So I think the time has come for me to be a little bit more transparent about something. I've not been hugely forthcoming about it for various reasons (some of which I'll explain below) but it is probably time to be a bit more upfront: I left / crashed out of academia in June last year 1/ 🗃️ - ThreadSky

chriskempshall.bsky.social • 35 days ago

So I think the time has come for me to be a little bit more transparent about something. I've not been hugely forthcoming about it for various reasons (some of which I'll explain below) but it is probably time to be a bit more upfront: I left / crashed out of academia in June last year 1/ 🗃️

Comments

ninabake2.bsky.social•35 days ago

Sorry to read this but not surprised. There doesnt seem to be anywhere in academia that is not toxic any more.

kalland.me•31 days ago

Thanks for sharing this, and I’m really sorry to hear it.

kalland.me•31 days ago

I just finished your Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire, and, as it is perhaps the most interesting way to write commentary on present day events (through the history of a fictional entity!) I’ve encountered in a long time, it should definitely point to the relevance of your academic discipline.

kalland.me•31 days ago

I’m looking forward to reading more of your work, whatever genre it might be.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•31 days ago

Ah thanks very much, that's really kind! It's great to hear you enjoyed 'Rise and Fall'! I'm hoping I can find new and fun ways to write/explore different approaches to history.

kalland.me•30 days ago

Oh, and I have to say, reading this in Trump’s first week in office, was a comfort and inspiration, but also at times almost unbearably depressing. Never has the Empire felt more real.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Whilst this is going to be a thread around the topic I don't entirely want it to turn into one of those dramatic 'farewell' posts. Largely because I'm not really going anywhere. The reason I'm doing this now at all is because I've had to turn down reviewing things for colleagues & they deserve 2/

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

To know why I'm not really in a place to do the types of things I used to. That doesn't mean I won't always be unable to help and my friends can always contact me. But part of 'leaving' academia is having to admit that my new circumstances don't grant me the time/freedom to do such things anymore 3/

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Whilst I also don't want to fully go into every aspect of my departure a significant part was the collapse of the funding bid (because of this reviewer feedback) outlined in this thread: https://bsky.app/profile/chriskempshall.bsky.social/post/3laouu3y7tt2j. The aftermath of this was that at the end of my last job I had nowhere left to go 4/

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

This wasn't a huge shock, it was the end of a fixed term contract. But having done precarity many times over the previous decade this time felt very different. The hard barrier for a computer games project was a tough one to shake off. 5/

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

I'd sent out various new job applications and I got the last of my rejection before interview emails on the day that 'Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire' was published. Which hits pretty high on the irony meter. What should have been a complete day of triumph... 6/

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Was made a touch bittersweet by what felt like the last final rejection of my work by academia. Now obviously that's not entirely the case. Academia isn't the Borg operating with a hivemind. But for various reasons this felt very on the nose and like a hard fullstop. 7/

ploddinghistorian.bsky.social•35 days ago

What!? I’m so sorry about that. I didn’t see that post before. I reckon this means that the universe just has something a little more cunning and fun planned for you.

daveytod.bsky.social•35 days ago

Academia’s loss, the rest of the world’s gain?

maryagnes.bsky.social•35 days ago

I am so very proud of you Chris. I admire your work and your honesty and your awesomeness.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Ah thank you so much, Mary. I'm very pleased that it all began a long time ago in an MPT room!

adarel.bsky.social•35 days ago

Academia can be so rigid. I told someone here that I thought industry let you have more freedom to work on interesting things a lot of the time and got looked at like I was insane. But it's true! Anyway, your ideas and projects will always be valuable, and I look forward to what you write next!

nuitsdeyoung.bsky.social•35 days ago

My sympathies. I cdn't get a foot in the door bcos my 1st degree was Mediæval History, my PhD Art History (on the use/abuse of history in 19C Russian history painting). I fell btwn 2 stools. That was over 30 yrs ago.

nuitsdeyoung.bsky.social•35 days ago

I research & write what I can, when I can, without funding. At least it means I can work on what I want, not what someone else is telling me to.

anisekstrong.bsky.social•35 days ago

Thanks for your transparency and I look forward to continuing to read your thoughts in whatever form, whenever you are able. Also, academia is still really cutting off its own nose in general contempt for game studies, but you know that.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Sadly I do!

anisekstrong.bsky.social•35 days ago

I just sometimes really wonder where they think students are getting excited about history - not to mention that we apparently now have governmental leaders whose theories of how to run a nation come directly from Civilization rather than, say, M.A.s in political science.

cjapieters.bsky.social•34 days ago

Really sorry to read this, Chris. Even though it sounds like you're in a much better position right now and looking forward to things, it sounds like it's truly been tough and harrowing.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•34 days ago

Ah thanks, Chloe.

rokewood.bsky.social•34 days ago

All good fortune Chris. You will doubtless flourish. The rest is academia’s loss. I have come across similarly bizarre perspectives before: ‘all study of war promotes militarism’. 🤷🏻‍♂️. Hard to know where to begin with it. But it should *not* be allowed to blight publications or grant applications

octavosaurus.bsky.social•35 days ago

You’re gonna be amazing whatever you do and I love you endlessly. 💛

gregjenner.bsky.social•35 days ago

Really sorry to hear it’s been tough, Chris

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Thanks, Greg. But - not dissimilar to yourself - deciding to do the things that make me happy feels like the right choice. I did really want an academic career, but I've wanted to write Star Wars books for longer than that!

bramderidder.bsky.social•35 days ago

Thanks for sharing. A lot of what you´re telling is very similar to my own story of why/how I left academic history in 2023/2024. But, at least for this short time, my experience is that the grass truly is greener on the other side of the academic fence. So best of luck, I´m sure you´ll thrive!

mark18681918.bsky.social•17 days ago

A very thought-provoking thread, although I'm really sorry to read this Dr Kempshall.

vandawilcox.bsky.social•35 days ago

Oh thank god, we were all waiting for you to go!

(Too soon?)

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Vanda’s sudden heel turn

vandawilcox.bsky.social•35 days ago

Haha, love it 🐧

But it's OK, you can tell the truth: writing that article together was so dreadful an experience you decided to quit altogether, right?

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Always only a few minutes away from taking my revolver for a walk in the woods

vandawilcox.bsky.social•35 days ago

Ok this was maybe a tad more melodramatic than I was aiming for 😬

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

My heel turn

vandawilcox.bsky.social•35 days ago

It's lucky that what you are doing now/ next is SO much cooler ♥️

smittermeier.bsky.social•35 days ago

I‘m both sorry and happy to see you „go“? Not the circumstance of it, cause it‘s just the usual shitshow, but I so understand the bittersweet feeling of maybe also just not wanting to put up with it anymore and I‘m glad you found sth else.

chriskempshall.bsky.social•35 days ago

Yeah I think taking the decision to just try and do things that make me happy, is a simple but sensible solution.

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