Donovan Schaefer
@feelingtheory.bsky.social
West coast soul in Philly. Theory prof teaching/writing about emotion, secularism, & power.
Current projects: Conspiracy theory, secular artifacts, Confederate commemoration.
🐱🐱 Brighton & Bristol
🌱 ⓥ food
📚✍️: http://donovanschaefer.com/research
Current projects: Conspiracy theory, secular artifacts, Confederate commemoration.
🐱🐱 Brighton & Bristol
🌱 ⓥ food
📚✍️: http://donovanschaefer.com/research
Pinned
Very excited to have a short chapter out in this just-published edited volume: "Affect as Method: Against the Numb View of Embodiment"! 1/4
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
A day in the life of Saska
February 16, 2026 at 11:04 PM
A day in the life of Saska
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Keeping it Riel, today.
February 17, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Keeping it Riel, today.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Great horned owl at sunset…
February 15, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Great horned owl at sunset…
This man is 49 years old.
"Trump Official Who Helped Kill USAID Now Using Its Funds for Himself" newrepublic.com/post/206559/...
Trump Official Who Helped Kill USAID Now Using Its Funds for Himself
Russ Vought, White House Office of Management and Budget director, has decided what is happening with USAID funds.
newrepublic.com
February 16, 2026 at 7:19 PM
This man is 49 years old.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Woman Demonstrates Remarkable Poise in Response to Giant Man Baby, Yet Again
This is a nice move in an interview www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/u...
February 16, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Woman Demonstrates Remarkable Poise in Response to Giant Man Baby, Yet Again
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Brand new sentence just dropped.
February 16, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Brand new sentence just dropped.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Loving these sunlit vertical lines in the Scottish Power building in Glasgow 😍
#streetphotography #city #glasgow #architecture #scotland #photography
#streetphotography #city #glasgow #architecture #scotland #photography
February 16, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Loving these sunlit vertical lines in the Scottish Power building in Glasgow 😍
#streetphotography #city #glasgow #architecture #scotland #photography
#streetphotography #city #glasgow #architecture #scotland #photography
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
I can't believe I'm saying this but LinkedIn has fully replaced what I used to use X for (work)...
While Bluesky has become something completely different which I haven't experienced online in over a decade: a fun space for connecting with people in ways only peripheral to work
While Bluesky has become something completely different which I haven't experienced online in over a decade: a fun space for connecting with people in ways only peripheral to work
February 16, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I can't believe I'm saying this but LinkedIn has fully replaced what I used to use X for (work)...
While Bluesky has become something completely different which I haven't experienced online in over a decade: a fun space for connecting with people in ways only peripheral to work
While Bluesky has become something completely different which I haven't experienced online in over a decade: a fun space for connecting with people in ways only peripheral to work
1000% this. It's time to permanently abolish the idea that the liberal arts only belong to the wealthy.
I think trades schools should create a stream where you can get a liberal arts degree alongside your journeyman’s ticket if you want. Many of the best trades folks I know love literature, design, philosophy, etc.
February 16, 2026 at 2:21 PM
1000% this. It's time to permanently abolish the idea that the liberal arts only belong to the wealthy.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
RELS alumnus Dr. Abdul Manan Bhat ('25) has received honorable mention for the 2025 S. S. Pirzada Dissertation Prize for his dissertation Postures of Tradition: Poems, Performance, and Islamic Adab in the Twentieth Century.
Congratulations, Dr. Bhat!
southasia.berkeley.edu/initiatives/...
Congratulations, Dr. Bhat!
southasia.berkeley.edu/initiatives/...
Dr. Abdul Manan Bhat Receives Honorable Mention for Pirzada Dissertation Prize | Department of Religious Studies
rels.sas.upenn.edu
February 16, 2026 at 2:14 PM
RELS alumnus Dr. Abdul Manan Bhat ('25) has received honorable mention for the 2025 S. S. Pirzada Dissertation Prize for his dissertation Postures of Tradition: Poems, Performance, and Islamic Adab in the Twentieth Century.
Congratulations, Dr. Bhat!
southasia.berkeley.edu/initiatives/...
Congratulations, Dr. Bhat!
southasia.berkeley.edu/initiatives/...
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
must say, as someone who does a lot of theory-heavy work, i’m getting a little tired of folks in the subfield assuming a lack of intellectual “rigor” on the part of theorists. hard to square with us putting out so much work that struggles to understand the relationship between theory and method.
February 16, 2026 at 1:19 PM
must say, as someone who does a lot of theory-heavy work, i’m getting a little tired of folks in the subfield assuming a lack of intellectual “rigor” on the part of theorists. hard to square with us putting out so much work that struggles to understand the relationship between theory and method.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Reminder: If you are applying for a 2026 Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, the deadline to submit your application is this Thursday 19 February, 4pm. www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career...
February 16, 2026 at 9:37 AM
Reminder: If you are applying for a 2026 Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship, the deadline to submit your application is this Thursday 19 February, 4pm. www.leverhulme.ac.uk/early-career...
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
The Core Mechanism:
🤖 The Tech: A central "organizer" sends a directive. An AI multiplier generates thousands of unique, style-matched captions.
👨 The Human: Real, verified users review and click "post".
🤖 The Tech: A central "organizer" sends a directive. An AI multiplier generates thousands of unique, style-matched captions.
👨 The Human: Real, verified users review and click "post".
February 16, 2026 at 7:59 AM
The Core Mechanism:
🤖 The Tech: A central "organizer" sends a directive. An AI multiplier generates thousands of unique, style-matched captions.
👨 The Human: Real, verified users review and click "post".
🤖 The Tech: A central "organizer" sends a directive. An AI multiplier generates thousands of unique, style-matched captions.
👨 The Human: Real, verified users review and click "post".
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
The distinction between grassroots activism and automated influence is collapsing.
We typically worry about "bot farms" or "troll factories." But a distinct, more complex threat is emerging. We call it "Cyborg Propaganda."
We typically worry about "bot farms" or "troll factories." But a distinct, more complex threat is emerging. We call it "Cyborg Propaganda."
February 16, 2026 at 7:59 AM
The distinction between grassroots activism and automated influence is collapsing.
We typically worry about "bot farms" or "troll factories." But a distinct, more complex threat is emerging. We call it "Cyborg Propaganda."
We typically worry about "bot farms" or "troll factories." But a distinct, more complex threat is emerging. We call it "Cyborg Propaganda."
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
do u think during the industrial revolution people thought the factory was their boyfriend
February 15, 2026 at 8:18 PM
do u think during the industrial revolution people thought the factory was their boyfriend
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
Feel like this is a good lesson to keep generative AI far from your editorial process as a matter of policy. Ars is a great website. If it can happen there it can happen to anyone that allows these tools in
Ars Technica Pulls Article With AI Fabricated Quotes About AI Generated Article
A story about an AI-generated article contained fabricated, AI-generated quotes.
www.404media.co
February 15, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Feel like this is a good lesson to keep generative AI far from your editorial process as a matter of policy. Ars is a great website. If it can happen there it can happen to anyone that allows these tools in
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
When your dad's just told you he's signed power of attorney over to the woman from the alternative therapy shop.
February 15, 2026 at 7:27 PM
When your dad's just told you he's signed power of attorney over to the woman from the alternative therapy shop.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
“Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners].”
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
February 15, 2026 at 11:36 PM
“Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners].”
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
We really need to bring back the idea that shame can be a necessary feeling, and that there are things nations do that ought to lead to feeling shame.
This message from the US State Department about "not wanting allies to be shackled by guilt and shame" is a pretty direct call-out to the German far-right argument that Germany has spent too long feeling guilty about the Holocaust, and needs to move on and stop doing remembrance.
February 16, 2026 at 3:37 AM
We really need to bring back the idea that shame can be a necessary feeling, and that there are things nations do that ought to lead to feeling shame.
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
He would have been an incredible poster
February 16, 2026 at 4:29 AM
He would have been an incredible poster
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
All of this (Trump’s attempts at election interference; SAVE Act, punitive indictments, etc.) are part of the attempt to bring in a GOP dictatorship and keep it in place.
February 15, 2026 at 6:16 PM
All of this (Trump’s attempts at election interference; SAVE Act, punitive indictments, etc.) are part of the attempt to bring in a GOP dictatorship and keep it in place.
“Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners].”
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
February 15, 2026 at 11:36 PM
“Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtle; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores [Studies pass into and influence manners].”
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Francis Bacon, "Of Studies" (1625)
Reposted by Donovan Schaefer
No excuses please for Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad from their enablers in the medical profession. These men have decided it is good for their careers to tank the vaccine market. What evil, evil little men.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
This Is What Destroying the Vaccine Market Looks Like
A shocking move by RFK Jr.’s team has the industry spooked—for good reason.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 9:38 PM
No excuses please for Marty Makary, Vinay Prasad from their enablers in the medical profession. These men have decided it is good for their careers to tank the vaccine market. What evil, evil little men.
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...