John Wills
@drjohnwills.bsky.social
Prof in Film&Media, University of Kent. Recent Books: Gamer Nation, Disney Culture.
Pinned
John Wills
@drjohnwills.bsky.social
· Nov 16
My most recent book, on Red Dead, coedited with the brilliant Esther Wright!
Reposted by John Wills
Introducing the "American Dream/American Nightmare" conference speakers!
Our second roundtable is on "Perspectives within "New" and "Emerging" Media" and will feature Prof John Wills (@drjohnwills.bsky.social ), Dr Stephen Morgan (@drsmorgan.com ), and Dr Sara Polak (@sarapolak.bsky.social )...
Our second roundtable is on "Perspectives within "New" and "Emerging" Media" and will feature Prof John Wills (@drjohnwills.bsky.social ), Dr Stephen Morgan (@drsmorgan.com ), and Dr Sara Polak (@sarapolak.bsky.social )...
June 14, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Introducing the "American Dream/American Nightmare" conference speakers!
Our second roundtable is on "Perspectives within "New" and "Emerging" Media" and will feature Prof John Wills (@drjohnwills.bsky.social ), Dr Stephen Morgan (@drsmorgan.com ), and Dr Sara Polak (@sarapolak.bsky.social )...
Our second roundtable is on "Perspectives within "New" and "Emerging" Media" and will feature Prof John Wills (@drjohnwills.bsky.social ), Dr Stephen Morgan (@drsmorgan.com ), and Dr Sara Polak (@sarapolak.bsky.social )...
Had the pleasure of recently guesting on @everyscififilm.bsky.social podcast alongside the brilliant Tom Docherty, talking about On the Beach (1959).
May 30, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Had the pleasure of recently guesting on @everyscififilm.bsky.social podcast alongside the brilliant Tom Docherty, talking about On the Beach (1959).
Great to present on horror videogames at #BDigra in Birmingham today. Thanks to @poppywilde.bsky.social @doktornick.bsky.social & team for a great conference day. #BritishDiGRA #DiGRA
May 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Great to present on horror videogames at #BDigra in Birmingham today. Thanks to @poppywilde.bsky.social @doktornick.bsky.social & team for a great conference day. #BritishDiGRA #DiGRA
Reposted by John Wills
Day one of #BDiGRA25 and we've already had excellent provocations to start - lightning talks on rougelikes, queer game studies, transgender emergence in games, ecogaming, and historical affects in our first session. Now on to panels exploring Game making and Culture, getting to more in depth papers.
May 20, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Day one of #BDiGRA25 and we've already had excellent provocations to start - lightning talks on rougelikes, queer game studies, transgender emergence in games, ecogaming, and historical affects in our first session. Now on to panels exploring Game making and Culture, getting to more in depth papers.
Happy Martin Luther King Jnr Day.
January 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Happy Martin Luther King Jnr Day.
A worrying situation at Paw Patrol HQ. Please do not ‘Yelp for Help’ and expect a speedy response!
January 17, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A worrying situation at Paw Patrol HQ. Please do not ‘Yelp for Help’ and expect a speedy response!
Legend lost. RIP David Lynch.
January 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Legend lost. RIP David Lynch.
Reposted by John Wills
"A reminder that frequent megafires in California are a relatively recent phenomenon"
via @zacklabe.com -> @calfire.bsky.social
(and not even including 2024 Park fire...)
via @zacklabe.com -> @calfire.bsky.social
(and not even including 2024 Park fire...)
January 8, 2025 at 9:25 AM
"A reminder that frequent megafires in California are a relatively recent phenomenon"
via @zacklabe.com -> @calfire.bsky.social
(and not even including 2024 Park fire...)
via @zacklabe.com -> @calfire.bsky.social
(and not even including 2024 Park fire...)
My heart goes out to everyone affected by the current fires in Los Angeles County. Southern California, and especially LA, has been like a second home to me. Hoping it gets better soon.
January 8, 2025 at 11:49 PM
My heart goes out to everyone affected by the current fires in Los Angeles County. Southern California, and especially LA, has been like a second home to me. Hoping it gets better soon.
Reposted by John Wills
Control is free on @epicgamesoffical.bsky.social for another 20mins, then another game free after that! Control is ace, and I wrote a chapter on it: "Who’s in Control?: Negotiating Hierarchies, Neoliberal Subjectivation, and Feminist Resistance in the World of Work" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Who’s in Control?: Negotiating Hierarchies, Neoliberal Subjectivation, and Feminist Resistance in the World of Work
In Control (Remedy Entertainment, 2019), the player-protagonist Jesse Faden starts a journey looking for her missing brother and ends up as Director of a secret agency—the Federal Bureau of Cont...
link.springer.com
December 26, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Control is free on @epicgamesoffical.bsky.social for another 20mins, then another game free after that! Control is ace, and I wrote a chapter on it: "Who’s in Control?: Negotiating Hierarchies, Neoliberal Subjectivation, and Feminist Resistance in the World of Work" link.springer.com/chapter/10.1...
Reposted by John Wills
A few GREEN BAAS announcements for 2025:
- Our 1st event of the new year is a collaborative, online writing session on Zoom Thur 16 Jan 2025 at 2-4pm (GMT). Connect, set an intention, write!
Register for "let's writing together" here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
@officialbaas.bsky.social
- Our 1st event of the new year is a collaborative, online writing session on Zoom Thur 16 Jan 2025 at 2-4pm (GMT). Connect, set an intention, write!
Register for "let's writing together" here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
@officialbaas.bsky.social
December 19, 2024 at 9:14 AM
A few GREEN BAAS announcements for 2025:
- Our 1st event of the new year is a collaborative, online writing session on Zoom Thur 16 Jan 2025 at 2-4pm (GMT). Connect, set an intention, write!
Register for "let's writing together" here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
@officialbaas.bsky.social
- Our 1st event of the new year is a collaborative, online writing session on Zoom Thur 16 Jan 2025 at 2-4pm (GMT). Connect, set an intention, write!
Register for "let's writing together" here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
@officialbaas.bsky.social
Reposted by John Wills
We are excited to announce our new quarterly theme: Medievalism! Guest-chaired/convened by @robehoughton.bsky.social, the theme will accept contributions from right now until March 2025. More details here: www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#historicalgames #gamestudies #gtp
#historicalgames #gamestudies #gtp
Call for Contributions - Medievalism | Historical Games Network
Guest Chair/Convenor: Robert Houghton The Middle Ages are almost everywhere in games. From the painstaking reconstructions of medieval buildings and cityscapes in Assassin’s Creed (2007-) and Kingdom...
www.historicalgames.net
December 12, 2024 at 9:55 AM
We are excited to announce our new quarterly theme: Medievalism! Guest-chaired/convened by @robehoughton.bsky.social, the theme will accept contributions from right now until March 2025. More details here: www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#historicalgames #gamestudies #gtp
#historicalgames #gamestudies #gtp
My favorite albums of 2024.
GNX Kendrick Lamar
From Zero Linkin Park
The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan
Brat and Its Completely Different But Also Still Brat Charlie XCX
The Death of Slim Shady Eminem
+ Apple informed me that I listened to the Westworld soundtrack 1,772 minutes this year!
GNX Kendrick Lamar
From Zero Linkin Park
The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan
Brat and Its Completely Different But Also Still Brat Charlie XCX
The Death of Slim Shady Eminem
+ Apple informed me that I listened to the Westworld soundtrack 1,772 minutes this year!
December 6, 2024 at 10:55 AM
My favorite albums of 2024.
GNX Kendrick Lamar
From Zero Linkin Park
The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan
Brat and Its Completely Different But Also Still Brat Charlie XCX
The Death of Slim Shady Eminem
+ Apple informed me that I listened to the Westworld soundtrack 1,772 minutes this year!
GNX Kendrick Lamar
From Zero Linkin Park
The Great American Bar Scene Zach Bryan
Brat and Its Completely Different But Also Still Brat Charlie XCX
The Death of Slim Shady Eminem
+ Apple informed me that I listened to the Westworld soundtrack 1,772 minutes this year!
Last week I gave an invited lecture on Doom Town and Las Vegas for the Atoms & Archives Research Group, Andrew Hook Centre for American Studies & Scottish Centre for War Studies at the University of Glasgow, research kindly sponsored by @leverhulme.bsky.social, thanks to @drtimpeacock.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 11:42 AM
Last week I gave an invited lecture on Doom Town and Las Vegas for the Atoms & Archives Research Group, Andrew Hook Centre for American Studies & Scottish Centre for War Studies at the University of Glasgow, research kindly sponsored by @leverhulme.bsky.social, thanks to @drtimpeacock.bsky.social
New here moots! #promosky
Game Studies
Film Studies
Horror
Writing
Paranormal TV (current fav: Project Fear)
Old Audi TTs and old BMWs
Sega Dreamcast collector, Nintendo lover
Rock, Alt, Nu-Metal, Grime
Yoga & Tai Chi
Running
Buddhism
Nicolas Cage
Coffee
Americana, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
Game Studies
Film Studies
Horror
Writing
Paranormal TV (current fav: Project Fear)
Old Audi TTs and old BMWs
Sega Dreamcast collector, Nintendo lover
Rock, Alt, Nu-Metal, Grime
Yoga & Tai Chi
Running
Buddhism
Nicolas Cage
Coffee
Americana, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
December 1, 2024 at 8:42 PM
New here moots! #promosky
Game Studies
Film Studies
Horror
Writing
Paranormal TV (current fav: Project Fear)
Old Audi TTs and old BMWs
Sega Dreamcast collector, Nintendo lover
Rock, Alt, Nu-Metal, Grime
Yoga & Tai Chi
Running
Buddhism
Nicolas Cage
Coffee
Americana, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
Game Studies
Film Studies
Horror
Writing
Paranormal TV (current fav: Project Fear)
Old Audi TTs and old BMWs
Sega Dreamcast collector, Nintendo lover
Rock, Alt, Nu-Metal, Grime
Yoga & Tai Chi
Running
Buddhism
Nicolas Cage
Coffee
Americana, Los Angeles, Las Vegas
Pleasure to provide a film talk on Gilda (1946) at the Gulbenkian arts centre in Kent yesterday. #universityofkent #hollywood
December 1, 2024 at 8:25 PM
Pleasure to provide a film talk on Gilda (1946) at the Gulbenkian arts centre in Kent yesterday. #universityofkent #hollywood
Intense week so I am returning to my early 2000’s self with Linkin Park’s From Zero.
November 29, 2024 at 7:59 PM
Intense week so I am returning to my early 2000’s self with Linkin Park’s From Zero.
Here’s my prior book on video games (Johns Hopkins UP)
November 16, 2024 at 10:30 AM
Here’s my prior book on video games (Johns Hopkins UP)
Reposted by John Wills
Very happy to announce our call for contributions for HGN's new theme - Technology - taking a broad view of the intersection between tech, history and games. If you'd like to write/make something for the site, get in touch!
#historicalgames #gamestudies
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#historicalgames #gamestudies
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
Call for Contributions - Technology | Historical Games Network
Our next theme is focused in and around ‘technology’ and historical games. We define historical games broadly, and we encourage contributions that consider technology in all its guises.
www.historicalgames.net
September 5, 2024 at 10:09 AM
Very happy to announce our call for contributions for HGN's new theme - Technology - taking a broad view of the intersection between tech, history and games. If you'd like to write/make something for the site, get in touch!
#historicalgames #gamestudies
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#historicalgames #gamestudies
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
I work in game studies, film studies, Disney studies. Stuff I’m researching at mo: Doom Town & Nevada Test Site; 3D 1950’s movies; Knott’s Berry Farm; US national parks & diversity; Los Disneys; GTA & satire; video game Westerns; video games & AI.
November 16, 2024 at 9:29 AM
I work in game studies, film studies, Disney studies. Stuff I’m researching at mo: Doom Town & Nevada Test Site; 3D 1950’s movies; Knott’s Berry Farm; US national parks & diversity; Los Disneys; GTA & satire; video game Westerns; video games & AI.
I teach game studies. I also love games - some favourites:
Animal Crossing
Crush Roller
Daytona USA
Detroit: Become Human
Fallout
Fire Emblem
Goldeneye 007
Grand Theft Auto
Mystaria
Panzer Dragoon
Shenmue
Until Dawn
Wasteland 3
Xenogears
Animal Crossing
Crush Roller
Daytona USA
Detroit: Become Human
Fallout
Fire Emblem
Goldeneye 007
Grand Theft Auto
Mystaria
Panzer Dragoon
Shenmue
Until Dawn
Wasteland 3
Xenogears
November 16, 2024 at 9:21 AM
I teach game studies. I also love games - some favourites:
Animal Crossing
Crush Roller
Daytona USA
Detroit: Become Human
Fallout
Fire Emblem
Goldeneye 007
Grand Theft Auto
Mystaria
Panzer Dragoon
Shenmue
Until Dawn
Wasteland 3
Xenogears
Animal Crossing
Crush Roller
Daytona USA
Detroit: Become Human
Fallout
Fire Emblem
Goldeneye 007
Grand Theft Auto
Mystaria
Panzer Dragoon
Shenmue
Until Dawn
Wasteland 3
Xenogears
My most recent book, on Red Dead, coedited with the brilliant Esther Wright!
November 16, 2024 at 8:30 AM
My most recent book, on Red Dead, coedited with the brilliant Esther Wright!