A cup of hot chocolate with intricate leaf-shaped latte art sits on a saucer with a spoon, placed on a light-colored table. Behind it, a colorful pirate-themed board game is set up, with game pieces, cards, and tokens arranged around the board. The game is "Feed the Kraken". Alt text via ChatGPT.

Lovely evening field trip to Game Guru board game cafe for the Game Cultures research cluster! We played Feed the Kraken, me and co-pirate @harriresearches.bsky.social scored a victory against @doktornick.bsky.social @andrewbell.bsky.social @eugeniotriana.bsky.social (+ Will & Mark, non-bskyers) 🐙🏴‍☠️

An image of the members of the Popular Music research cluster from BCMCR sitting in front of a projector screen showing a spotify playlist.

A screenshot of a spotify playlist titled Transgressive Identities and Subjectivities featuring a collection of different songs.

In our 'Listening Group' panel, members of the BCMCR Popular Music cluster share and discuss a curated playlist that demonstrates themes of creative innovation and place, as well as reflections on Birmingham as "the home of metal" #TIS25
Listen to the playlist here: open.spotify.com/playlist/7x7...

Did this short talk yesterday for the @bcmcr.bsky.social #TIS25 conference, part of the Games Cultures cluster to discuss some areas of my thesis focusing on transgression as subjectively defined, not static, (role)playing and transgressive fantasies.

...Eggplant emojis were also in abundance 😅🍆

Time for Day 2 of Transgressive Identities and Subjectivities conference!

Our day 2 panels starts with 'Class, Culture and Consumerism', exploring themes of capitalism and resistance through the lens of black metal, punk, comic conventions and youth cultures #TIS25

Panel 4: The 'Transgressive Games Cultures' panel brings together five game researchers to explore themes of transgression within gamer culture- through the discsssion of topics including roleplaying, player interactions and play practices #TIS25

Panel 3: From classic horror villains, to bold new stories, to the work of Junji Ito, the 'Horror and Monstosity' panel looks at the themes of transformation and social deviance hidden within these chilling texts #TIS25

Our next panel: The 'Representing "Subversive" Genders' panel examines gender discourses from all over the world. With discussions about representations of trans and non-binary people on and off screen and provoking questions about female bodies and freedom #TIS25

Our first panel 'Non-Human and Transgressive Bodies' explores different ideas of what our bodies can be, both online and offline, with topics ranging from online communication and veganism to recontexualising religious texts #TIS25

We are officially live! Transgressive Identities and Subjectivities conference has now kicked off with our opening remarks by conference co-chairs Dr Poppy Wilde and Dr Matt Grimes! #TIS25
@poppywilde.bsky.social

Keep an eye on here to hear about the panels of our conference for the next two days!

Transgressive Identities and Subjectivities Conference 17-18 June, Birmingham City University Panels include: Non-Human and Transgressive Bodies Representing “Subversive” Genders Horror and Monstrosity Transgressive Game Cultures Class, Culture and Consumerism Music, place, and the articulation of transgressive identities: Popular Music Listening Session Playlist Social Media and Online Transgressions Cultural Theory Roundtable In addition to standard paper presentations we have some short screenings, a listening session, a roundtable, and a panel of short takes. In-person conference tickets include refreshments and lunch on both days, plus drinks reception on day one.

Join us for the @bcmcr.bsky.social conference "Transgressive Identities and Subjectivities" - 17-18 June, Parkside Building, Birmingham City University!
In-person fee: £30/£15. Online fee: £15.
Schedule, abstracts, and info here: bcmcr.org/event/cfp-tr...

#media #culture #research #transgression

Had an amazing time at #BDIGRA25 filled with new and inspirational talks and conversations. Huge thank you to the organisers and the awesome local team at @bcmcr.bsky.social (among others @poppywilde.bsky.social @doktornick.bsky.social @harriresearches.bsky.social @andrewbell.bsky.social).

Two people standing at the front of a lecture theatre, next to a brown couch, with a screenshot of a video game projected on the background wall.

We're kicking off British DiGRA with some opening words from the co-chairs of the conference organising committee! #BDiGRA25

Man in black shirt and woman with blonde hair behind a white podium, with words on the screen behind them including the phrase 'heterosexual male gamers'.

After a busy and fascinating first day, the second day British DiGRA conference is kicking off with more lightning talks! #BDiGRA25

Full programme available here: bdigra.co.uk/what-is-brit....