Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Efram Sera-Shriar

@dreframss.bsky.social

1.4K followers 420 following 580 posts

Historian of occultism and science, Victorianist, anthropologist, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen, and bass player. Lover of classic videogames. 🎮 Views own. (https://www.eframserashriar.com)

www.eframserashriar.com)

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · Aug 21

It is my great pleasure to share the cover for my new book **PSYCHIC INVESTIGATORS** which was published in June 2022 with the University of Pittsburgh Press.

More details here: https://upittpress.org/books/9780822947073/

2 24

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 11h

Next week, I'm doing an interview on horror games, moral panic and censorship. I've decided to talk about Atari's "Halloween" (1983). It was deemed too violent and realistic for young gamers, and might send impressionable minds down nefarious paths.

Try it here👇
www.retrogames.cz/play_1177-At...

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 1d

I'm delighted to be delivering a talk on 23 Oct 2025 btwn 5–6.30pm (BST) for @gothicauob.bsky.social

My talk is titled: ‘Battling Satan in Your Underpants: Censoring Capcom’s Ghosts ‘n Goblins Videogame during the Age of American Satanic Panic’

Details 👇
uobgothica.wordpress.com/2025/10/06/s...

Session Thirty Seven: Video Game Gothic

We are especially excited to announce that our first Gothica session of the 2025/26 academic year will be Video Game Gothic with our special guest speaker Dr Efram Sera-Shriar on Zoom on Thursday 2…

uobgothica.wordpress.com

1 3 7

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 1d

I just got recognised by the Toronto Blue Jays as one of their top fans. 💕 I guess five decades of fandom finally paid off. Now with my fellow blue-feathered friends we wait in anticipation of game 3, where Toronto will hopefully sweep the dislikable Yankees.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 5d

I'm preparing my seminar on the History Environmentalism and for the class I'm going to talk about everyone's favourite early 90s environmental champion, Captain Planet.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 5d

There is no team in sports that I detest more than the NY Yankees. I don't just want my beloved Toronto Blue Jays to beat them in the ALDS, I want them to eviscerate the Yankees. Go Jays Go! ⚾

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 5d

This racist idea is stolen almost verbatim from the work of Robert Knox in the mid 19thC. There is a line in the "Races of Men" (1850) that argues virtually the same thing in nearly the same language.

Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 7d

The idea that someone can become British but never English is so agonisingly stupid that it makes me fear for the future of the species.

1 2

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 5d

We've reached the month of Halloween. Why not fill your days with spooky-themed podcasts to pass the time? Here's one with me talking all about "paranormal technology" with the venerable and charismatic, Dallas Campbell.

open.spotify.com/episode/44Jn...

Paranormal Technology

open.spotify.com

Reposted by Efram Sera-Shriar

Contingent Magazine @contingent-mag.bsky.social · 6d

Our new CFP is up and it is monstrous.

CFP: A Time of Monsters

The monster has been here all along. It is a historical constant that manifests in wildly different ways across time, place, and culture. Whatever form it takes, the monster claws at categories; it un...

contingentmagazine.org

3 63 87

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 7d

October is the best month for some monstrously fun entertainment. On Halloween @cncsi.bsky.social will be hosting a chillingly-good online workshop: Nineteenth-Century Gothic Afterlives. I hope you can join us. It will be a real screamer! 👻

Details👇
cn-csi.com/event/hallow...

Nineteenth-Century Gothic Afterlives - CNCSI

Nineteenth-Century Gothic Afterlives Free and Online One-Day Halloween Workshop Friday 31st October, 10.45 am ̶ 5.00 pm (Central European Time) Registration is required. Sign up here. The Centre ...

cn-csi.com

6 14

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 7d

I'm super excited about my upcoming talk for @gothicauob.bsky.social. The full title for my talk is: "Battling Satan in Your Underpants: Censoring Capcom’s Ghosts ‘n Goblins Videogame during the Age of American Satanic Panic"

Dr Emily Vincent @dremilyvincent.bsky.social · 8d

Exciting news! Join @gothicauob.bsky.social for 👾 Video Game Gothic 👾 with our special guest speaker @dreframss.bsky.social on Zoom on Thursday 23rd October 5.00pm - 6.30pm (UK). As an expert in occulture, Efram's talk will explore issues of video game censorship during the 1980s ‘Satanic Panic’ ⬇️

1 5

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 9d

My beloved Toronto @bluejays.com won their first pennant in 10 years last night. Is this the year we finally make it back to the World Series? That's the dream! 🥳

1 2

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 9d

We are currently open to receiving proposals for themed issues with @advancesjournal.bsky.social, which is published through Taylor and Francis, and is the official journal of @incsa.bsky.social. If you have ideas for a collection, email me.

Details👇
in-csa.com/themed-speci...

Special / Themed Issues Call for Proposals – International Nineteenth-Century Studies Association

Call for Proposals Special / Themed Issues Advances in Nineteenth-Century Research The Journal of the International Nineteenth-Century Studies Association (INCSA) Follow on BlueSky Advances in Ninetee...

in-csa.com

9 6

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 12d

Where does Dracula go to water ski? Lake Eerie! 🥁

Even the Count enjoyed that one... 😂

count von count from sesame street is sitting on a table with a can of tissues in front of him .

ALT: count von count from sesame street is sitting on a table with a can of tissues in front of him .

media.tenor.com

1 2

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 12d

I've just submitted a major grant application. Fingers crossed for some success.

a cat wearing glasses and a bow tie is sitting on a laptop

ALT: a cat wearing glasses and a bow tie is sitting on a laptop

media.tenor.com

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 13d

I'm delighted to be speaking ONLINE about Japanese and British science in the 19thC @royalsociety.org on 18 November 2025 with my amazing collaborators Bernie Lightman and Yoshi Kikuchi

Full details here: cassyni.com/events/RGh39...

Cassyni | Science starts with a seminar

Seamlessly organise, run and publish academic research seminars. Get started in minutes.

cassyni.com

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 13d

Hey historians of science - do any of you know what happened to digital collection of Francis Galton's archive? I can no longer find it online. Has it been removed? Is this Google's AI messing up my searches?

a cat holding a sign that says help

ALT: a cat holding a sign that says help

media.tenor.com

1 3

Reposted by Efram Sera-Shriar

Social History Society @socialhistsoc.bsky.social · 14d

📢 The Social History Society Book Prize 2026 is now open for nominations!

Now in its 8th year, the prize celebrates the best books in social history & cultural history✨

More information here: socialhistory.org.uk/2025/09/24/b...

Book Prize 2026 Open

We are delighted to announce that the Social History Society annual Book Prize has reopened and is seeking nominations. The prize is now in its eighth year and is awarded to the best book in Social…

socialhistory.org.uk

24 17

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 16d

It says a lot that after my lecture on the Scientific Revolution today, the historical figure most people wanted to chat about was John Dee and not Newton, Boyle or Bacon. I guess it was my discussion on his scrying mirror and healing crystal that grabbed their attention.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 16d

Cool library! You should just tell people that you are H. Jon Benjamin, skip the middle man, as it were.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 16d

Today feels like a good day to reshare this wonderful woodcut from Punch, "Spiritualism Made Useful" (1877). It was made by George du Maurier, who was one of the periodical's more prolific artists.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 19d

Another year, another lecture on the Scientific Revolution... At least this year we are going to be analysing the Epic Rap Battle between Newton and Nye featuring Weird Al. Silver lining!

a picture of isaac newton with a man standing in front of a tree

ALT: a picture of isaac newton with a man standing in front of a tree

media.tenor.com

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 20d

True story, but over a slightly longer timeline... 😂

1 4

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 20d

Today alone, I've been invited to give two very different online talks later this semester. I've agreed to both. When it rains it pours.

a cat is holding an umbrella in the rain with a dog behind it .

ALT: a cat is holding an umbrella in the rain with a dog behind it .

media.tenor.com

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 21d

I spent much of today weaving a discussion about the cover of J.N Maskelyne's "Modern Spiritualism" (1876) into a chapter for my new book. If you are unfamiliar, the cover features an image of the medium Mrs. Guppy being carried by spirits across London's skyline - a feat many believed to be real.

Efram Sera-Shriar @dreframss.bsky.social · 21d

This is a wonderful carte-de-visite of a spirit photograph featuring the fab Victorian psychic duo of Mrs Guppy and Charles Williams from around 1892. The pair, along with Frank Herne, regularly collaborated during seances, especially in the 1870s. Their main manifestations were spirit apports.

1 6