas

Thousands of young Indonesians want the chance to come to Australia to work, but first they have to win a visa application "war" that puts them in the sights of scammers and dodgy operators promising ...

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 4h

🤔 ignores the literature over the last 40 years on the relationship between state formation and rice growing in SEAsia. Very simplistic attempt to apply statistics where they’re not needed.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Dr. Peter Paul Rubens @peterpaulrubens.bsky.social · 5h

Interior of the Portuguese Jewish Synagogue in Amsterdam, 1680. Painted by Emanuel de Witte, whose day is today.

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 14h

A rich collection. Sanskritists will be particularly interested in the article: ‘Sanskrit educational texts in Kawi culture; The case of the Sanskrit educational texts in Kawi culture; The case of the
"Kārakasaṁgraha"’
Zakariya Pamuji Aminullah
Yosephin Apriastuti Rahayu

Tim Lubin @timlubin.bsky.social · 1d

Important group of new studies on the "Kawi culture" that grew out of the use of the Old Javanese in the 8th-15th c. as a cosmopolitan vernacular by speakers of various languages, esp. in Java & Bali. Lots of exciting new work in this field. Wacana 26(3), free download: scholarhub.ui.ac.id/wacana/

Cover of Wacana journal, vol. 26.3 (2025), with illustrated manuscript page showing a battle scene.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Lauren Working @laurenworking.bsky.social · 15h

Swimming in #goldenworld copyedits this week & thinking a lot about supply chains & modern waste colonialism. For anyone interested in labour & craft in our own fashion system, this is such a good Wardrobe Crisis episode on the evils of super fast fashion: thewardrobecrisis.com/podcast/ep-2...

Ep 231, Inside Shein: How the Ultra Fast Fashion Brand Makes Clothes So Cheap — Wardrobe Crisis

Despite Shein’s new sustainability rhetoric, workers are still paying the price for the ultra-fast fashion giant’s success. To 75-hour working weeks, piece rates and no contracts, add secrecy, opaque...

thewardrobecrisis.com

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 22h

Will continue to do so for the next month

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 1d

Thai woman found alive in coffin before temple cremation

Thai woman found alive in coffin before temple cremation

The 65-year-old woman shocked temple staff when they heard a faint knocking and she started moving in her coffin after being brought in for cremation A woman in Thailand shocked temple staff when she started moving in her coffin after being brought in for cremation. Wat Rat Prakhong Tham, a Buddhist temple in the province of Nonthaburi on the outskirts of Bangkok , posted a video on its Facebook page, showing a woman lying in a white coffin in the back of a pick-up truck, slightly moving her arms and head, leaving temple staff bewildered. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Tim Lubin @timlubin.bsky.social · 1d

Important group of new studies on the "Kawi culture" that grew out of the use of the Old Javanese in the 8th-15th c. as a cosmopolitan vernacular by speakers of various languages, esp. in Java & Bali. Lots of exciting new work in this field. Wacana 26(3), free download: scholarhub.ui.ac.id/wacana/

Cover of Wacana journal, vol. 26.3 (2025), with illustrated manuscript page showing a battle scene.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Women's Peace Network @womenspeacenetwork.org · 1d

🚨"The Trump administration announced it will cancel temporary asylum for around 10,000 #Myanmar nationals living in the US, despite the country being ruled by a military dictatorship that has a record of executing dissidents."

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump administration cancels temporary asylum for Myanmar nationals living in US

Homeland security claims country being ruled by military dictatorship ‘no longer continues to meet conditions’ for Temporary Protected Status

www.theguardian.com

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 1d

This doesn’t necessarily send out the message they intend to convey

“Learn from lecturers, tutors and industry icons” sign at University of Western Australia

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Al Jazeera English @aljazeera.com · 1d

Heavy rain has caused severe flooding across southern Thailand, where parts of the city of Hat Yai are under floodwater and evacuations have begun in high-risk areas.

Vietnam has begun clean-up operations after extensive flooding there killed dozens of people.

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Andreas Harsono @andreasharsono.bsky.social · 1d

At least 90 people have been killed in floods and landslides in central Vietnam – the worst in decades. The government says natural disasters have caused more than USD2 billion in damage www.youtube.com/watch?v=90sA...

Death toll from Vietnam floods rises to 90, several still missing

YouTube video by Al Jazeera English

www.youtube.com

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Blacklikewho @blacklikewho.bsky.social · 1d

RIP
m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Znh...

Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come

YouTube video by Rocksteady Freddie

Reposted by Adrian Vickers, Catherine J. Frieman

Rafe Meager (they/them) @economeager.bsky.social · 1d

i really struggle to understand why centre left parties do not like universities, do not like the soft power we wield (imagine getting to educate the children of your geopolitical rivals!!!! IMAGINE!!!). i dont believe that albo, starmer, etc are this stupid, it's got to be hatred. but y.

Reposted by Will Jennings, Adrian Vickers, Margot C. Finn , and 3 more Will Jennings, Adrian Vickers, Margot C. Finn, Katrina Navickas, Christina Pagel, Steven H. Seggie

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 2d

These are HEPI estimates of the 20 institutions affected: I think this illustrates the impact if the tariff is absorbed in full by institutions.

What share of the 6% tariff different universities may try to pass on to fees - or the impact might be on demand if they did - is not publicly known.

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 2d

Was the name Chomsky by any chance?

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Bruce Buchan @brucealexb.bsky.social · 2d

Why were heads hunted in the Enlightenment?
Who hunted heads, and where did they 'acquire' them?
It’s a complicated history.
@lindaaburnett.bsky.social and I tell some of it in our new book.
We'll tell more of it in our next!
You can read a little about it here:
yalebooks.yale.edu/2025/11/20/h...

Headhunting in the Age of Reason: Enlightenment Origins of the Global Trade in Skulls - Yale University Press

Bruce Buchan and Linda Andersson Burnett— Headhunting is not the first association that most people would make with the Age of Enlightenment. Indeed, many might never associate headhunting with the......

yalebooks.yale.edu

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

🦘 Dr Aussie Alison. PhD🦘 @ncc1701-g.bsky.social · 2d

I had a conversation with my 14 year old Grandson as I drove him home to Melbourne this afternoon. He asked if our planet was doomed and why are some of the population so greedy, nasty, homo/transphobic and racist. 14 year olds should be experiencing happiness not having these thoughts. 💔

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 2d

Had an idea? Was sponsored by Rupert Murdoch

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Robyn D @koparafallskid.bsky.social · 3d

Cyclone Fina live updates: Strongest system to pass Darwin since Tracy, remains category three

For those too young to remember, Tracy was BAD!

Australia

Live: Cyclone Fina strongest system to pass Darwin since Tracy

Severe Tropical Cyclone Fina remains an intense category three cyclone, as it slowly moves away from the Northern Territory capital. Follow live.

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Martin Paul Eve, Lesley A. Hall , and 3 more Diane Coyle, Martin Paul Eve, Lesley A. Hall, Adrian Vickers, Margot C. Finn, Catherine J. Frieman

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 3d

Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...

Restoring our services – November 2025 update

In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 3d

“Colourful/prominent Sydney businessman” is another old euphemism we need to use more

Reposted by Adrian Vickers, Gabriel Ortega‐Solís

Benjamin Alvarez @benjalvarez1.bsky.social · 4d

Emotional scene at the @britishmuseum.bsky.social as a Rapa Nui delegation paid tribute to the Hoa Hakananai'a Moai that was stolen from the island in 1868. People calling for its return are once again flooding the museum's comment section on social media. #devuelvanelmoai

Reposted by Adrian Vickers

Kaz Cooke @kazcooke.bsky.social · 4d

#Victorians! Our State Library is being trashed by a series of executives with no experience or understanding of public collections. Many hired as 'temps' without full process, who then caused scandals & exodus of specialist & librarian staff: a full wreck looms. www.theage.com.au/national/vic...

State Library proposes major cuts to staff and services

The library plans halve the number of reference librarians it employs and reduce the number of computers available for public use in a move that has outraged staff.

www.theage.com.au

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 4d

That was covered by the Dutch West India Company, which operated from the West Indies and Brazil to the Gulf of Guinea. I'm presuming they got Indian textiles from the VOC, but can't find any sources about their relationship between the two (Boxer's Dutch Seaborne Empire gives a general outline).

Adrian Vickers @avick.bsky.social · 4d

There’s a difference between bulk items and the high end ones. Gujerati patolas were the most in demand in Indonesia