Chelsea Thompto
@cthompto.bsky.social
Artist and Assistant Professor of Creative Technologies @ Virginia Tech
Art+Trans Studies+Technology
Transwoman(she/her) making/thinking about the politics of visibility, trans embodiment, & sustainably.
Opinions are my own.
https://chelsea.technology/
Art+Trans Studies+Technology
Transwoman(she/her) making/thinking about the politics of visibility, trans embodiment, & sustainably.
Opinions are my own.
https://chelsea.technology/
Pinned
Chelsea Thompto
@cthompto.bsky.social
· Jan 17
How to be a trans ally in academia today (opinion)
What it means to be an ally has changed, Chelsea Thompto writes.
www.insidehighered.com
I have been thinking a lot about what this next administration will bring and about how universities can be proactive in protecting and supporting trans faculty, staff and students. I wrote about here:
#academicsky #academia #transrights #transgender #lgbtq
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
#academicsky #academia #transrights #transgender #lgbtq
www.insidehighered.com/opinion/care...
The virtual exhibition on critical AI “Debox” opens today at Public Access Memories as part of The Wrong Biennale! Very excited to be included amount so many other great artists (list to be commented).
#netart #publicaccessmemories #thewrong #criticalai
#netart #publicaccessmemories #thewrong #criticalai
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 PM
The virtual exhibition on critical AI “Debox” opens today at Public Access Memories as part of The Wrong Biennale! Very excited to be included amount so many other great artists (list to be commented).
#netart #publicaccessmemories #thewrong #criticalai
#netart #publicaccessmemories #thewrong #criticalai
Running through some Elden Ring to get images for my talk at @qgcon.bsky.social this coming week. What an amazing game, maybe time for another full play-through?
September 21, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Running through some Elden Ring to get images for my talk at @qgcon.bsky.social this coming week. What an amazing game, maybe time for another full play-through?
International mail service to the US might be fucked, but somehow my new “A.I. Sucks” print from @sonnyross.bsky.social landed on my doorstep this morning! Great way to start the weekend :) . If you don’t know their work you should check them out and support real human artists!
#antiai #fuckai
#antiai #fuckai
September 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
International mail service to the US might be fucked, but somehow my new “A.I. Sucks” print from @sonnyross.bsky.social landed on my doorstep this morning! Great way to start the weekend :) . If you don’t know their work you should check them out and support real human artists!
#antiai #fuckai
#antiai #fuckai
“Politics and aesthetics have an uneasy alliance. Too often, trans art—whatever it might encompass, and whatever form it might take—is on the losing end. Creating good work requires time, space, funding, and the motivation to keep showing up.”
For @newyorker.com I wrote about the censorship of trans art. I spoke to many of my favorite artists from Puppies Puppies to Creighton Baxter, thought about strategic opacity, Amy Sherald, and whether or not we have had great trans artists.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The War on Trans Art
Politics and aesthetics have an uneasy alliance. Too often, trans expression is on the losing end.
www.newyorker.com
September 8, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“Politics and aesthetics have an uneasy alliance. Too often, trans art—whatever it might encompass, and whatever form it might take—is on the losing end. Creating good work requires time, space, funding, and the motivation to keep showing up.”
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
People from all over are showing up for DC. This is not a moment. It’s a movement. We are united in our demands. We are all DC! #FreeDC
September 6, 2025 at 6:08 PM
People from all over are showing up for DC. This is not a moment. It’s a movement. We are united in our demands. We are all DC! #FreeDC
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Transgender studies professor Dr. Susan Stryker tears Gavin Newsom a new one while accepting the Transgender Legacy Award from the California state legislature 🔥🔥🔥 @susanstryker.bsky.social
August 25, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Transgender studies professor Dr. Susan Stryker tears Gavin Newsom a new one while accepting the Transgender Legacy Award from the California state legislature 🔥🔥🔥 @susanstryker.bsky.social
Me: *trying to have a normal first week of class.*
Student: “Why haven’t there been any major successful lawsuits about AI and copyright?”
Me: “Well the thing you have to understand is that the law in the US serves capital not the working class…”
Student: “Why haven’t there been any major successful lawsuits about AI and copyright?”
Me: “Well the thing you have to understand is that the law in the US serves capital not the working class…”
August 25, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Me: *trying to have a normal first week of class.*
Student: “Why haven’t there been any major successful lawsuits about AI and copyright?”
Me: “Well the thing you have to understand is that the law in the US serves capital not the working class…”
Student: “Why haven’t there been any major successful lawsuits about AI and copyright?”
Me: “Well the thing you have to understand is that the law in the US serves capital not the working class…”
First day of the semester hits different as a transwoman and professor in 2025 in the US.
More prepared and capable than I ever have been, but also more anxious to be in public and in front of students than ever.
#academicsky #academia
More prepared and capable than I ever have been, but also more anxious to be in public and in front of students than ever.
#academicsky #academia
August 25, 2025 at 3:18 PM
First day of the semester hits different as a transwoman and professor in 2025 in the US.
More prepared and capable than I ever have been, but also more anxious to be in public and in front of students than ever.
#academicsky #academia
More prepared and capable than I ever have been, but also more anxious to be in public and in front of students than ever.
#academicsky #academia
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
21 arguments against AI in education in thread form below or my post here: codeactsineducation.wordpress.com/2024/02/22/a...
August 23, 2025 at 11:20 PM
21 arguments against AI in education in thread form below or my post here: codeactsineducation.wordpress.com/2024/02/22/a...
Every now and again you read a book, watch a movie, hear a song, play a game etc, that fundamentally broadens what you think a medium can do or be.
Last week I read @scumbelievable.bsky.social ‘s “Cuckoo” and it did just that. Seriously stunning, especially the handling of transness over time.
Last week I read @scumbelievable.bsky.social ‘s “Cuckoo” and it did just that. Seriously stunning, especially the handling of transness over time.
August 23, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Every now and again you read a book, watch a movie, hear a song, play a game etc, that fundamentally broadens what you think a medium can do or be.
Last week I read @scumbelievable.bsky.social ‘s “Cuckoo” and it did just that. Seriously stunning, especially the handling of transness over time.
Last week I read @scumbelievable.bsky.social ‘s “Cuckoo” and it did just that. Seriously stunning, especially the handling of transness over time.
Media-N: Journal of the New Media Caucus, a peer-reviewed open-access journal dedicated to scholarly research and critical dialogue on new media art, has a new open call for their next general issue:
iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/med...
#academicsky #newmedia #opencall #academia #openaccess
iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/med...
#academicsky #newmedia #opencall #academia #openaccess
Media-N: Journal of the New Media Caucus invites submissions for a general issue.
| Media-N
iopn.library.illinois.edu
August 21, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Media-N: Journal of the New Media Caucus, a peer-reviewed open-access journal dedicated to scholarly research and critical dialogue on new media art, has a new open call for their next general issue:
iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/med...
#academicsky #newmedia #opencall #academia #openaccess
iopn.library.illinois.edu/journals/med...
#academicsky #newmedia #opencall #academia #openaccess
🧵 (1/8)
New semester new AI policy for my syllabus. Drawn from my prior policy, @melhogan.bsky.social 's very clear and concise recent post about AI's problems, and reading "Empire of AI" this summer. For context, this is for a creative coding class in an art department.
#academicsky #criticalai
New semester new AI policy for my syllabus. Drawn from my prior policy, @melhogan.bsky.social 's very clear and concise recent post about AI's problems, and reading "Empire of AI" this summer. For context, this is for a creative coding class in an art department.
#academicsky #criticalai
August 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
🧵 (1/8)
New semester new AI policy for my syllabus. Drawn from my prior policy, @melhogan.bsky.social 's very clear and concise recent post about AI's problems, and reading "Empire of AI" this summer. For context, this is for a creative coding class in an art department.
#academicsky #criticalai
New semester new AI policy for my syllabus. Drawn from my prior policy, @melhogan.bsky.social 's very clear and concise recent post about AI's problems, and reading "Empire of AI" this summer. For context, this is for a creative coding class in an art department.
#academicsky #criticalai
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
No big deal
"It's just till we get in office ..."
"It's just sports,"
"It's just restrooms."
"It's just your pronouns."
"It's just your name."
"It's just your medications."
"It's just your job."
"It's just your kids."
"It's just you."
"It's just till we get in office ..."
"It's just sports,"
"It's just restrooms."
"It's just your pronouns."
"It's just your name."
"It's just your medications."
"It's just your job."
"It's just your kids."
"It's just you."
August 18, 2025 at 1:06 AM
No big deal
"It's just till we get in office ..."
"It's just sports,"
"It's just restrooms."
"It's just your pronouns."
"It's just your name."
"It's just your medications."
"It's just your job."
"It's just your kids."
"It's just you."
"It's just till we get in office ..."
"It's just sports,"
"It's just restrooms."
"It's just your pronouns."
"It's just your name."
"It's just your medications."
"It's just your job."
"It's just your kids."
"It's just you."
I am just a girl, standing in a desert, throwing antifungal grenades at myself to try to cure my parasitic infection.
An actual scene from a recent (Hugo Award Winning) Caves of Qud play-through.
My idea didn’t work btw, I had to chop off and regrow my limbs obviously.
An actual scene from a recent (Hugo Award Winning) Caves of Qud play-through.
My idea didn’t work btw, I had to chop off and regrow my limbs obviously.
August 17, 2025 at 6:38 PM
I am just a girl, standing in a desert, throwing antifungal grenades at myself to try to cure my parasitic infection.
An actual scene from a recent (Hugo Award Winning) Caves of Qud play-through.
My idea didn’t work btw, I had to chop off and regrow my limbs obviously.
An actual scene from a recent (Hugo Award Winning) Caves of Qud play-through.
My idea didn’t work btw, I had to chop off and regrow my limbs obviously.
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
democrats are going to be dealing with anti-trans hate until they either
- nut the fuck up and defend these people from bigoted attacks
- concede to every republican attack on the issue, inevitably leading to the total eradication of trans people from all public life
literally the only 2 options
- nut the fuck up and defend these people from bigoted attacks
- concede to every republican attack on the issue, inevitably leading to the total eradication of trans people from all public life
literally the only 2 options
August 9, 2025 at 2:14 PM
democrats are going to be dealing with anti-trans hate until they either
- nut the fuck up and defend these people from bigoted attacks
- concede to every republican attack on the issue, inevitably leading to the total eradication of trans people from all public life
literally the only 2 options
- nut the fuck up and defend these people from bigoted attacks
- concede to every republican attack on the issue, inevitably leading to the total eradication of trans people from all public life
literally the only 2 options
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Just two days of our matching donation #fundraiser! And don't forget to get your ticket (whether in person or online)! For games scholars, queer scholars, developers, gamers, GMs, and anyone with a big imagination who is curious to join us! Donations keep our tickets affordable to all.
August 3, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Just two days of our matching donation #fundraiser! And don't forget to get your ticket (whether in person or online)! For games scholars, queer scholars, developers, gamers, GMs, and anyone with a big imagination who is curious to join us! Donations keep our tickets affordable to all.
Instead of:
Those who cannot do teach.
It should be:
Those who cannot do prompt.
Those who cannot do teach.
It should be:
Those who cannot do prompt.
July 29, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Instead of:
Those who cannot do teach.
It should be:
Those who cannot do prompt.
Those who cannot do teach.
It should be:
Those who cannot do prompt.
The world sucks but today I got to hang out with two of my fellow art/design colleagues and test out our new Risograph machine. I decided to print a screen capture from a recent net art work.
#riso #risograph #printmaking #netart #newmediaart #contemporaryart
#riso #risograph #printmaking #netart #newmediaart #contemporaryart
July 28, 2025 at 8:39 PM
The world sucks but today I got to hang out with two of my fellow art/design colleagues and test out our new Risograph machine. I decided to print a screen capture from a recent net art work.
#riso #risograph #printmaking #netart #newmediaart #contemporaryart
#riso #risograph #printmaking #netart #newmediaart #contemporaryart
Big thump on my studio window, saw this little one 😍
July 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Big thump on my studio window, saw this little one 😍
An email landed in my inbox today promoting a faculty retreat for my college with a large time slot on "AI for productivity". I responded in part with:
"I say this without exaggeration: There is no way to adopt generic AI tools (like LLMs) at an institutional level in a way that is ethical."
"I say this without exaggeration: There is no way to adopt generic AI tools (like LLMs) at an institutional level in a way that is ethical."
July 14, 2025 at 3:43 PM
An email landed in my inbox today promoting a faculty retreat for my college with a large time slot on "AI for productivity". I responded in part with:
"I say this without exaggeration: There is no way to adopt generic AI tools (like LLMs) at an institutional level in a way that is ethical."
"I say this without exaggeration: There is no way to adopt generic AI tools (like LLMs) at an institutional level in a way that is ethical."
A work in progress screen capture from my ongoing net art project “A Walk in The Dark”. I have a new newsletter out this week featuring some of my work from the last 6 months and a little of what’s coming up (including more info about this video). You can sign up here:
forms.gle/G3nRGj6eL1hN...
forms.gle/G3nRGj6eL1hN...
July 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A work in progress screen capture from my ongoing net art project “A Walk in The Dark”. I have a new newsletter out this week featuring some of my work from the last 6 months and a little of what’s coming up (including more info about this video). You can sign up here:
forms.gle/G3nRGj6eL1hN...
forms.gle/G3nRGj6eL1hN...
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Just as a practical matter, consider how unheard of it is to expand an already significant federal agency by 1,000% in two or three years. WW2 mobilization or the early 60s Moon race are the right sort of analogies
With this budget, ICE alone would have nearly as large a detention operation as all 50 states' prison systems combined. Bigger budget than the Marine Corps. Police-state levels of spending
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
June 29, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Just as a practical matter, consider how unheard of it is to expand an already significant federal agency by 1,000% in two or three years. WW2 mobilization or the early 60s Moon race are the right sort of analogies
Reposted by Chelsea Thompto
Happy 14th wedding anniversary @cthompto.bsky.social
We’re on very little sleep, still have packing to do and our movers arrive tomorrow…
But then we’ll be in our new home together making it all our own. I can’t wait for year 15 with you. ❤️🏡
We’re on very little sleep, still have packing to do and our movers arrive tomorrow…
But then we’ll be in our new home together making it all our own. I can’t wait for year 15 with you. ❤️🏡
June 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Happy 14th wedding anniversary @cthompto.bsky.social
We’re on very little sleep, still have packing to do and our movers arrive tomorrow…
But then we’ll be in our new home together making it all our own. I can’t wait for year 15 with you. ❤️🏡
We’re on very little sleep, still have packing to do and our movers arrive tomorrow…
But then we’ll be in our new home together making it all our own. I can’t wait for year 15 with you. ❤️🏡