Homo Ludens

Homo Ludens covers diverse explorations into digital worlds, storytelling evolution, and their intersections with reality, through gaming, world-building, simulation, and socio-political impacts. It discusses the importance of imagination and STEAM in future developments, human and AI interaction within fictional and potential futures, and reflects on historical and cultural paradigms influencing our digital universe.

Gaming Storytelling and Narrative Evolution Simulation and Simulated Worlds World-Building in Fiction and Reality Imagination in Science and Technology Socio-Political Impacts on Culture Historical and Cultural Analysis Future Technologies and AI Education and Learning Methods Role of Arts in STEAM

The hottest Substack posts of Homo Ludens

And their main takeaways

Chariots of the Gods? Not Likely

0 implied HN points • 22 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture History Colonization Academia Civilizations
  1. Euro-centrism has led to the unjust attribution of architectural and technological wonders to white Europeans, undermining the achievements of other civilizations.
  2. The propagation of Euro-centric narratives, such as the idea of aliens building ancient wonders, harms the recognition of the true creators and their agency in history.
  3. Academia and education systems need to address and move away from Euro-centric histories in order to respect the contributions and cultures of diverse civilizations worldwide.

Cats Playing Heavy Metal: Mongolia Finding Itself in the Modern World

0 implied HN points • 19 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Music Capitalism Globalization History Cultural Evolution
  1. Karl Marx foresaw the power of capital and globalization in the modern era, but failed to account for capitalism's enticing nature and adaptability.
  2. The Mongolian transition from socialist-communist to democratic-capitalist society has brought wealth but also challenges in defining cultural identity and navigating global influences.
  3. Globalization and capitalism impact traditional cultures, like Mongolian heavy metal music, leading to a struggle for meaning and connection in the face of commodification.

It's All About the Khans, Baby!

0 implied HN points • 17 Apr 24
💾 History Monetary Systems
  1. Late medieval Chinese were advanced in creating financial tools like paper money, prevalent in China but unfamiliar in medieval Europe.
  2. Gold and silver weren't always the main forms of currency in history; many medieval economies relied on virtual currency or silver over gold.
  3. The gold standard was a socially constructed system whose significance varied by context, with silver being more significant than gold for much of ancient and medieval times.

Shrewd Monk, Stubborn Emperor (Part IV)

0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
💾 History Medieval Conflict Politics Religion Power
  1. Gregory VII's ex-communication of Heinrich IV and the Italian archbishops weakened the ecclesiastical support for the German monarch in northern Italy during the Investiture Controversy.
  2. Heinrich IV strategically sought redemption from Gregory VII's ex-communication, leveraging the pope's priestly obligation to allow him to seek forgiveness and restore his power within the Church and kingdom.
  3. The Investiture Controversy between Gregory VII and the German emperors ended with no clear resolution on who was supreme, showing the failure of medieval theocracy and highlighting the complexity of political and religious power struggles.

Shrewd Monk, Stubborn Emperor (Part II)

0 implied HN points • 15 Apr 24
💾 History Religion Europe Conflict Government
  1. We live in a secular society that relies on science and logic, rather than gods or spirits, for guidance.
  2. Historically, the relationships between religion, society, and state have been complex and often contentious.
  3. The Investiture Controversy, exemplified by the conflict between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Heinrich IV, was fueled by issues like clerical marriage, simony, and lay investiture, rather than just the act of lay investiture itself.
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Rumors of War & Technowar (Part 01)

0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 22
💾 History Vietnam War Military technology Cold War National Defense
  1. The American war in Vietnam prompted the nation to question its government, leaders, and motives, showcasing the stain it left on the American psyche.
  2. Technowars like the one in Vietnam tested the limits of military power, demonstrating that even with advanced technology, victory is not guaranteed.
  3. Robert Strange McNamara's involvement in the technowar in Vietnam highlighted the flawed strategic concepts and reliance on quantitative analysis that led the U.S. into a costly and devastating conflict.

We Need to Reconsider the Drafting Process; Or Why Drafting Is the Lifeblood of Good Writing

0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 19
📚 Literature Writing Drafting Novels
  1. Drafting is crucial for good writing. Hemingway's advice on first drafts being 'shit' emphasizes the importance of revising and drafting.
  2. Indie authors need to prioritize drafting over quick production to improve the quality of their work. Spending time with writing through multiple drafts adds layers and depth that engage readers.
  3. Established authors utilize drafting for web serials to refine their work. Techniques like 'fat outlines' help in outlining story arcs and character development, leading to better-crafted narratives.

Education’s Technology Problem

0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 19
🚌 Education Reform Technology Public Schools Universities
  1. Technology alone cannot solve the issues in the education system; ethical transformation is crucial.
  2. Private for-profit educational alternatives have not proven successful, leading to student debt issues.
  3. Dependency on technology as a solution overlooks crucial societal issues like mental health, food insecurity, and more that cannot be addressed solely through technology.

Is the Metaverse Our Post-Web Future? Probably Not.

0 implied HN points • 01 Oct 19
🕹 Technology Internet Metaverse Web Development Digital Trends
  1. Historical confluences were crucial in the development, adoption, and ubiquity of the Web, showing that technology evolution isn't sudden but a result of various factors.
  2. The rise of walled-gardens and cyberbalkanization poses a threat to the open and free nature of the Internet, potentially dividing users and hindering collaboration.
  3. Potential future trends include cyberbalkanization, walled-garden ecosystems, stratified Web with paid access tiers, and the development of a high-bandwidth Web.