Pieter Van den Heede
@pietervdheede.bsky.social
Historian @ ESHCC | History & Games | Public History | Memory | Digital Humanities | Historical Theory | Finalist Young Historian of the Year 2019 | 🇧🇪 in 🇳🇱 | He/him | Opinions are my own
Check out my dissertation: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/134918
Check out my dissertation: https://repub.eur.nl/pub/134918
Pinned
Intro post 3:
How do players reflect on playing games that depict the Holocaust?
Check it out in the article below in History & Memory:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/3/articl...
How do players reflect on playing games that depict the Holocaust?
Check it out in the article below in History & Memory:
muse.jhu.edu/pub/3/articl...
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
We're happy to announce the call for contributions for our new HGN theme: Fictions! Following a successful event last month, this theme explores the relationship between history and fiction in games, and how they shape each other.
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#gamestudies #gamingthepast
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#gamestudies #gamingthepast
Call for Contributions - Fictions | Historical Games Network
Our theme of Fictions started with a HGN | IWM panel at the Royal Society of Edinburgh’s Curious Festival. You can read more about the event on the Historical Games Network blog and you can watch the ...
www.historicalgames.net
October 16, 2025 at 2:02 PM
We're happy to announce the call for contributions for our new HGN theme: Fictions! Following a successful event last month, this theme explores the relationship between history and fiction in games, and how they shape each other.
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#gamestudies #gamingthepast
www.historicalgames.net/call-for-con...
#gamestudies #gamingthepast
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
Here's how I put it on the Ezra Klein Show four years ago:
"The news system isn’t really designed for public understanding. It’s designed to produce new content every day." www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/p...
Which is to say: any "fix" has to be systemic too.
"The news system isn’t really designed for public understanding. It’s designed to produce new content every day." www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/p...
Which is to say: any "fix" has to be systemic too.
September 14, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Here's how I put it on the Ezra Klein Show four years ago:
"The news system isn’t really designed for public understanding. It’s designed to produce new content every day." www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/p...
Which is to say: any "fix" has to be systemic too.
"The news system isn’t really designed for public understanding. It’s designed to produce new content every day." www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/p...
Which is to say: any "fix" has to be systemic too.
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
Schotwonden bij Palestijnse kinderen wijzen op gericht vuur
Schotwonden bij Palestijnse kinderen wijzen op gericht vuur
www.volkskrant.nl
September 13, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Schotwonden bij Palestijnse kinderen wijzen op gericht vuur
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
This will certainly be a book for my shelf.
BOOK ANNOUNCEMENT! @mahliann.bsky.social, @marcuscarter.com, and myself have combined our collective brains and written a wide-reaching introduction to the complex and interdisciplinary field of Game Studies in this forthcoming book for Polity. www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?b...
September 4, 2025 at 12:22 PM
This will certainly be a book for my shelf.
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
Ik had een leuk en inspirerend gesprek met historica Tina De Gendt, over publieksgeschiedenis, erfgoed als forum voor democratische onderhandeling en wandelen als methode, te lezen op @overdemuur.bsky.social:
overdemuur.org/geschiedenis...
overdemuur.org/geschiedenis...
Geschiedenis in het publiek. Interview met Tina De Gendt
De Gentse historica Tina De Gendt onderzoekt de geschiedenis van superdiverse wijken, samen met de inwoners van die wijken. Ze ziet erfgoed als een forum voor democratische onderhandeling en vertre…
overdemuur.org
September 3, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Ik had een leuk en inspirerend gesprek met historica Tina De Gendt, over publieksgeschiedenis, erfgoed als forum voor democratische onderhandeling en wandelen als methode, te lezen op @overdemuur.bsky.social:
overdemuur.org/geschiedenis...
overdemuur.org/geschiedenis...
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
New preprint on "Computational Hermeneutics," co-authored by too many people to list in one post. TL;DR: GenAI is a cultural technology, and needs to be evaluated in ways that recognize situatedness, plurality, and ambiguity as the conditions of meaning — not noise to be minimized.
Computational Hermeneutics: Evaluating Generative AI as a Cultural Technology
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p>Generative AI (GenAI) systems are increasingly recognized as cultural technologies, yet current evaluation frameworks often treat cul
papers.ssrn.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
New preprint on "Computational Hermeneutics," co-authored by too many people to list in one post. TL;DR: GenAI is a cultural technology, and needs to be evaluated in ways that recognize situatedness, plurality, and ambiguity as the conditions of meaning — not noise to be minimized.
Ik begrijp oprecht niet dat het zomaar op tv kan.
Nog los van het feit dat etnische zuivering besproken wordt als 'business as usual', alsof het op zichzelf al geen grove misdaad tegen de menselijkheid is:
Evian, 1938? Doet bij Marbe geen belletje rinkelen?
Zo iemand is haar ziel kwijt.
Nog los van het feit dat etnische zuivering besproken wordt als 'business as usual', alsof het op zichzelf al geen grove misdaad tegen de menselijkheid is:
Evian, 1938? Doet bij Marbe geen belletje rinkelen?
Zo iemand is haar ziel kwijt.
August 15, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Ik begrijp oprecht niet dat het zomaar op tv kan.
Nog los van het feit dat etnische zuivering besproken wordt als 'business as usual', alsof het op zichzelf al geen grove misdaad tegen de menselijkheid is:
Evian, 1938? Doet bij Marbe geen belletje rinkelen?
Zo iemand is haar ziel kwijt.
Nog los van het feit dat etnische zuivering besproken wordt als 'business as usual', alsof het op zichzelf al geen grove misdaad tegen de menselijkheid is:
Evian, 1938? Doet bij Marbe geen belletje rinkelen?
Zo iemand is haar ziel kwijt.
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
To me, this is Digital Humanities
August 14, 2025 at 7:51 PM
To me, this is Digital Humanities
The song below is part of my writing soundtrack atm, but also:
The cover art for James Last's 1970s Polka Party albums are mindblowingly awetastic, let's be honest here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZhk...
The cover art for James Last's 1970s Polka Party albums are mindblowingly awetastic, let's be honest here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZhk...
August 7, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The song below is part of my writing soundtrack atm, but also:
The cover art for James Last's 1970s Polka Party albums are mindblowingly awetastic, let's be honest here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZhk...
The cover art for James Last's 1970s Polka Party albums are mindblowingly awetastic, let's be honest here
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZhk...
Question to the BlueSky game studies-crowd!
What are some of the best studies you know about the psychological, emotional and cognitive engagement of players with game fictions?
I'm thinking of books by @kcisbister.bsky.social , Aubrey Anable and some others, but any other key recommendations?
What are some of the best studies you know about the psychological, emotional and cognitive engagement of players with game fictions?
I'm thinking of books by @kcisbister.bsky.social , Aubrey Anable and some others, but any other key recommendations?
August 6, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Question to the BlueSky game studies-crowd!
What are some of the best studies you know about the psychological, emotional and cognitive engagement of players with game fictions?
I'm thinking of books by @kcisbister.bsky.social , Aubrey Anable and some others, but any other key recommendations?
What are some of the best studies you know about the psychological, emotional and cognitive engagement of players with game fictions?
I'm thinking of books by @kcisbister.bsky.social , Aubrey Anable and some others, but any other key recommendations?
... Another day in writing paradise.
Today, I'm revising my chapter on games that directly depict the Holocaust (and, well, that chapter sure needs revising.)
I'm writing about several games, but also Gerda. I can very much recommend it if you haven't played it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Fe...
Today, I'm revising my chapter on games that directly depict the Holocaust (and, well, that chapter sure needs revising.)
I'm writing about several games, but also Gerda. I can very much recommend it if you haven't played it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Fe...
Gerda A Flame In Winter - Official Trailer
YouTube video by GameTrailers
www.youtube.com
August 6, 2025 at 8:41 AM
... Another day in writing paradise.
Today, I'm revising my chapter on games that directly depict the Holocaust (and, well, that chapter sure needs revising.)
I'm writing about several games, but also Gerda. I can very much recommend it if you haven't played it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Fe...
Today, I'm revising my chapter on games that directly depict the Holocaust (and, well, that chapter sure needs revising.)
I'm writing about several games, but also Gerda. I can very much recommend it if you haven't played it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9Fe...
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
PUBLISHED #OpenAccess!
HISTORIOGRAPHIES OF GAME STUDIES: What It Has Been, What it Could Be
780 pages of disciplinary self-care, otherwise known as intellectual history. Come for the pixels, stay for the resolutions.
#VideoGames #MediaStudies
@cmejeur.bsky.social @emmavphd.bsky.social
HISTORIOGRAPHIES OF GAME STUDIES: What It Has Been, What it Could Be
780 pages of disciplinary self-care, otherwise known as intellectual history. Come for the pixels, stay for the resolutions.
#VideoGames #MediaStudies
@cmejeur.bsky.social @emmavphd.bsky.social
July 28, 2025 at 7:35 PM
PUBLISHED #OpenAccess!
HISTORIOGRAPHIES OF GAME STUDIES: What It Has Been, What it Could Be
780 pages of disciplinary self-care, otherwise known as intellectual history. Come for the pixels, stay for the resolutions.
#VideoGames #MediaStudies
@cmejeur.bsky.social @emmavphd.bsky.social
HISTORIOGRAPHIES OF GAME STUDIES: What It Has Been, What it Could Be
780 pages of disciplinary self-care, otherwise known as intellectual history. Come for the pixels, stay for the resolutions.
#VideoGames #MediaStudies
@cmejeur.bsky.social @emmavphd.bsky.social
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
The most exhausting thing about Game Studies *by far* is all the rampant Columbusing that happens, both within and beyond the field (like when someone outside the field fails to even mention prior work on a particular game...)
I wrote something new for History Respawned today. It's a review of a new book about Red Dead, but it's really about academic writing and historical game studies as a field. Please read, but also know, I really really really really REALLY didn't want to write this review.
Reviewer 2's Review of Red Dead's History — History Respawned
I promised myself I would never write a negative book review. I promised my PhD advisor I would never write a negative book review. I promised I would always find a silver lining in any piece of aca...
www.historyrespawned.com
July 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The most exhausting thing about Game Studies *by far* is all the rampant Columbusing that happens, both within and beyond the field (like when someone outside the field fails to even mention prior work on a particular game...)
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
My article "The Separation of Analog and Digital Game Studies" has now been published as part of this mammoth 781-page edited volume Historiographies of Game Studies.
Congrats to the editors and fellow authors for getting this into the world!
punctumbooks.com/titles/histo...
Congrats to the editors and fellow authors for getting this into the world!
punctumbooks.com/titles/histo...
Historiographies of Game Studies: What It Has Been, What It Could Be – punctum books
punctumbooks.com
July 25, 2025 at 9:46 PM
My article "The Separation of Analog and Digital Game Studies" has now been published as part of this mammoth 781-page edited volume Historiographies of Game Studies.
Congrats to the editors and fellow authors for getting this into the world!
punctumbooks.com/titles/histo...
Congrats to the editors and fellow authors for getting this into the world!
punctumbooks.com/titles/histo...
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
Embed With Games is now available in this little ebook bundle for a limited time, pay what you want
July 24, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Embed With Games is now available in this little ebook bundle for a limited time, pay what you want
🤯 He made those? Awesome!
He sure was talented, in so many ways.
He sure was talented, in so many ways.
oh @teszelszky.bsky.social is here! Thanks for the heads-up to this, @teszelszky.bsky.social! #HoeraHuizinga
#MedievalSky #LowCountries
Someone put this Philip the Fair on the cover of a book. Now.
#MedievalSky #LowCountries
Someone put this Philip the Fair on the cover of a book. Now.
July 25, 2025 at 10:57 AM
🤯 He made those? Awesome!
He sure was talented, in so many ways.
He sure was talented, in so many ways.
Hmm ok, so what if I taunt myself when starting my writing day
July 24, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Hmm ok, so what if I taunt myself when starting my writing day
Another day, another eat-write book-sleep cycle.
What if I could just say: hey look, game, and then boom, it just flows like a river
@kristofsmeyers.bsky.social, any cope-tips
Anyway, here's a trailer for Raid on Taihoku, one of the WWII-games I'll be writing about today
youtu.be/p6m2Tos0o2g?...
What if I could just say: hey look, game, and then boom, it just flows like a river
@kristofsmeyers.bsky.social, any cope-tips
Anyway, here's a trailer for Raid on Taihoku, one of the WWII-games I'll be writing about today
youtu.be/p6m2Tos0o2g?...
Raid on Taihoku - Trailer
YouTube video by Trailer Vault
youtu.be
July 23, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Another day, another eat-write book-sleep cycle.
What if I could just say: hey look, game, and then boom, it just flows like a river
@kristofsmeyers.bsky.social, any cope-tips
Anyway, here's a trailer for Raid on Taihoku, one of the WWII-games I'll be writing about today
youtu.be/p6m2Tos0o2g?...
What if I could just say: hey look, game, and then boom, it just flows like a river
@kristofsmeyers.bsky.social, any cope-tips
Anyway, here's a trailer for Raid on Taihoku, one of the WWII-games I'll be writing about today
youtu.be/p6m2Tos0o2g?...
I just cannot wrap my head around people not recognizing this for what it is.
(Or, well, not wanting to recognize it.)
Any person who knows at least a bit about the history of the Holocaust should scream with the loudest voice possible to make this stop.
(Or, well, not wanting to recognize it.)
Any person who knows at least a bit about the history of the Holocaust should scream with the loudest voice possible to make this stop.
The people of Gaza face starvation under the joint U.S.-Israeli food distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Our Reporter Got Into Gaza. He Witnessed a Famine of Israel’s Making.
The people of Gaza face starvation under the joint U.S.-Israeli food distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
interc.pt
July 21, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I just cannot wrap my head around people not recognizing this for what it is.
(Or, well, not wanting to recognize it.)
Any person who knows at least a bit about the history of the Holocaust should scream with the loudest voice possible to make this stop.
(Or, well, not wanting to recognize it.)
Any person who knows at least a bit about the history of the Holocaust should scream with the loudest voice possible to make this stop.
I have several thoughts on this. So, little thread.
1/
Up front: I love the review and a harsh verdict seems warranted.
If you have not tried to scope the field at all when writing your book, even when a quick Google Books-search offers multiple hits, then you have provided sloppy work. Period.
1/
Up front: I love the review and a harsh verdict seems warranted.
If you have not tried to scope the field at all when writing your book, even when a quick Google Books-search offers multiple hits, then you have provided sloppy work. Period.
I wrote something new for History Respawned today. It's a review of a new book about Red Dead, but it's really about academic writing and historical game studies as a field. Please read, but also know, I really really really really REALLY didn't want to write this review.
Reviewer 2's Review of Red Dead's History — History Respawned
I promised myself I would never write a negative book review. I promised my PhD advisor I would never write a negative book review. I promised I would always find a silver lining in any piece of aca...
www.historyrespawned.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I have several thoughts on this. So, little thread.
1/
Up front: I love the review and a harsh verdict seems warranted.
If you have not tried to scope the field at all when writing your book, even when a quick Google Books-search offers multiple hits, then you have provided sloppy work. Period.
1/
Up front: I love the review and a harsh verdict seems warranted.
If you have not tried to scope the field at all when writing your book, even when a quick Google Books-search offers multiple hits, then you have provided sloppy work. Period.
Reposted by Pieter Van den Heede
We've got a bonus discussion panel event coming up September 10th! In collaboration with the IWM Institute, we're hosting this brilliant lineup of speakers for a hybrid discussion, as part of @royalsoced.bsky.social Curious 2025
Read more and register here!
www.historicalgames.net/rse-curious-...
Read more and register here!
www.historicalgames.net/rse-curious-...
RSE Curious event: Unreal pasts, playful presents: history and fantasy in games and media | Historical Games Network
This September, in collaboration with the Imperial War Museums Institute and the Royal Society of Edinburgh‘s Curious Festival 2025, the Historical Games Network will be hosting a discussion panel eve...
www.historicalgames.net
July 21, 2025 at 9:23 AM
We've got a bonus discussion panel event coming up September 10th! In collaboration with the IWM Institute, we're hosting this brilliant lineup of speakers for a hybrid discussion, as part of @royalsoced.bsky.social Curious 2025
Read more and register here!
www.historicalgames.net/rse-curious-...
Read more and register here!
www.historicalgames.net/rse-curious-...
July 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
"I am sure there are aspects of AI that will also transform the world. But if you want to bet on which side is more transformational for all of us, I wil bet on books every single time."
Preach, my man.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPU...
Preach, my man.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPU...
'No More Copyright Protection For Anyone': Author David Baldacci Rips Big Tech Over AI Copyright
YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News
www.youtube.com
July 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
"I am sure there are aspects of AI that will also transform the world. But if you want to bet on which side is more transformational for all of us, I wil bet on books every single time."
Preach, my man.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPU...
Preach, my man.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fPU...