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Ariana Ellis 💀

@writingmedieval.bsky.social

(She/her) Medieval/Early Modern PhD @UofT History I Writer I Social/Sensory history I DH I Death studies I Video games I Puns!

18 Posts610 Follower 805 Folgt

Dr. Heather Smith @digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Last week, I built the Trevi Fountain (a fantastic birthday gift from my family). I am particularly enamoured with the LEGO horse statues (shown in photo 3).

A photo of a LEGO model reconstruction of the Trevi Fountain in Rome.

A close up photo of the central LEGO statues on the fountain.

A photo showing one of the LEGO horse statues on the Trevi Mountain model.

Dr. Heather Smith @digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · last mo.

Via MedievalistMatt

A photo of an Instagram post from MedievalistMatt written in the character of Henry VIII parodying the style of a LinkedIn announcement post.

Dr. Heather Smith @digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · last yr.

Obsessed with these 3D beaded earrings my talented and brilliant friend, @writingmedieval.bsky.social, made for me for my birthday! I'm very lucky to have such thoughtful and kind friends and colleagues.

A photo of me (reddish hair, glasses) wearing purple beaded earrings and a black dress.

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · last yr.

Gamers out there (particularly with a historical bent!), can you help me find video games that feature the Tudors? I’ve been searching and coming up with very little! #videogames #historygaming #tudors #gaming

The Video Game Library 📚@thevideogamelibrary.org · 2y ago

511. THE MIDDLE AGES IN COMPUTER GAMES: LUDIC APPROACHES TO THE MEDIEVAL AND MEDIEVALISM 👉 www.thevideogamelibrary.org/book/the-mid... @robehoughton.bsky.social #GTM #GamingThePast @midagesmodgames.bsky.social #Booksky #Gaming #GameStudies #Ludology #MedievalSky #BaldursGate #TheWitcher

The cover of The Middle Ages in Computer Games by Robert Houghton features a medieval theme blended with digital aesthetics. The title is prominently displayed in a pixelated font, suggesting the intersection of history and gaming.

A subtle image of a sword is integrated into the background, reinforcing the medieval theme. The dark grid-like texture adds a modern, digital feel, aligning with the book's focus on computer games.

Games with a medieval setting are commercially lucrative and reach a truly massive audience. Moreover, they can engage their players in a manner that is not only different, but in certain aspects, more profound than traditional literary or cinematic forms of medievalism. However, although it is important to understand the versions of the Middle Ages presented by these games, how players engage with these medievalist worlds, and why particular representational trends emerge in this most modern medium, there has hitherto been little scholarship devoted to them.

This book explores the distinct nature of medievalism in digital games across a range of themes, from the portrayal of grotesque yet romantic conflict to conflicting depictions of the Church and religion. It likewise considers the distinctions between medievalist games and those of other periods, underlining their emphasis on fantasy, roleplay and hardcore elements, and their consequences for depictions of morality, race, gender and sexuality. Ultimately the book argues that while medievalist games are thoroughly influenced by medievalist and ludic tropes, they are nonetheless representative of a distinct new form of medievalism. It engages with the vast literature surrounding historical game studies, game design, and medievalism, and considers hundreds of games from across genres, from Assassin's Creed and Baldur's Gate to Crusader Kings and The Witcher series. In doing so, it provides a vital illustration of the state of the field and a cornerstone for future research and teaching.

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · last yr.

Games and history community- any recommendations?

Nate Ledbetter@nhledbetter.bsky.social · last yr.

Tangential, but any game recs for nomadic steppe civilizations? Mongols, Xiongnu, Liao, various Turkic peoples, etc. all welcome. Planning a class on Eurasian nomad steppe societies for Spring 26.

Dr. Heather Smith @digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · 2y ago

Amazing talk by Professor Julia Rombough happening next week at the University of Toronto and over Zoom next week on Thursday, March 13!! (Details below) @decimauot.bsky.social @writingmedieval.bsky.social @crosehistorian.bsky.social #earlymodern

DECIMA @decimauot.bsky.social · 2y ago

-Tomorrow (February 12th) at 12pmEST- Nicholas Terpstra and Colin Rose will reflect on ten years since the release of the first DECIMA WebGIS. They will share their successes using DH for pedagogy, and their struggles planning for sustainability. Register to attend here: rsa.org/events/Event...

Mariana J López @marianajlopez.bsky.social · 2y ago

Out there in the world ☺️

Alex Wegman 🚲🎧🇬🇧🇦🇺@ajwegsound.bsky.social · 2y ago

Some fine looking January reading! Looking forward to it, @marianajlopez.bsky.social

The book Sonic Pasts, by Mariana J Lopez

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · 2y ago

I can’t wait to read your thoughts on the project! Fingers crossed there should be an article out about Accessing Anna in the not too distant future… Go check out Dr. López’s book here: www.routledge.com/Sonic-Pasts-...! It‘s still on sale!

Mariana J López@marianajlopez.bsky.social · 2y ago

As part of this, I looked into two very different experiences, the insightful 'Accessing Anna' experience by @writingmedieval.bsky.social and the audio tour/sound experience 'Doing Time: Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour' storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ab10...

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · 2y ago

You drew her so gorgeously I love her so much!! 😭😭❤️❤️

Lief 🌻🍉@liefygreens.bsky.social · 2y ago

drew my players' characters for our netherdeep game! My DMPC is a painter so I thought it would be cute if I drew them :) #dndart

A set of three partially rendered character portraits on a yellow background. The first is of a green-skinned water genasi woman with a playful wink and wide smile at the viewer, who wears orange slice earrings and a blue and green flower crown. The second is of a purple-skinned tiefling woman with silver eyes and a black bob, looking pensively into the distance. The third is of a pale wood elf man with green eyes and a contemplative and almost sad expression, wearing a blue headband over his platinum blond mullet.

Celine Camps @celinecamps.bsky.social · 2y ago

🚨 #Skystorians: @cambridgeup.bsky.social, publisher of 'Renaissance Quarterly', has "temporarily enabled free access to all articles published since the 1st of January 2023; this will continue for all new articles published through the 31st of December this year" 🗃️ #EarlyModern shorturl.at/BOw6L

Renaissance Quarterly | Cambridge Core

Renaissance Quarterly - Barbara Fuchs, Carina L. Johnson, Brian J. Maxson, John R. Decker

cambridge.org

Helen Czerski @helenczerski.bsky.social · 2y ago

Ever wondered why walking around museums is weirdly tiring? At normal speed our legs act like pendulums, swinging forward from the hip & saving us a huge amount of energy. In "museum shuffle" our muscles must do ALL the work of constant readjustment. So cake in the cafe is scientifically justified 🥳

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · 3y ago

😊❤️❤️❤️

Dr. Heather Smith@digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · 3y ago

Every time I wear these gorgeous orange tree earrings that @writingmedieval.bsky.social made me for my birthday, they brighten my day.

Dr.MRO/ Axel Folio @isasaxonists.bsky.social · 3y ago

Dante's Inferno or an upcoming limited edition medieval inspired Halloween colorway? Stay tuned! #RepublicOfYarnia

An image of yarn in a long pan. The top is black and it fades into a smokey yellow and then deep orange at the bottom. The colorway looks like a fiery image.

Dr. Heather Smith @digitalsoundscapes.bsky.social · 3y ago

Check out this stunning trumpet modelled by our talented DECIMA Project RA, Adam Julien, as part of the ongoing reconstruction of Cosimo I de' Medici's 1560 entry into Siena! You can check out more of Adam's work at: adamjulien.com. @crosehistorian.bsky.social, @writingmedieval.bsky.social

Ariana Ellis 💀@writingmedieval.bsky.social · 3y ago

If you followed me on Twitter before, welcome to the same nerdery! Did you know that the medieval church had to ban circle dances in churchyards?