Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
@berthac.bsky.social
Fan, celebrity & cultural studies academic. Senior lecturer in media & cultural studies @ NUS, Singapore. Intermixing posts on shows I'm watching, fandoms, politics, academia & work. Opinions my own.
Pinned
40. Fandom - Bertha Chin
Bertha Chin is a Senior Lecturer in Communications And New Media at the National University of Singapore.
open.substack.com
Probably the most fun I had recording a podcast! Thanks to @giagia.co.uk and Tim Vermeulen for inviting me to come on and ramble about #fandoms and #fancultures!
40. Fandom - Bertha Chin open.substack.com/pub/theclust...
40. Fandom - Bertha Chin open.substack.com/pub/theclust...
Yes, well, you set the precedent when you didn’t condemn him for invading another country and kidnapped its leader right under everyone’s eyes, no matter how problematic you seem said leader was. And now you expect Trump to not be emboldened by that? Funny.
European leaders warn of ‘downward spiral’ after Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland – Europe live
European leaders warn of ‘downward spiral’ after Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland – Europe live
Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland will face tariffs from 1 February
www.theguardian.com
January 18, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Yes, well, you set the precedent when you didn’t condemn him for invading another country and kidnapped its leader right under everyone’s eyes, no matter how problematic you seem said leader was. And now you expect Trump to not be emboldened by that? Funny.
What is it then when you’ve gone back to try and do exactly this but your expertise and contribution are gaslit and spat back in your face? Hazing? A test of mettle to prove you’re really successful and thus can withstand workplace bullying?
www.malaymail.com/news/malaysi...
www.malaymail.com/news/malaysi...
Dr Sim: Sarawakians who don’t come home to contribute are not truly successful
KUCHING, Jan 9 — Sarawakians who choose not to return to their homeland to contribute to the state’s development are not truly successful, said Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.The...
www.malaymail.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:58 PM
What is it then when you’ve gone back to try and do exactly this but your expertise and contribution are gaslit and spat back in your face? Hazing? A test of mettle to prove you’re really successful and thus can withstand workplace bullying?
www.malaymail.com/news/malaysi...
www.malaymail.com/news/malaysi...
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
“Grok is generating at least one non-consensual sexual image every minute”
Grok Is Undressing Women and Children. Only Elon Musk Is to Blame
The abuse is widespread. But instead of apologizing, Musk has gleefully encouraged the behavior, praising Grok’s ability and promoting the tool.
zeteo.com
January 7, 2026 at 12:35 PM
“Grok is generating at least one non-consensual sexual image every minute”
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
Psst! Hey you!
The FSNNA Organizing Committee is recruiting new volunteers to bring fresh perspectives & ideas to the committee, and we'd love it if you applied!
Applications are open till Jan 31, 2026. Don't miss out!
The FSNNA Organizing Committee is recruiting new volunteers to bring fresh perspectives & ideas to the committee, and we'd love it if you applied!
Applications are open till Jan 31, 2026. Don't miss out!
FSNNA 2026 Committee Application
FSNNA held its first conference in October 2018 to gather fan studies scholars in one place to meet, share new research, and promote the study of fanworks and fan cultures. During the Covid-19 pandemi...
forms.gle
January 6, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Psst! Hey you!
The FSNNA Organizing Committee is recruiting new volunteers to bring fresh perspectives & ideas to the committee, and we'd love it if you applied!
Applications are open till Jan 31, 2026. Don't miss out!
The FSNNA Organizing Committee is recruiting new volunteers to bring fresh perspectives & ideas to the committee, and we'd love it if you applied!
Applications are open till Jan 31, 2026. Don't miss out!
Definitely Howl’s Moving Castle
In honor of Hayao Miyazaki's birthday, what's your favorite Studio Ghibli film? Doesn't have to be the one you think is "the best," just the one that nestled in your heart. Mine is Howl's Moving Castle.
a painting of howl 's moving castle shows a cloudy night sky
Alt: a pixelated gif of Howl's Castle sitting on a hillside under an evening sky.
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:48 AM
Definitely Howl’s Moving Castle
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
January 3, 2026 at 3:34 PM
It’s not about drugs. If it was, Trump wouldn’t have pardoned one of the largest narco traffickers in the world last month.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
It’s about oil and regime change.
And they need a trial now to pretend that it isn’t. Especially to distract from his sinking under Epstein and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
As we all said, international law, such as it was, no longer exists. The United States, following Israel’s precedent, considers itself to have the explicit authority to blatantly violate sovereignty anywhere in the world and abduct even leaders of other states.
There are no guardrails whatsoever.
There are no guardrails whatsoever.
January 3, 2026 at 1:43 PM
As we all said, international law, such as it was, no longer exists. The United States, following Israel’s precedent, considers itself to have the explicit authority to blatantly violate sovereignty anywhere in the world and abduct even leaders of other states.
There are no guardrails whatsoever.
There are no guardrails whatsoever.
It’ll just be like entering any other country ruled by dictators that the West have loved to criticised. 🤷🏻♀️
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Tourists to US would have to reveal five years of social media activity under new Trump plan
Plan would apply to countries not currently required to get visas to the US, including Britain and France
www.theguardian.com
December 11, 2025 at 6:46 AM
It’ll just be like entering any other country ruled by dictators that the West have loved to criticised. 🤷🏻♀️
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Waiting for the outrage…
Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix www.theverge.com/news/839813/...
Paramount launches a hostile $108 billion bid to snatch Warner from Netflix
It’s not over yet.
www.theverge.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Waiting for the outrage…
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
📢 #CallForPapers for the Trans #Asian Transcultural #Fandom Symposium happening on May 28, 2026 prior to @mechademia.bsky.social in #Singapore🇸🇬
Deadline for 500-word abstract⏳Feb 1
Find out more ▶️ transasianfan.wordpress.com
We welcome your submissions🫰
@berthac.bsky.social @profweiyu.bsky.social
Deadline for 500-word abstract⏳Feb 1
Find out more ▶️ transasianfan.wordpress.com
We welcome your submissions🫰
@berthac.bsky.social @profweiyu.bsky.social
CfP: Trans-Asian Transcultural Fandom Symposium happening next May @ NUS, Singapore. More announcements to come, but we're hoping this will kickstart conversations and collaborations for scholars in the region working on transcultural fandom
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
December 4, 2025 at 9:17 AM
📢 #CallForPapers for the Trans #Asian Transcultural #Fandom Symposium happening on May 28, 2026 prior to @mechademia.bsky.social in #Singapore🇸🇬
Deadline for 500-word abstract⏳Feb 1
Find out more ▶️ transasianfan.wordpress.com
We welcome your submissions🫰
@berthac.bsky.social @profweiyu.bsky.social
Deadline for 500-word abstract⏳Feb 1
Find out more ▶️ transasianfan.wordpress.com
We welcome your submissions🫰
@berthac.bsky.social @profweiyu.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
CfP: Trans-Asian Transcultural Fandom Symposium happening next May @ NUS, Singapore. More announcements to come, but we're hoping this will kickstart conversations and collaborations for scholars in the region working on transcultural fandom
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
December 4, 2025 at 6:18 AM
CfP: Trans-Asian Transcultural Fandom Symposium happening next May @ NUS, Singapore. More announcements to come, but we're hoping this will kickstart conversations and collaborations for scholars in the region working on transcultural fandom
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
#AcademicSky #FanStudies #TransculturalFandom #CfPs
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
I'm looking for participants for my master's study about transmasc/trans men fans of manga and anime! Please fill out my 10-minute survey:
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
December 1, 2025 at 10:52 AM
I'm looking for participants for my master's study about transmasc/trans men fans of manga and anime! Please fill out my 10-minute survey:
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
form.jotform.com/253308772919...
#transmasc #t4t #ftm #nonbinary #transresearch #transsurvey #nonbinarysurvey #transresearchbytransrsearchers
I’m not into rom-coms in general, but I must say “Nice to Not Meet You” is endearing. It’s all the Lee Jung Jae factor for me!
December 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I’m not into rom-coms in general, but I must say “Nice to Not Meet You” is endearing. It’s all the Lee Jung Jae factor for me!
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
"Ban harmful content from social media instead of us, say Australian teens" www.bbc.com/news/article...
Australia social media ban: Get rid of harmful content instead of us, say teens
From 10 December, social media firms must ensure Australians aged under 16 cannot have accounts.
www.bbc.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 AM
"Ban harmful content from social media instead of us, say Australian teens" www.bbc.com/news/article...
Whenever Hong Kong TVB dramas (Queen of News 2) start out well, you can almost always expect it to descend into chaos midway through with questionable tropes and/or character regressions. Or OTT character back story. 🤔
December 1, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Whenever Hong Kong TVB dramas (Queen of News 2) start out well, you can almost always expect it to descend into chaos midway through with questionable tropes and/or character regressions. Or OTT character back story. 🤔
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
The tragic fire in Tai Po has deeper roots: Hong Kong's market-driven, capitalist system that promotes predatory business interests over working people's safety. Read our latest on how Hongkongers are supporting each other through mass mutual aid:
lausancollective.com/2025/tai-po-...
lausancollective.com/2025/tai-po-...
Tai Po in flames - Lausan
How Hongkongers are reviving mass action and mutual aid in the wake of the deadly fires in Tai Po.
lausancollective.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:53 AM
The tragic fire in Tai Po has deeper roots: Hong Kong's market-driven, capitalist system that promotes predatory business interests over working people's safety. Read our latest on how Hongkongers are supporting each other through mass mutual aid:
lausancollective.com/2025/tai-po-...
lausancollective.com/2025/tai-po-...
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
This is such a great article by Eva Cheuk-Yin Li & Ka-Wei Pang about a specific incident in fandom in which discourse around AI deepfakes was weaponised by fans. Beyond the incident itself, it offers a thoughtful example of how to engage with fandom incidents with care and respect.
November 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This is such a great article by Eva Cheuk-Yin Li & Ka-Wei Pang about a specific incident in fandom in which discourse around AI deepfakes was weaponised by fans. Beyond the incident itself, it offers a thoughtful example of how to engage with fandom incidents with care and respect.
Initial media reports identified him as a “fan”, and for the general public, this kind of behaviour is immediately relegated to fans. And this is what infuriates me.
www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tr...
www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tr...
‘Troll Most Hated’: Man who rushed at Ariana Grande at Wicked premiere in S’pore a serial intruder
The Australian national also recently interrupted Katy Perry's concert in Sydney. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
www.straitstimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Initial media reports identified him as a “fan”, and for the general public, this kind of behaviour is immediately relegated to fans. And this is what infuriates me.
www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tr...
www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tr...
Attended my first play in Singapore — a Korean production of Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard starring Park Hae Soo and Jeon Do Yeon — and got super annoyed during the post-show conversation when the host (white lady) reworded every question from the audience. Condescending much?! 🙄
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Attended my first play in Singapore — a Korean production of Chekov’s The Cherry Orchard starring Park Hae Soo and Jeon Do Yeon — and got super annoyed during the post-show conversation when the host (white lady) reworded every question from the audience. Condescending much?! 🙄
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
ChatGPT accused of acting as ‘suicide coach’ in series of US lawsuits
ChatGPT accused of acting as ‘suicide coach’ in series of US lawsuits
Chatbot was first used for ‘general help’ with schoolwork or research but ‘evolved into a psychologically manipulative presence’, plaintiffs say
ChatGPT has been accused of acting as a “suicide coach” in a series of lawsuits filed this week in California alleging that interactions with the chatbot led to severe mental breakdowns and several deaths.
The seven lawsuits include allegations of wrongful death, assisted suicide, involuntary manslaughter, negligence and product liability.
In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email [email protected] or [email protected]. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
ChatGPT accused of acting as ‘suicide coach’ in series of US lawsuits
And also, perhaps, take 2-5 seconds to really think whether the content makes any sense at all before you believe everything. It's not just AI-generated videos, it's literally everything you see and read on the internet since oh, I don't know, the late 90s?
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The number one sign you're watching an AI video
Your social media feed is being taken over by AI video slop. But for now, there's still one big red flag that can help you spot the fakes.
www.bbc.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:01 AM
And also, perhaps, take 2-5 seconds to really think whether the content makes any sense at all before you believe everything. It's not just AI-generated videos, it's literally everything you see and read on the internet since oh, I don't know, the late 90s?
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
Reposted by Dr Bertha Chin (she/her)
“We are told that AI is inevitable, that we must adapt or be left behind. But universities are not tech companies. Our role is to foster critical thinking, not to follow industry trends uncritically.”
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
www.ru.nl
November 1, 2025 at 10:45 PM
“We are told that AI is inevitable, that we must adapt or be left behind. But universities are not tech companies. Our role is to foster critical thinking, not to follow industry trends uncritically.”
Everytime I pop my head into Threads, it's filled with racist and regional ragebaiting. Yes, I know I shouldn't bother and I should just delete it.
October 25, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Everytime I pop my head into Threads, it's filled with racist and regional ragebaiting. Yes, I know I shouldn't bother and I should just delete it.