IMC 2022: Sessions

Session 733: The Middle Ages in Modern Games, III: Religious and Social Divisions

Tuesday 5 July 2022, 14.15-15.45

Sponsor:	The Public Medievalist / Centre for Medieval & Renaissance Research, University of Winchester
Organiser:	Robert Houghton, Department of History, University of Winchester
Moderator/Chair:	Lysiane Lasausse, Department of History University of Helsinki
Paper 733-a	'God save you, Henry!': Religious Elements in Kingdom Come: Deliverance (Language: English) Jan Kremer, Centrum medievistických studií, Filosofický ústav, Akademie věd České republiky, Praha Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Medievalism and Antiquarianism, Religious Life
Paper 733-b	Digital Heathens and Heretics: Religious Boundaries in the Paradox Interactive Middle Ages (Language: English) Robert Houghton, Department of History, University of Winchester Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Ecclesiastical History, Islamic and Arabic Studies, Medievalism and Antiquarianism
Paper 733-c	Playing Oratores, Bellatores, and Laboratores: Functional Borders between Classes in Medieval Video Games (Language: English) Olga Kalashnikova, Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest/Wien Index terms: Computing in Medieval Studies, Medievalism and Antiquarianism, Social History
Abstract	Religious and social structures and divisions are common background themes within medievalism in games: the ubiquity of the Church and rigid enforcement of a feudal system are used to signpost the difference between the medieval and modern world. However, explorations of these themes are often stunted: developers frequently seem reluctant to address religious disputes, particularly within faiths which are still present in the modern world, and social structures typically exist only as superficial furnishings for a game's setting. The papers within this session address the representation of religion and society within several medievalist games and consider the limitations and potential of the medium.