Markus Mindrebø
@markusmindrebo.bsky.social
Medieval historian | Associate professor, @unistavanger.bsky.social | Gender/politics in Norse kings' sagas | Network scholar | Game thinker | Storyteller | Most at home in the mountains
Pinned
It's been released! And it's shiny!
It happens in academia every day, but it's a bit surreal to suddenly have published a whole book.
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
It happens in academia every day, but it's a bit surreal to suddenly have published a whole book.
www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi...
A rather beautiful view of the Ullandhaug tower upon returning to the office. Hopefully marking the beginning of a significantly better 2026!
January 5, 2026 at 9:54 AM
A rather beautiful view of the Ullandhaug tower upon returning to the office. Hopefully marking the beginning of a significantly better 2026!
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
Techbros seem to love Tolkien, so here's an analogy to help you understand what genAI is.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
December 17, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Techbros seem to love Tolkien, so here's an analogy to help you understand what genAI is.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
GenAI is The One Ring. You think your use is justified, b/c you don't have evil in your heart.
But it came from evil, it is intended for evil purpose, & anything you do with it will be twisted to that end.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
I do find it interesting trying to explain to people that historians deal in arguments, not in facts. History isn’t a catalogue of dates and names, but what happened around those things, and how we now and those who were alive at the time perceived and responded to those events.
December 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I do find it interesting trying to explain to people that historians deal in arguments, not in facts. History isn’t a catalogue of dates and names, but what happened around those things, and how we now and those who were alive at the time perceived and responded to those events.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
Another beer post for the evening: In 1241, Pope Gregory IX informed Archbishop Sigurd Eindridesson (r.1231-52) that children who are baptised in beer can not be considered to have been properly baptised.
December 17, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Another beer post for the evening: In 1241, Pope Gregory IX informed Archbishop Sigurd Eindridesson (r.1231-52) that children who are baptised in beer can not be considered to have been properly baptised.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
He could not force himself to understand how banks functioned and so forth, because all the operations of capitalism were as meaningless to him as the rites of a primitive religion, as barbaric, as elaborate, and as unnecessary.
December 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM
He could not force himself to understand how banks functioned and so forth, because all the operations of capitalism were as meaningless to him as the rites of a primitive religion, as barbaric, as elaborate, and as unnecessary.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
October 29, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
The Greenhouse @unistavanger.bsky.social is launching an international Masters Program in Public Environmental Humanities from fall 2026! Taught in English.
Please share with all your students, #envhist #envhum colleagues!
Learn more about the program here: www.uis.no/en/studies/t...
Please share with all your students, #envhist #envhum colleagues!
Learn more about the program here: www.uis.no/en/studies/t...
October 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
The Greenhouse @unistavanger.bsky.social is launching an international Masters Program in Public Environmental Humanities from fall 2026! Taught in English.
Please share with all your students, #envhist #envhum colleagues!
Learn more about the program here: www.uis.no/en/studies/t...
Please share with all your students, #envhist #envhum colleagues!
Learn more about the program here: www.uis.no/en/studies/t...
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
What HE managers fail to understand is that in the context of the Humanities, ‘employability’ isn’t teaching coding or carpentry, but skills around writing, presenting, reasoning, evaluation, analysis, research etc. In an 80% service economy, these are the skills that fundamentally matter.
October 15, 2025 at 6:40 AM
What HE managers fail to understand is that in the context of the Humanities, ‘employability’ isn’t teaching coding or carpentry, but skills around writing, presenting, reasoning, evaluation, analysis, research etc. In an 80% service economy, these are the skills that fundamentally matter.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty.
September 27, 2025 at 1:25 AM
There is a certain bleakness in finding hope where one expected certainty.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
📅 Save the date!
The University of Stavanger, invites you to a symposium entitled:
Freedom of Expression in Times of Genocide
🗓 Wed. Nov 12, 5–7:30 pm | Sølvberget, Stavanger & online
Speakers include: Sindre Bangstad, Raz Segal, Zoé Samudzi, Maha Abdallah & Martin Shaw
More details to follow.
The University of Stavanger, invites you to a symposium entitled:
Freedom of Expression in Times of Genocide
🗓 Wed. Nov 12, 5–7:30 pm | Sølvberget, Stavanger & online
Speakers include: Sindre Bangstad, Raz Segal, Zoé Samudzi, Maha Abdallah & Martin Shaw
More details to follow.
October 9, 2025 at 7:22 AM
📅 Save the date!
The University of Stavanger, invites you to a symposium entitled:
Freedom of Expression in Times of Genocide
🗓 Wed. Nov 12, 5–7:30 pm | Sølvberget, Stavanger & online
Speakers include: Sindre Bangstad, Raz Segal, Zoé Samudzi, Maha Abdallah & Martin Shaw
More details to follow.
The University of Stavanger, invites you to a symposium entitled:
Freedom of Expression in Times of Genocide
🗓 Wed. Nov 12, 5–7:30 pm | Sølvberget, Stavanger & online
Speakers include: Sindre Bangstad, Raz Segal, Zoé Samudzi, Maha Abdallah & Martin Shaw
More details to follow.
Medieval techniques to preserve mental health? Sage advice here (and a wonderfully written post).
"Tao seemed forever struggling with the dilemma between living freely but poorly and working in the government but unhappily. Besides resorting to alcohol, Tao dealt with such struggles with poetry."
"Tao seemed forever struggling with the dilemma between living freely but poorly and working in the government but unhappily. Besides resorting to alcohol, Tao dealt with such struggles with poetry."
The Rise of Poetry Therapy in Eleventh Century China
How did literati manage their mental health in middle period China? Melancholy, depression, and down moods were as common among them as among us today. In the absence of antidepressants and therapists...
www.leidenmedievalistsblog.nl
October 3, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Medieval techniques to preserve mental health? Sage advice here (and a wonderfully written post).
"Tao seemed forever struggling with the dilemma between living freely but poorly and working in the government but unhappily. Besides resorting to alcohol, Tao dealt with such struggles with poetry."
"Tao seemed forever struggling with the dilemma between living freely but poorly and working in the government but unhappily. Besides resorting to alcohol, Tao dealt with such struggles with poetry."
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
The best slow TV ever. www.nrk.no/kultur/flytt...
Flyttar Osebergskipet for første gong på 100 år
Noregs mest kjende vikingskip skal no løftast frå det gamle til det nye vikingmuseet. Flyttninga er venta å koste over en halv milliard kroner.
www.nrk.no
September 10, 2025 at 6:56 AM
The best slow TV ever. www.nrk.no/kultur/flytt...
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
At my good colleague @markusmindrebo.bsky.social’s book launch at the @unistavanger.bsky.social Library today. Women, Politics, and Social Networks in the Sagas of Norwegian Kings. Congratulations on the book, Markus!
September 8, 2025 at 11:21 AM
At my good colleague @markusmindrebo.bsky.social’s book launch at the @unistavanger.bsky.social Library today. Women, Politics, and Social Networks in the Sagas of Norwegian Kings. Congratulations on the book, Markus!
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
Step into the heart of Medieval Baghdad—right from your phone.
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
September 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Step into the heart of Medieval Baghdad—right from your phone.
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
📜 Uncover rich, immersive history
🦅 Explore 9th century Baghdad
📱 Experience it all for free, anytime, anywhere
Launching today for free: the Discovery Tour App – Medieval Baghdad
#AssassinsCreed
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
We have a cover for Ancient Egypt in Video Games! Out either late 2025 or early 2026 - will post a link with contents once it’s up on the DeGruyter website.
I’m very excited that this is soon out in the world!
I’m very excited that this is soon out in the world!
August 29, 2025 at 12:54 PM
We have a cover for Ancient Egypt in Video Games! Out either late 2025 or early 2026 - will post a link with contents once it’s up on the DeGruyter website.
I’m very excited that this is soon out in the world!
I’m very excited that this is soon out in the world!
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
29th August is the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. Here Salome is depicted doing a spectacular sword dance! ⚔️
Bodleian Library MS. Auct. D. 2. 6; 'The Littlemore Anselm'; f.166v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Bodleian Library MS. Auct. D. 2. 6; 'The Littlemore Anselm'; f.166v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
August 29, 2025 at 10:26 AM
29th August is the feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. Here Salome is depicted doing a spectacular sword dance! ⚔️
Bodleian Library MS. Auct. D. 2. 6; 'The Littlemore Anselm'; f.166v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Bodleian Library MS. Auct. D. 2. 6; 'The Littlemore Anselm'; f.166v @bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
"This book is a must-read for both medievalists and gamers." - @medievalists.bsky.social The Middle Ages in Computer Games by @robehoughton.bsky.social offers the most comprehensive analysis and discussion of medievalist computer games to date. Learn more 👉 buff.ly/XnzZx0z #medievalsky
August 29, 2025 at 6:30 AM
"This book is a must-read for both medievalists and gamers." - @medievalists.bsky.social The Middle Ages in Computer Games by @robehoughton.bsky.social offers the most comprehensive analysis and discussion of medievalist computer games to date. Learn more 👉 buff.ly/XnzZx0z #medievalsky
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
It’s an unimaginable amount of money. He could have bought two - maybe even three - Warhammer armies.
Imagine what good could have been done with all the money Mark Zuckerberg has personally wasted
August 21, 2025 at 6:05 AM
It’s an unimaginable amount of money. He could have bought two - maybe even three - Warhammer armies.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
August 12, 2025 at 9:54 AM
a university is not for generating profit, it provides cultural enrichment via weird little gremlin people who love visigoths or haikus, and very occasionally a scientist who figures out faster than light travel
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
So does that mean it’ll develop crippling depression and a bunch of debt
OpenAI releases the newest version of the AI model that powers its popular ChatGPT chatbot, with CEO Sam Altman promoting it as like having a “team of Ph.D. level experts in your pocket.”
OpenAI releases GPT-5, calling it a ‘team of Ph.D. level experts in your pocket’
OpenAI says its latest version of the popular AI model is better at coding, more accurate and less deceptive than previous versions.
nbcnews.to
August 7, 2025 at 9:42 PM
So does that mean it’ll develop crippling depression and a bunch of debt
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
There's another very kind review of The Middle Ages in Computer Games out on @gamevironments.bsky.social from @markusmindrebo.bsky.social. There's also a bunch of important articles on peripheral religions in games in this issue which are well worth a look. doi.org/10.48783/gam...
Review of Robert Houghton's The Middle Ages in Computer Games: Ludic Approaches to the Medieval and Medievalism (2024)
| gamevironments
doi.org
August 7, 2025 at 9:42 AM
There's another very kind review of The Middle Ages in Computer Games out on @gamevironments.bsky.social from @markusmindrebo.bsky.social. There's also a bunch of important articles on peripheral religions in games in this issue which are well worth a look. doi.org/10.48783/gam...
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
Look even *if* AI could do the job of a historian, I still wouldn’t trust it.
My research is on how elites used the past as a political tool and tried to control historic narratives.
I wouldn’t trust tech companies and their connections to right wing governments to not rewrite the past.
My research is on how elites used the past as a political tool and tried to control historic narratives.
I wouldn’t trust tech companies and their connections to right wing governments to not rewrite the past.
August 5, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Look even *if* AI could do the job of a historian, I still wouldn’t trust it.
My research is on how elites used the past as a political tool and tried to control historic narratives.
I wouldn’t trust tech companies and their connections to right wing governments to not rewrite the past.
My research is on how elites used the past as a political tool and tried to control historic narratives.
I wouldn’t trust tech companies and their connections to right wing governments to not rewrite the past.
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
The Call for Papers for our strand on the Middle Ages in Modern Games for next year's @imc-leeds.bsky.social is now open with the conference theme of 'Temporalities'. Please circulate to any interested parties. Deadline 17 September. Text here: middleagesinmoderngames.net/announcement...
August 4, 2025 at 2:01 PM
The Call for Papers for our strand on the Middle Ages in Modern Games for next year's @imc-leeds.bsky.social is now open with the conference theme of 'Temporalities'. Please circulate to any interested parties. Deadline 17 September. Text here: middleagesinmoderngames.net/announcement...
Reposted by Markus Mindrebø
Universities messed up by not getting rid of student evaluations after the wave of peer reviewed scholarship about their issues and before evals became a culture war item. This could have been done a decade or more ago and betrays a stunning lack of imagination in capitalist ed sector
Lots of (appropriate) outrage about the Brown student survey meddling but I’ve heard less nationally about what’s going on in Ohio (state inserting a required “bias” question into our surveys & requiring we be reviewed on it).
July 31, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Universities messed up by not getting rid of student evaluations after the wave of peer reviewed scholarship about their issues and before evals became a culture war item. This could have been done a decade or more ago and betrays a stunning lack of imagination in capitalist ed sector