Becca Harrison
@beccaeharrison.bsky.social
Researching the environmental impacts of filmmaking via histories of Star Wars. Film critic (as seen in/on Sight&Sound, BBC, etc.). Let's get organised. Pass me the matches. She/her.
Reposted by Becca Harrison
New episode out today! We chat with @beccaeharrison.bsky.social about feminism, gender identity and representation in SW, from on-screen, to behind-the-scenes to fandom. Did you know that R2-D2 is on screen more than Leia is in ANH?
skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsolo... #starwars #feminism
skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsolo... #starwars #feminism
Star Warsologies 72: Feminism in Star Wars
This episode of Star Warsologies covers feminism and gender representation in Star Wars with author and historian Becca Harrison. Becca Harrison tallied up all the screen time for female characters…
skywalkingthroughneverland.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:48 PM
New episode out today! We chat with @beccaeharrison.bsky.social about feminism, gender identity and representation in SW, from on-screen, to behind-the-scenes to fandom. Did you know that R2-D2 is on screen more than Leia is in ANH?
skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsolo... #starwars #feminism
skywalkingthroughneverland.com/star-warsolo... #starwars #feminism
The fourth (and final!) Environmental Impact of Filmmaking just dropped for anyone interested in how to minimise disruption to local communities and nature during film & tv location shoots. There are 6 recommendations for crews, policymakers, landowners and funders
eifproject.com/star-wars-lo...
eifproject.com/star-wars-lo...
Star Wars Locations: Improving community and nature outcomes
The case study includes a survey of people living, working, or pursuing leisure activities near Star Wars location shoots, and interviews with both ecologists
eifproject.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The fourth (and final!) Environmental Impact of Filmmaking just dropped for anyone interested in how to minimise disruption to local communities and nature during film & tv location shoots. There are 6 recommendations for crews, policymakers, landowners and funders
eifproject.com/star-wars-lo...
eifproject.com/star-wars-lo...
Over the past few weeks I’ve been covering some of the Lift The Ban campaign’s actions - it feels important to document what’s happening on the ground, with news reporting at many outlets pretty limited in this area. Here’s my second report for Reel News: reelnews.co.uk/2025/07/30/a...
Second ‘Lift the Ban’ Demo Raises More Questions About Policing and the Far-Right in Manchester – In the global war between rich and poor,
reelnews.co.uk
July 31, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Over the past few weeks I’ve been covering some of the Lift The Ban campaign’s actions - it feels important to document what’s happening on the ground, with news reporting at many outlets pretty limited in this area. Here’s my second report for Reel News: reelnews.co.uk/2025/07/30/a...
Not sure if anyone's seen Harvest? It seems to have slipped through the cracks a bit. In any case, I've shared an in-person intro to the film as a blog post. It's about land enclosures, identity, nature, and what, despite everything that divides us, we could and should still have in common
How Harvest (2024) reminds us of we've lost - and what we could still have in common
How does the film Harvest tell stories about our relationships to land, nature, nation, and one another? Academic and critic Rebecca Harrison traces histories of enclosures in England, Scotland, and b...
www.beccaeharrison.com
July 29, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Not sure if anyone's seen Harvest? It seems to have slipped through the cracks a bit. In any case, I've shared an in-person intro to the film as a blog post. It's about land enclosures, identity, nature, and what, despite everything that divides us, we could and should still have in common
Went for a spontaneous (much-needed) walk yesterday and gathered more footage for my wild lives film. Including a magical encounter with a hare, a red admiral fluttering in the wind, a (not pictured) slow worm, and a ladybird who changed their mind about the water
July 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Went for a spontaneous (much-needed) walk yesterday and gathered more footage for my wild lives film. Including a magical encounter with a hare, a red admiral fluttering in the wind, a (not pictured) slow worm, and a ladybird who changed their mind about the water
If you're longing for aircon and a film about the end of summer, join me at the @mediamuseum.bsky.social on July 24 for an intro to HARVEST. I'll be discussing the movie's land and identity politics, and the enclosures caused by film location shoots
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cines...
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cines...
Cinespotlights: Harvest (18) + intro | National Science and Media Museum
Dr Rebecca Harrison explores the environmental implications of this spellbinding and thrillingly distinctive period piece.
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk
July 1, 2025 at 8:07 AM
If you're longing for aircon and a film about the end of summer, join me at the @mediamuseum.bsky.social on July 24 for an intro to HARVEST. I'll be discussing the movie's land and identity politics, and the enclosures caused by film location shoots
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cines...
www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/cinema/cines...
Reposted by Becca Harrison
‘We…condemn the UK Government’s plans to proscribe Palestine Action…& consider this constitutes a significant threat to freedom of expression & civil liberties…’
Over 750 academics launch open letter condemning moves to ban @palaction.bsky.social
Read & sign:
ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/d...
Over 750 academics launch open letter condemning moves to ban @palaction.bsky.social
Read & sign:
ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/d...
https://ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/defend-the-right-to-protest-no-ban-on-palestine-action-open-letter/
t.co
June 27, 2025 at 8:21 AM
‘We…condemn the UK Government’s plans to proscribe Palestine Action…& consider this constitutes a significant threat to freedom of expression & civil liberties…’
Over 750 academics launch open letter condemning moves to ban @palaction.bsky.social
Read & sign:
ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/d...
Over 750 academics launch open letter condemning moves to ban @palaction.bsky.social
Read & sign:
ucw4palestine.org/2025/06/27/d...
During my time on UCU’s higher ed committee I repeatedly suggested we take action (short of a strike) to dismantle REF. I’ve repeatedly argued people should not participate on REF committees, panels, etc. But so often people - usually profs - shut any potential action down as if it can’t be done
June 18, 2025 at 7:31 AM
During my time on UCU’s higher ed committee I repeatedly suggested we take action (short of a strike) to dismantle REF. I’ve repeatedly argued people should not participate on REF committees, panels, etc. But so often people - usually profs - shut any potential action down as if it can’t be done
Last year we ran a survey on UK HE redundancies.
Based on 349 responses, the UNIVERSITIES DEGRADED REPORT uncovers awful conditions, targeting of marginalised groups, & far more cuts than estimated.
People's stories matter. We can hold leaders to account. Please share widely tinyurl.com/48nzf7ew
Based on 349 responses, the UNIVERSITIES DEGRADED REPORT uncovers awful conditions, targeting of marginalised groups, & far more cuts than estimated.
People's stories matter. We can hold leaders to account. Please share widely tinyurl.com/48nzf7ew
Universities Degraded: Staff Experiences & Employer Practices of Redundancies in UK Higher Education
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Conducted between August and October 2024 and publicised mainly by members of the University and College Union (UCU), the ‘Survey for UCU Members on HE Redundancies’ invited response...
zenodo.org
June 17, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Last year we ran a survey on UK HE redundancies.
Based on 349 responses, the UNIVERSITIES DEGRADED REPORT uncovers awful conditions, targeting of marginalised groups, & far more cuts than estimated.
People's stories matter. We can hold leaders to account. Please share widely tinyurl.com/48nzf7ew
Based on 349 responses, the UNIVERSITIES DEGRADED REPORT uncovers awful conditions, targeting of marginalised groups, & far more cuts than estimated.
People's stories matter. We can hold leaders to account. Please share widely tinyurl.com/48nzf7ew
‘Publish AND perish,’ the gen-AI sequel to ‘publish or perish’ culture that no one asked for
can’t read the NYT piece about historians using AI to write history which is pretty great actually because I DONT WANT TO
June 16, 2025 at 4:19 PM
‘Publish AND perish,’ the gen-AI sequel to ‘publish or perish’ culture that no one asked for
After months of work, @davidharvie.bsky.social and I have finished a major report that centres people’s experiences of job cuts in UK HE - and exposes employer tactics in those processes. ‘Universities Degraded’ will be available in full next week. We hope it helps everyone fighting for change
June 11, 2025 at 3:15 PM
After months of work, @davidharvie.bsky.social and I have finished a major report that centres people’s experiences of job cuts in UK HE - and exposes employer tactics in those processes. ‘Universities Degraded’ will be available in full next week. We hope it helps everyone fighting for change
If you have any kind of power in the screen industries and you’re not actively prioritising learning and action to reduce the ecological harms that your projects cause, then at this stage you deserve people organising to shut down down your productions via protest/disruption
June 5, 2025 at 1:53 PM
If you have any kind of power in the screen industries and you’re not actively prioritising learning and action to reduce the ecological harms that your projects cause, then at this stage you deserve people organising to shut down down your productions via protest/disruption
Obv I’m glad that there’s more funding for ECRs.
But the framing is eyebrow raising in the current HE environment. Fund the new ‘leaders of tomorrow’ to replace the last lot of ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who got made redundant yesterday! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/5millio...
But the framing is eyebrow raising in the current HE environment. Fund the new ‘leaders of tomorrow’ to replace the last lot of ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who got made redundant yesterday! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/5millio...
British Academy announces 5million investment from Wellcome to turbocharge support for early career researchers
The British Academy welcomes an investment of £5million from Wellcome, to launch a unique Leadership and Advancement SHAPE programme for researchers in the early stages of their careers. The funding s...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
June 4, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Obv I’m glad that there’s more funding for ECRs.
But the framing is eyebrow raising in the current HE environment. Fund the new ‘leaders of tomorrow’ to replace the last lot of ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who got made redundant yesterday! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/5millio...
But the framing is eyebrow raising in the current HE environment. Fund the new ‘leaders of tomorrow’ to replace the last lot of ‘leaders of tomorrow’ who got made redundant yesterday! www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/news/5millio...
10hrs of trains and rail-replacement-taxis to get to the Celtic Media Festival and I have been rewarded with sun puddles, wildflowers and sea monsters
June 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
10hrs of trains and rail-replacement-taxis to get to the Celtic Media Festival and I have been rewarded with sun puddles, wildflowers and sea monsters
[CW: coercive control/abuse]
Does anyone know of legal or other support services for women in Germany (specifically Berlin) who’ve experienced coercive control? A friend of a friend is in need of assistance in a custody case with an awful ex-partner. Any contacts would be appreciated
Does anyone know of legal or other support services for women in Germany (specifically Berlin) who’ve experienced coercive control? A friend of a friend is in need of assistance in a custody case with an awful ex-partner. Any contacts would be appreciated
June 3, 2025 at 9:15 AM
[CW: coercive control/abuse]
Does anyone know of legal or other support services for women in Germany (specifically Berlin) who’ve experienced coercive control? A friend of a friend is in need of assistance in a custody case with an awful ex-partner. Any contacts would be appreciated
Does anyone know of legal or other support services for women in Germany (specifically Berlin) who’ve experienced coercive control? A friend of a friend is in need of assistance in a custody case with an awful ex-partner. Any contacts would be appreciated
Spending billions on weapons so you can murder people abroad while you use austerity and hate speech to kill people at home, all the while annihilating wild lives with anti-planetary policy… Maybe the banality of evil does sometimes have a face. From here it looks a lot like Starmer
June 3, 2025 at 8:53 AM
Spending billions on weapons so you can murder people abroad while you use austerity and hate speech to kill people at home, all the while annihilating wild lives with anti-planetary policy… Maybe the banality of evil does sometimes have a face. From here it looks a lot like Starmer
Politicians considering use of ‘chemical castration’ on people convicted of gender-based violence, but won’t do anything to address the causes of it (which are NOT ‘men wanting sex too much’. Seriously, come on). It’s nothing more than state-sanctioned human rights abuse from the far-right playbook
May 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Politicians considering use of ‘chemical castration’ on people convicted of gender-based violence, but won’t do anything to address the causes of it (which are NOT ‘men wanting sex too much’. Seriously, come on). It’s nothing more than state-sanctioned human rights abuse from the far-right playbook
Some important work-related news from me:
I have left The Open University to pursue research and teaching projects that are committed to social, political, and ecological justice. I will be working as a freelance researcher and welcome conversations with potential collaborators.
I have left The Open University to pursue research and teaching projects that are committed to social, political, and ecological justice. I will be working as a freelance researcher and welcome conversations with potential collaborators.
May 12, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Some important work-related news from me:
I have left The Open University to pursue research and teaching projects that are committed to social, political, and ecological justice. I will be working as a freelance researcher and welcome conversations with potential collaborators.
I have left The Open University to pursue research and teaching projects that are committed to social, political, and ecological justice. I will be working as a freelance researcher and welcome conversations with potential collaborators.
Shame on UCU managers for this brazen attempt to cover up bad employment practices. Whatever you call them - non-disparagement clauses, confidentiality agreements - these are NDAs. We all know conditions are stacked in the employer’s favour.
Enforced silence is *always* violence.
Enforced silence is *always* violence.
May 1, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Shame on UCU managers for this brazen attempt to cover up bad employment practices. Whatever you call them - non-disparagement clauses, confidentiality agreements - these are NDAs. We all know conditions are stacked in the employer’s favour.
Enforced silence is *always* violence.
Enforced silence is *always* violence.
Reposted by Becca Harrison
New Writings event at the BFI
Devil's Advocates: The Woman in Black with Mark Fryers
Monday 28 April 2025 18:30
BFI Reuben Library
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Devil's Advocates: The Woman in Black with Mark Fryers
Monday 28 April 2025 18:30
BFI Reuben Library
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Buy cinema tickets for New Writings: The Woman in Black with Mark Fryers | BFI Southbank
2025-04-28T18:30:00.000
whatson.bfi.org.uk
April 23, 2025 at 3:19 PM
New Writings event at the BFI
Devil's Advocates: The Woman in Black with Mark Fryers
Monday 28 April 2025 18:30
BFI Reuben Library
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Devil's Advocates: The Woman in Black with Mark Fryers
Monday 28 April 2025 18:30
BFI Reuben Library
whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/defau...
Every time someone uses GenAI to manufacture fake idioms about badgers we gain heat pollution and GHG emissions, and lose water (they may also lose my respect but that’s far less likely to bother anyone). Please - for the love of actual badgers! - stop
April 23, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Every time someone uses GenAI to manufacture fake idioms about badgers we gain heat pollution and GHG emissions, and lose water (they may also lose my respect but that’s far less likely to bother anyone). Please - for the love of actual badgers! - stop
If you’re paying attention to the Supreme Court decision or Labour’s budgets or job cuts in UK universities or the creeping use of genAI in public life and you’re not already thinking about how we fight fascism then this is the time to start
April 17, 2025 at 10:23 AM
If you’re paying attention to the Supreme Court decision or Labour’s budgets or job cuts in UK universities or the creeping use of genAI in public life and you’re not already thinking about how we fight fascism then this is the time to start
Flowers blooming on cliff faces and in the crevices between rock pools are very much my vibe this week
April 15, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Flowers blooming on cliff faces and in the crevices between rock pools are very much my vibe this week
Reposted by Becca Harrison
The idea that genAI is intelligent is the hallucination -- ours. And we hallucinate that bc we are socially primed to value exclusionary definitions of "intelligence" as pattern-matching to uphold status quo.
Not a dunk on a clever socmed aphorism from JH, but on cleverness. "Intelligence" is white supremacist, ableist, sexist & speciesist. The I in AI is also the problem! Processing data fast to conformed pattern recognition = cognition-being? Intelligence = creativity? Cmon. Literally have a heart.
April 15, 2025 at 9:37 AM
The idea that genAI is intelligent is the hallucination -- ours. And we hallucinate that bc we are socially primed to value exclusionary definitions of "intelligence" as pattern-matching to uphold status quo.
A key question for universities is whether they are spaces of curiosity, creativity, and learning that enables people to think and act in new ways… or whether they only exist to serve job markets by churning out compliant workers.
A key question for universities today: how to prepare students for jobs that do not yet exist? We explore this and other issues relating to workplace skills in the latest Campus webinar, now available on-demand: www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/campu...
#edusky #futureskills #highereducation
#edusky #futureskills #highereducation
Campus webinar: Prepare students with workplace skills of the future
Find out how to prepare students for jobs that don’t exist yet, with insight from experts at Campus+ institutions across the Middle East, Africa and Europe
www.timeshighereducation.com
April 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
A key question for universities is whether they are spaces of curiosity, creativity, and learning that enables people to think and act in new ways… or whether they only exist to serve job markets by churning out compliant workers.