Gerben Zaagsma
@gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social
Historian currently working on the history & politics of #digitalhistory and #heritage; background in Jewish/Yiddish history, teaching genocide studies, digital public & music history. Like = bookmark.
More info: https://gerbenzaagsma.org/
More info: https://gerbenzaagsma.org/
Pinned
Gerben Zaagsma
@gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social
· Dec 17
University of Chicago Press Journals: Cookie absent
www.journals.uchicago.edu
A little self-promotion today: I am very happy to share a new article on the history and genealogies of #digitalhistory, out now in the new issue of History of Humanities:
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
#dhist #digitalhumanities #hodh
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
#dhist #digitalhumanities #hodh
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
The Auschwitz Memorial is fighting with Elon Musk's AI baby. Get me out of this timeline.
November 20, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The Auschwitz Memorial is fighting with Elon Musk's AI baby. Get me out of this timeline.
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Next week (19.11), @finolafinn.bsky.social 's presentation at @c2dh.uni.lu @uni.lu
#AI #Archive #DigitalHumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
#AI #Archive #DigitalHumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
AI assistants in the archive and the lure of ‘instant history’
AI assistants are increasingly used for navigating and analysing the contents of major archives. Applying Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) to existing
www.uni.lu
November 10, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Next week (19.11), @finolafinn.bsky.social 's presentation at @c2dh.uni.lu @uni.lu
#AI #Archive #DigitalHumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
#AI #Archive #DigitalHumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Released 37 years ago
Fugazi, also known as EP 7 Songs, is Fugazi's eponymous debut release, available in record stores in November 1988 with this opening track
Waiting Room – live at the Wilson Center 1988
#punk #punkrock #hardcorepunk #fugazi #history #punkrockhistory #otd
Fugazi, also known as EP 7 Songs, is Fugazi's eponymous debut release, available in record stores in November 1988 with this opening track
Waiting Room – live at the Wilson Center 1988
#punk #punkrock #hardcorepunk #fugazi #history #punkrockhistory #otd
November 7, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Released 37 years ago
Fugazi, also known as EP 7 Songs, is Fugazi's eponymous debut release, available in record stores in November 1988 with this opening track
Waiting Room – live at the Wilson Center 1988
#punk #punkrock #hardcorepunk #fugazi #history #punkrockhistory #otd
Fugazi, also known as EP 7 Songs, is Fugazi's eponymous debut release, available in record stores in November 1988 with this opening track
Waiting Room – live at the Wilson Center 1988
#punk #punkrock #hardcorepunk #fugazi #history #punkrockhistory #otd
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Sudan civil war spiralling out of control, UN secretary general says
Sudan civil war spiralling out of control, UN secretary general says
António Guterres calls for the violence to end but there appears little appetite for ceasefire proposed by US
The UN secretary general, António Guterres has said the war in Sudan is spiralling out of control as he called for a halt to the fighting and an end to the violence.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which are reportedly backed by the United Arab Emirates, seized El Fasher in Darfur last week after a near 18-month siege. Some of its soldiers have posted videos of civilians being shot, including in the town’s maternity hospital. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Sudan civil war spiralling out of control, UN secretary general says
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
The world has collectively refused to hold accountable those who attack hospitals in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza, and now Sudan 👇
Without consequences and accountability, such attacks on sacred sites of healing a s care won’t stop: justiceinconflict.org/2025/07/02/t... #KeepEyesOnSudan #NotATarget
Without consequences and accountability, such attacks on sacred sites of healing a s care won’t stop: justiceinconflict.org/2025/07/02/t... #KeepEyesOnSudan #NotATarget
There must be consequences: Accountability for war crimes can help stop attacks on hospitals
Dr Suleiman Qaoud at the Rantisi Specialist Hospital after Israeli attacks on the facility on 6 November 2023 (Photo: Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera) The doctors assumed that a well-marked hospita…
justiceinconflict.org
October 30, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The world has collectively refused to hold accountable those who attack hospitals in Afghanistan, Ukraine, Gaza, and now Sudan 👇
Without consequences and accountability, such attacks on sacred sites of healing a s care won’t stop: justiceinconflict.org/2025/07/02/t... #KeepEyesOnSudan #NotATarget
Without consequences and accountability, such attacks on sacred sites of healing a s care won’t stop: justiceinconflict.org/2025/07/02/t... #KeepEyesOnSudan #NotATarget
👉 The program for our workshop History of Digital History between East and West is online.
5-6 february 2026 at the @c2dh.uni.lu, remote participation is possible. More information in the link below.
#digitalhistory
#dhist
#digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
5-6 february 2026 at the @c2dh.uni.lu, remote participation is possible. More information in the link below.
#digitalhistory
#dhist
#digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
History of Digital History between East and West
This workshop will address the history of digital history by enlarging the scope outside of the United States and Western Europe, taking into account crucial developments elsewhere which have often be...
www.uni.lu
October 22, 2025 at 10:47 AM
👉 The program for our workshop History of Digital History between East and West is online.
5-6 february 2026 at the @c2dh.uni.lu, remote participation is possible. More information in the link below.
#digitalhistory
#dhist
#digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
5-6 february 2026 at the @c2dh.uni.lu, remote participation is possible. More information in the link below.
#digitalhistory
#dhist
#digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/even...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Op 29 oktober verdedig ik mijn proefschrift ‘Caught in a web of silence: composers in Dutch music history 1920-1955 and the impact of World War II’. Bijna 5 jaar deed ik fulltime onderzoek naar componisten die in de Tweede Wereldoorlog vervolgd werden. Meer informatie: tinyurl.com/3r3jt645. 🧵
October 20, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Op 29 oktober verdedig ik mijn proefschrift ‘Caught in a web of silence: composers in Dutch music history 1920-1955 and the impact of World War II’. Bijna 5 jaar deed ik fulltime onderzoek naar componisten die in de Tweede Wereldoorlog vervolgd werden. Meer informatie: tinyurl.com/3r3jt645. 🧵
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Er dreigt iets helemaal mis te gaan in het Amsterdamse stadsarchief, zeggen Charles Jeurgens, Fred van Lieburg en ik in Het Parool www.parool.nl/columns-opin...
Opinie: ‘Amsterdams Stadsarchief staat op het punt onbruikbaar te worden’
Het Stadsarchief van Amsterdam, essentieel voor onderzoekers én burgers, staat op het punt een nieuw, ondoorgrondelijk zoeksysteem in te voeren. Dat zou grote gevolgen hebben, schrijven hoogleraren Ju...
www.parool.nl
October 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Er dreigt iets helemaal mis te gaan in het Amsterdamse stadsarchief, zeggen Charles Jeurgens, Fred van Lieburg en ik in Het Parool www.parool.nl/columns-opin...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Do not use a football match to start equating fans of a specific Israeli football team with all Jews, because that is supposed to be what responsible politicians are trying to avoid in condemning Israeli bombing but not associating this with a religion.
October 17, 2025 at 6:03 AM
Do not use a football match to start equating fans of a specific Israeli football team with all Jews, because that is supposed to be what responsible politicians are trying to avoid in condemning Israeli bombing but not associating this with a religion.
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Can we hope that when (if?) the war in Gaza in over the world, and especially the West will finally turn their attention to this mass murder. The violence is bankrolled by the West's closest allies/partners, it's not like there is no leverage and it is just a local fight. Or am I just too naive?
El-Fasher, Sudan — besieged by the RSF since May 2024 — has become “an open-air morgue” for starving civilians. The world’s silence is shocking. Since 2023 Sudan has seen 150k civilians killed, 15 million displaced & 25 million people facing acute hunger www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
RSF attack on hospital in Sudan’s el-Fasher kills 12, medics say
The attack by the paramilitary on the hospital wounded 17 others, and is the second such attack in 24 hours.
www.aljazeera.com
October 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Can we hope that when (if?) the war in Gaza in over the world, and especially the West will finally turn their attention to this mass murder. The violence is bankrolled by the West's closest allies/partners, it's not like there is no leverage and it is just a local fight. Or am I just too naive?
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
46 years ago
Members of British ska groups The Selecter, Madness and The Specials on Brighton Beach at the first date of the 2 Tone Tour in October 1979.
Photo by Chalkie Davies
#punkrock #ska #thespecials #madness #theselecter #history #skahistory
Members of British ska groups The Selecter, Madness and The Specials on Brighton Beach at the first date of the 2 Tone Tour in October 1979.
Photo by Chalkie Davies
#punkrock #ska #thespecials #madness #theselecter #history #skahistory
October 13, 2025 at 2:50 AM
46 years ago
Members of British ska groups The Selecter, Madness and The Specials on Brighton Beach at the first date of the 2 Tone Tour in October 1979.
Photo by Chalkie Davies
#punkrock #ska #thespecials #madness #theselecter #history #skahistory
Members of British ska groups The Selecter, Madness and The Specials on Brighton Beach at the first date of the 2 Tone Tour in October 1979.
Photo by Chalkie Davies
#punkrock #ska #thespecials #madness #theselecter #history #skahistory
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
The second History of Knowledge Conference has come to an end. Over three intense days in Lund, around a hundred researchers have explored the history of knowledge from various perspectives.
It has been a real pleasure to host this conference and organise it with my wonderful colleagues at LUCK.
It has been a real pleasure to host this conference and organise it with my wonderful colleagues at LUCK.
October 10, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The second History of Knowledge Conference has come to an end. Over three intense days in Lund, around a hundred researchers have explored the history of knowledge from various perspectives.
It has been a real pleasure to host this conference and organise it with my wonderful colleagues at LUCK.
It has been a real pleasure to host this conference and organise it with my wonderful colleagues at LUCK.
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Look at our lovely autumn/winter @ihr.bsky.social Digital History seminar schedule, including talks from @bamcshane.bsky.social @jeroenputtevils.bsky.social @rubenros.bsky.social @thomassmits.bsky.social @melvinwevers.bsky.social and more! #dhist
September 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Look at our lovely autumn/winter @ihr.bsky.social Digital History seminar schedule, including talks from @bamcshane.bsky.social @jeroenputtevils.bsky.social @rubenros.bsky.social @thomassmits.bsky.social @melvinwevers.bsky.social and more! #dhist
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
@gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social and I are looking for a good wiki hosting partner. Any tips? #wiki #academicbsky #mediawiki
August 13, 2025 at 8:43 AM
@gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social and I are looking for a good wiki hosting partner. Any tips? #wiki #academicbsky #mediawiki
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Open call for PhD candidates, Post-Docs and Senior Researchers
We offer 3 fellowships for visiting researchers in 2026
Seize the opportunity and apply before 15.10.2025
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
We offer 3 fellowships for visiting researchers in 2026
Seize the opportunity and apply before 15.10.2025
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
July 30, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Open call for PhD candidates, Post-Docs and Senior Researchers
We offer 3 fellowships for visiting researchers in 2026
Seize the opportunity and apply before 15.10.2025
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
We offer 3 fellowships for visiting researchers in 2026
Seize the opportunity and apply before 15.10.2025
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
This by Alex de Waal is incisive as usual:
Israel’s food points are not just death traps – they’re an alibi for the starvation of Gaza | Alex de Waal
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Israel’s food points are not just death traps – they’re an alibi for the starvation of Gaza | Alex de Waal
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
July 26, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This by Alex de Waal is incisive as usual:
Israel’s food points are not just death traps – they’re an alibi for the starvation of Gaza | Alex de Waal
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Israel’s food points are not just death traps – they’re an alibi for the starvation of Gaza | Alex de Waal
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
The EU deserves a credible antisemitism coordinator.
After von Schnurbein's deeply troubling statements - framing bake sales as antisemitic and suggesting that Hamas is behind mass protests across Europe - she lost all credibility.
We call for her immediate replacement 👇
After von Schnurbein's deeply troubling statements - framing bake sales as antisemitic and suggesting that Hamas is behind mass protests across Europe - she lost all credibility.
We call for her immediate replacement 👇
July 17, 2025 at 7:56 AM
The EU deserves a credible antisemitism coordinator.
After von Schnurbein's deeply troubling statements - framing bake sales as antisemitic and suggesting that Hamas is behind mass protests across Europe - she lost all credibility.
We call for her immediate replacement 👇
After von Schnurbein's deeply troubling statements - framing bake sales as antisemitic and suggesting that Hamas is behind mass protests across Europe - she lost all credibility.
We call for her immediate replacement 👇
An important read that includes some very pertinent observations on the abuse of antisemitism accusations in relation to Gaza, moral selectivity, and the future of Holocaust studies and genocide scholarship.
“My inescapable conclusion has become that Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people,” writes Omer Bartov, a professor of Holocaust and genocide studies at Brown University. “I have been teaching classes on genocide for a quarter of a century. I can recognize one when I see one.”
Opinion | I’m a Genocide Scholar. I Know It When I See It.
A scholar of genocide comes to a painful conclusion about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
nyti.ms
July 15, 2025 at 8:07 AM
An important read that includes some very pertinent observations on the abuse of antisemitism accusations in relation to Gaza, moral selectivity, and the future of Holocaust studies and genocide scholarship.
Lees dit stuk:
Cultureel musicoloog Barbara Titus is twee weken in Indonesië voor het restitutieproject ‘Stemmen die naar huis terugkeren’: ze brengt oude geluidsopnames van lokale zang, die in Amsterdam lagen opgeslagen, terug naar het dorp waar ze zijn opgenomen.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Cultureel musicoloog Barbara Titus is twee weken in Indonesië voor het restitutieproject ‘Stemmen die naar huis terugkeren’: ze brengt oude geluidsopnames van lokale zang, die in Amsterdam lagen opgeslagen, terug naar het dorp waar ze zijn opgenomen.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Hoho-zang uit 1930 keert terug naar Indonesisch dorp: ‘Ik kon niet vermoeden hoeveel emoties de overdracht zou losmaken’
Terugkeer: Cultureel musicoloog Barbara Titus is twee weken in Indonesië voor het restitutieproject ‘Stemmen die naar huis terugkeren’: ze brengt oude geluidsopnames van lokale zang, die in Amsterdam ...
www.nrc.nl
July 11, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Lees dit stuk:
Cultureel musicoloog Barbara Titus is twee weken in Indonesië voor het restitutieproject ‘Stemmen die naar huis terugkeren’: ze brengt oude geluidsopnames van lokale zang, die in Amsterdam lagen opgeslagen, terug naar het dorp waar ze zijn opgenomen.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Cultureel musicoloog Barbara Titus is twee weken in Indonesië voor het restitutieproject ‘Stemmen die naar huis terugkeren’: ze brengt oude geluidsopnames van lokale zang, die in Amsterdam lagen opgeslagen, terug naar het dorp waar ze zijn opgenomen.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
The term “scientific asylum” is gross. None of these people are individually targeted and most can continue to work in more luxury than most colleagues in Europe.
I understand their desire to leave — I want to leave too — but I really wish this topic was addressed more critically by the media.
I understand their desire to leave — I want to leave too — but I really wish this topic was addressed more critically by the media.
‘The American system is being destroyed’: academics on leaving US for ‘scientific asylum’ in France
Almost 300 researchers have applied for positions at Aix-Marseille University after Trump unleashed his attack on academia
www.theguardian.com
July 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
The term “scientific asylum” is gross. None of these people are individually targeted and most can continue to work in more luxury than most colleagues in Europe.
I understand their desire to leave — I want to leave too — but I really wish this topic was addressed more critically by the media.
I understand their desire to leave — I want to leave too — but I really wish this topic was addressed more critically by the media.
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Pro-Israëlische lobbyisten worden in de Tweede Kamer warm onthaald, terwijl VN-functionarissen worden geweigerd. Israël heeft zowel zichtbaar als onzichtbaar invloed op Tweede Kamerleden. De AIVD benoemt Israëls heimelijke invloed niet. buff.ly/rww1K1r
De zichtbare en onzichtbare invloed van Israël in de Tweede Kamer
Politici en Israël: Pro-Israëlische lobbyisten worden in de Tweede Kamer warm onthaald, terwijl VN-functionarissen worden geweigerd. Over de pro-Israëlische lobby in de politiek en de AIVD die…
buff.ly
July 5, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Pro-Israëlische lobbyisten worden in de Tweede Kamer warm onthaald, terwijl VN-functionarissen worden geweigerd. Israël heeft zowel zichtbaar als onzichtbaar invloed op Tweede Kamerleden. De AIVD benoemt Israëls heimelijke invloed niet. buff.ly/rww1K1r
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Cultuurvernietiging als oorlogsdoel in Gaza, Oekraïne en elders: de identiteit van een volk uitwissen, en dan het volk zelf www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Cultuurvernietiging als oorlogsdoel in Gaza, Oekraïne en elders: de identiteit van een volk uitwissen, en dan het volk zelf
Cultuurvernietiging: Het bewust vernietigen van een cultuur – historische gebouwen en kunst, maar ook taal en eetgewoonten – is een vast onderdeel van oorlogen. In Gaza is het volgens aanklagers onder...
www.nrc.nl
June 29, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Cultuurvernietiging als oorlogsdoel in Gaza, Oekraïne en elders: de identiteit van een volk uitwissen, en dan het volk zelf www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
Workshop History of Digital History between East and West (5-6 February 2026)
📣❗ Extended deadline for abstracts: 27 June
#digitalhistory #dhist #digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
📣❗ Extended deadline for abstracts: 27 June
#digitalhistory #dhist #digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
Call for Papers: Workshop History of Digital History between East and West
This workshop will address these blind spots by focusing attention on the question of how the local and the transnational intersected in the technology-inflected reshaping of historical research pract...
www.uni.lu
June 2, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Workshop History of Digital History between East and West (5-6 February 2026)
📣❗ Extended deadline for abstracts: 27 June
#digitalhistory #dhist #digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
📣❗ Extended deadline for abstracts: 27 June
#digitalhistory #dhist #digitalhumanities
www.uni.lu/c2dh-en/news...
Reposted by Gerben Zaagsma
So much to say about this topic, but perhaps a good framework to reference here:
LLMs ultimately intensify global inequalities already established by existing infrastructures, be it archives, platforms or otherwise.
See this article by @gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social :
academic.oup.com/dsh/article/...
LLMs ultimately intensify global inequalities already established by existing infrastructures, be it archives, platforms or otherwise.
See this article by @gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social :
academic.oup.com/dsh/article/...
June 17, 2025 at 1:37 PM
So much to say about this topic, but perhaps a good framework to reference here:
LLMs ultimately intensify global inequalities already established by existing infrastructures, be it archives, platforms or otherwise.
See this article by @gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social :
academic.oup.com/dsh/article/...
LLMs ultimately intensify global inequalities already established by existing infrastructures, be it archives, platforms or otherwise.
See this article by @gerbenzaagsma.bsky.social :
academic.oup.com/dsh/article/...