Dr. Alicia Matz
@duxfeminafacti9.bsky.social
Current Stepsay Postdoc at San Diego State University. PhD from Boston University. Researching: Diana, Augustan poetry, gender/sexuality, reception in sci-fi/fantasy, Tolkien. Disability advocate. T1D 30 years. She/her.
The LOTR extended editions will be back in theaters in January for the 25th anniversary. One of the showings is while I'm still on break (Jan 16-17-18). I want to pull the trigger and just get tickets to hang with Tolkien nerds, but also, its $30 each way to uber to my theater...
December 6, 2025 at 1:30 AM
The LOTR extended editions will be back in theaters in January for the 25th anniversary. One of the showings is while I'm still on break (Jan 16-17-18). I want to pull the trigger and just get tickets to hang with Tolkien nerds, but also, its $30 each way to uber to my theater...
Reposted by Dr. Alicia Matz
Hi all,
I rarely do this, but I'm posting that I'm back on the academic job market.
As a Californian, my partner and I are trying to stay on the West Coast. Any leads for jobs in History, American Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. in the Western U.S. are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nathan
I rarely do this, but I'm posting that I'm back on the academic job market.
As a Californian, my partner and I are trying to stay on the West Coast. Any leads for jobs in History, American Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. in the Western U.S. are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nathan
Hello!
I am Nathan Ellstrand, a historian of transnational politics and religion between the United States and Latin America during the twentieth century. I am passionate about social justice and education.
Learn more about me and my work here:
nathanellstrand.com
I am Nathan Ellstrand, a historian of transnational politics and religion between the United States and Latin America during the twentieth century. I am passionate about social justice and education.
Learn more about me and my work here:
nathanellstrand.com
September 9, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Hi all,
I rarely do this, but I'm posting that I'm back on the academic job market.
As a Californian, my partner and I are trying to stay on the West Coast. Any leads for jobs in History, American Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. in the Western U.S. are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nathan
I rarely do this, but I'm posting that I'm back on the academic job market.
As a Californian, my partner and I are trying to stay on the West Coast. Any leads for jobs in History, American Studies, Cultural Studies, etc. in the Western U.S. are greatly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Nathan
I love talking to insurance “advocates” who don’t know what an insulin pump is….
December 4, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I love talking to insurance “advocates” who don’t know what an insulin pump is….
I'm reading a book titled "Bright Young Women" (very good, as a side note), and every time I look at the cover, "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid gets stuck in my head.
December 4, 2025 at 4:58 PM
I'm reading a book titled "Bright Young Women" (very good, as a side note), and every time I look at the cover, "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid gets stuck in my head.
Hunted this down again at the request of someone who wanted to play it again, and figured you all might find it interesting/of use again, especially as a fun end of semester activity.
Survive Ancient Rome "Choose Your Own Adventure" game made by me:
storyboard.viget.com/a-day-in-anc...
Survive Ancient Rome "Choose Your Own Adventure" game made by me:
storyboard.viget.com/a-day-in-anc...
Storyboard
storyboard.viget.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Hunted this down again at the request of someone who wanted to play it again, and figured you all might find it interesting/of use again, especially as a fun end of semester activity.
Survive Ancient Rome "Choose Your Own Adventure" game made by me:
storyboard.viget.com/a-day-in-anc...
Survive Ancient Rome "Choose Your Own Adventure" game made by me:
storyboard.viget.com/a-day-in-anc...
Bought a soda on campus today (from a soda foundation so I filled it myself) and I swear I picked diet. It definitely was not…
December 2, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Bought a soda on campus today (from a soda foundation so I filled it myself) and I swear I picked diet. It definitely was not…
I've been rewatching the Marvel movies recently and the existence of Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder but Thena, Makkari, Phastos, Ikaris, Ajak, and Eros as Eternals is really messing with my brain.
Has anyone written on this?
Has anyone written on this?
November 30, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I've been rewatching the Marvel movies recently and the existence of Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder but Thena, Makkari, Phastos, Ikaris, Ajak, and Eros as Eternals is really messing with my brain.
Has anyone written on this?
Has anyone written on this?
Something I think about weekly: when Fox did their live musical as RENT, I saw so many social media posts along the line of "the characters of RENT need to grow up and pay rent." I feel like this sentiment would be very unpopular today, especially "post-pandemic."
November 30, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Something I think about weekly: when Fox did their live musical as RENT, I saw so many social media posts along the line of "the characters of RENT need to grow up and pay rent." I feel like this sentiment would be very unpopular today, especially "post-pandemic."
Reposted by Dr. Alicia Matz
In a world of mid wizard book bigots, follow the Doctor's orders.
"In recent history, the Doctor Who actor has repeatedly made headlines thanks to his allyship towards trans and gender non-conforming people – most notably with a subtle gesture during a TV interview that wound up helping to raise £18,000 for the LGBTQ+ youth charity AKT."
'F*** Off And Let People Be': David Tennant Doubles Down On Support For Trans People
"People are trying to create division... and it's so f***ing unnecessary."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 8:33 AM
In a world of mid wizard book bigots, follow the Doctor's orders.
I think in the new year I’m going to revamp my blog with a series called “I read it so you don’t have to” where I review wild (and sometimes really bad) books set in Ancient Greece or Rome. Like Blood of Hercules.
Taking suggestions/recommendations for others
Taking suggestions/recommendations for others
November 29, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I think in the new year I’m going to revamp my blog with a series called “I read it so you don’t have to” where I review wild (and sometimes really bad) books set in Ancient Greece or Rome. Like Blood of Hercules.
Taking suggestions/recommendations for others
Taking suggestions/recommendations for others
I judge bookstores by two very important criteria: 1) whether they have Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb books and 2) which Tolkien books they have readily available.
November 29, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I judge bookstores by two very important criteria: 1) whether they have Tamsyn Muir's The Locked Tomb books and 2) which Tolkien books they have readily available.
Had a class with 0 attendance for the first time in my teaching career.
November 25, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Had a class with 0 attendance for the first time in my teaching career.
I am looking for information on Roman women's hairstyles, especially Livia's 'nodus' hairstyle. Specifically, is that name an ancient name or a modern name?
November 23, 2025 at 11:56 PM
I am looking for information on Roman women's hairstyles, especially Livia's 'nodus' hairstyle. Specifically, is that name an ancient name or a modern name?
My dad is coming to visit for Thanksgiving and so now my apartment is the cleanest it has been in months.
November 23, 2025 at 2:05 AM
My dad is coming to visit for Thanksgiving and so now my apartment is the cleanest it has been in months.
I started rewatching How I Met Your Mother as my background noise and I realized how stupid the show actually is.
But also, 2 days after I started it Hulu said it would be leaving in 2 weeks. So…challenge accepted.
But also, 2 days after I started it Hulu said it would be leaving in 2 weeks. So…challenge accepted.
November 22, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I started rewatching How I Met Your Mother as my background noise and I realized how stupid the show actually is.
But also, 2 days after I started it Hulu said it would be leaving in 2 weeks. So…challenge accepted.
But also, 2 days after I started it Hulu said it would be leaving in 2 weeks. So…challenge accepted.
So when I teach languages, I assign every case a color so I can color-code annotations for my students. I know others do this and now I'm curious what colors each case are to you all. Mine:
Nom: purple
Gen: orange/red
Dat: (light) green (light for Latin)
Acc: blue
Abl: green
Nom: purple
Gen: orange/red
Dat: (light) green (light for Latin)
Acc: blue
Abl: green
November 21, 2025 at 12:33 AM
So when I teach languages, I assign every case a color so I can color-code annotations for my students. I know others do this and now I'm curious what colors each case are to you all. Mine:
Nom: purple
Gen: orange/red
Dat: (light) green (light for Latin)
Acc: blue
Abl: green
Nom: purple
Gen: orange/red
Dat: (light) green (light for Latin)
Acc: blue
Abl: green
Today is World Diabetes Day. It is also the 31st anniversary of my diagnosis.
Insulin should be free for all.
Insulin should be free for all.
November 14, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Today is World Diabetes Day. It is also the 31st anniversary of my diagnosis.
Insulin should be free for all.
Insulin should be free for all.
"I am inevitable," when Thanos says it: creepy
"I am inevitable," When Aaron Burr says it: empowering
"I am inevitable," When Aaron Burr says it: empowering
November 13, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"I am inevitable," when Thanos says it: creepy
"I am inevitable," When Aaron Burr says it: empowering
"I am inevitable," When Aaron Burr says it: empowering
Today has been episode after episode that demonstrates why we need healthcare reform in the US.
My pump is out of warranty, and needs to be replaced. I've been working on this for over a month and now need "prior authorization." For a device I've been wearing for 15+ years. (1/)
My pump is out of warranty, and needs to be replaced. I've been working on this for over a month and now need "prior authorization." For a device I've been wearing for 15+ years. (1/)
November 10, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Today has been episode after episode that demonstrates why we need healthcare reform in the US.
My pump is out of warranty, and needs to be replaced. I've been working on this for over a month and now need "prior authorization." For a device I've been wearing for 15+ years. (1/)
My pump is out of warranty, and needs to be replaced. I've been working on this for over a month and now need "prior authorization." For a device I've been wearing for 15+ years. (1/)
I have some hand/wrist issues (probably from years of computers and knitting/crochet). I must have slept wrong last night because I woke up with my whole forearm aching...
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
I have some hand/wrist issues (probably from years of computers and knitting/crochet). I must have slept wrong last night because I woke up with my whole forearm aching...
Very intrigued by the new media coming out with ancient inspired titles. Like Pluribus and Bugonia...
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Very intrigued by the new media coming out with ancient inspired titles. Like Pluribus and Bugonia...
Dyed my hair last night and now I’m in the awkward phase where if I sweat it looks like my scalp is bleeding.
November 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Dyed my hair last night and now I’m in the awkward phase where if I sweat it looks like my scalp is bleeding.
The life of a diabetic: finding out your tub drain is clogged not with hair (though there was some of that) but also a strip from my glucometer...
November 8, 2025 at 9:35 PM
The life of a diabetic: finding out your tub drain is clogged not with hair (though there was some of that) but also a strip from my glucometer...
Wicked was most of my personality for middle school. So I'm watching the NBC/Peacock special and weeping. Don't mind me.
November 8, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Wicked was most of my personality for middle school. So I'm watching the NBC/Peacock special and weeping. Don't mind me.
Today ended up being a triple whammy of rejections, as I also heard from two non-Classics jobs I had applied to. Great start to my first long weekend since the semester started.
First official rejection (confirming one of 2 unofficial rejections) of the job market this year...
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Today ended up being a triple whammy of rejections, as I also heard from two non-Classics jobs I had applied to. Great start to my first long weekend since the semester started.