Creature Features: A Hands-On Play Testing of Monstrum

Creature Features: Playing with Medieval Animal Heritage as a Teaching Tool - A Hands-On Play Testing Session of Monstrum

Directed by Sven Gins

When: Tuesday 08 July, 19.00-20.30
Where: Maurice Keyworth Building: 1.03
This Event is Free of Charge

Monstrum is an educational board game, in which players cooperatively explore the diverse medieval animal kingdom - including human species - from an ecocentric perspective. How did humans relate to real and imagined animals in the Middle Ages? How did they envision and depict these animals? What insights does this immaterial heritage offer for present challenges such as biodiversity decline?

The project's initial objective is to realise a publishable prototype of Monstrum, based on original bestiary research for the NWO Homo Imperfectus project and in collaboration with heritage institutions and high schools. By playing, participants actively reflect on (our relations with) animals in and since the Middle Ages and how dehumanisation and animalisation contributes to the marginalisation of certain (groups of) people.

The workshop will explore how such a game (and serious games more broadly) could serve as valuable tools in medieval history education, while also providing an opportunity to exchange ideas on serious game development as a form of scholarly research and public engagement. After a brief instruction, participants will have a chance to play Monstrum, followed by a discussion.

This workshop will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive promptly to secure a place as there is limited capacity.

This session is sponsored by the Medieval Animal Data-Network (MAD), Central European University, Budapest/Wien and the Middle Ages in Modern Games.