Dr. Barry Torch
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barrytorch.bsky.social
Dr. Barry Torch
@barrytorch.bsky.social
2.5K followers 1.2K following 230 posts
He/Him. Medieval and Renaissance Historian, Skeptical Optimist, Purveyor of Puns, and lover of Books, Fountain Pens, and Dogs. Settler on Treaty 13 Territory. Jewish. Queer.
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barrytorch.bsky.social
My article is due on Friday. #amwriting #nobodywantstoreadthis
The Scroll of Truth Meme comic. First panel in upper left reads, "I've finally found it ... after 15 years." Second panel in upper right reads, "The Scroll of Truth!" as the character pulls it out of a treasure chest. The third panel in lower left reads, "You have to finish your notes and bibliography to submit a research article," and the fourth panel in the lower right shows the character throwing away the scroll of truth, cursing and going, "Nyehhh."
October 8, 2025 at 11:56 AM
barrytorch.bsky.social
My husband has built us a new ottoman that is significantly bigger than our previous one - built for storage and to relax on. So of course I’m naming it “1454”
A wide shot of a person’s living room, with a dog on the sofa on the left. The focus is on the beautiful ottoman in the middle of the photo, covered in soft blankets.
March 24, 2025 at 2:31 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
It really was quite beautiful this morning, even with the temperature.

Dog photo for tax.
A close up of a brown and white dog, a large one, sitting on a bed and staring at the camera. He has a blue collar, and a set of large black jowels.
January 9, 2025 at 1:23 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
I love finding primary sources. #earlymodern #bookhistorysky #historysky. Especially when they are SO, SO useful and fun to work with! Gotta love letters as sources!
A snapshot of the beginning of a handwritten letter. The text reads: NIcolaus Perottus Pont. Sepontinus adversus eos quitemere corigunt errores veterum librorum, and it is written in red ink in humanist handwriting, meant to imitate Roman letters. The Latin translates to: Nicolaus Perottus, Bishop of Seponto, Against those who quietly correct the errors of ancient books.
January 4, 2025 at 7:07 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
At some point, I'm going to have to sit down and just write out the hilarity of the scholarly fights about Plato and Aristotle in fifteenth-century Italy. #historysky
A close-up of the two main characters from Raphael's "School of Athens" in the Vatican Papal Apartments - Plato and Aristotle. Plato is on the left, pointing upwards to emphasize the importance of the Ideal Form, and is holding a book that says "Timeo" on the spine, referring to his work the "Timeus." Aristotle is on the right, with his hand spread open to refer to the importance of worldly categories, holding his work, "Ethics"
December 15, 2024 at 9:00 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
Now that I have MANY more followers than I ever expected, I think an introduction is necessary! Hi! I'm Barry Torch. I have a PhD in History from York University in Toronto, Canada, in medieval/early modern Italian history and intellectual culture. 1/ independentscholar.academia.edu/BarryTorch
A horizontal selfie of an adult white male with long shaggy brown/blonde hair, with a book from the 1400s open in front of him. The male is facing the camera on the right side, in a gray tshirt, and the book dominates the foreground. The male has green glasses and a broad smile on his face, and the background behind him is of wide glass windows, some of which have modern curtains on them.
November 26, 2024 at 3:37 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
I did a convocation thing. Dr. Barry Torch
A white male in red robes and a white shirt holds a bouquet of roses in front of a red background. He is wearing a black floppy hat, and is posing for a graduation photo. The red background says “York Convocation” and he graduated with his PhD and he is smiling.
October 17, 2024 at 10:48 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
We did it, y’all. Queerness causes the solar eclipse.
A screenshot of a page from the Talmud, Sukkah 29a. Some of the text is highlighted - the highlighted part says: “The Sages taught that on account of four matters the sun is eclipsed” … “on account of homosexuality.”
April 8, 2024 at 12:24 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
My book chapter is out in the wild, now that the book is published!!! More info can be found here: pubs.crrs.ca/products/mak...
#earlymodern #emhist #history
A white male with dirty blonde hair is holding a book open to the book chapter that he wrote. He is standing in a conference room, in a black suit with a burgundy shirt. The photo is cropped from the waist up. The book cover of the book, “Making Stories in Early Modern Italy and Beyond: Essays in Honour of Elizabeth S. Cohen and Thomas V. Cohen” the title is written in white on the bottom half of the cover page, with the top half depicting the painting, “the fortune teller” by Simon Vouet.
March 22, 2024 at 10:01 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
Now that I have proofs to go through, I am SO EXCITED to be able to announce a forthcoming book chapter! In honour of Elizabeth Cohen and Thomas V. Cohen, my chapter is called, "'Do I have a Book for You!' The Friendship of Theodore Gaza and Giovanni Bussi, and a Gifted Book," 1/
A screenshot of book chapter proofs. It reads: "'Do I have a Book for You!' The Friendship of Theodore Gaza and Giovanni Bussi, and a Gifted Book", with the author name under a line reading, "Barry Torch"
January 30, 2024 at 6:13 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
Getting ready for tonight’s events! Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate, and may the growling light of justice, community, and (most importantly) Love continue to fight the deepest darkness.
A brass menorah stands unlit in front of a snowy backdrop as seen from an apartment building patio door.
December 7, 2023 at 1:02 PM
barrytorch.bsky.social
Hello, Pope Pius II and your Commentaries. Should we - again - dance? #earlymodern #manuscripts
A screen capture of a manuscript, Reg. Lat. 1995, depicting a brown manuscript page with Latin text in brown ink. A digital watermark reads, in a circle, "Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, All Rights reserved". Image from https://digi.vatlib.it/view/MSS_Reg.lat.1995
August 8, 2023 at 4:16 PM