Evan Torner
@guyintheblackhat.bsky.social
Associate Professor of German, Niehoff Professor of Film & Media Studies at U of Cincinnati; Scholar of East German cinema, science fiction, and role-playing games. He/Him. Bi. Wears a hat.
Pinned
I'd like to think of "dark academia" as "I, a brooding professor who wears all black, have [these clothes] on while I send many emails and update Canvas assignment due dates"
Reposted by Evan Torner
Neysa McMein's "Games I Like to Play" (1934) documents her own games, e.g. her murder game, and games of the Algonquin Round Table, e.g. Alexander Woollcott's murder game variant. A pretty uncommon text, this might be its first complete digitization 🧵 1/
archive.org/details/mcme...
archive.org/details/mcme...
Games I Like to Play : Neysa McMein : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
Games I Like to Play by Neysa McMein (1888-1949) was published as a standalone booklet by McCall's Magazine in 1934 without any copyright notice, putting the...
archive.org
February 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Neysa McMein's "Games I Like to Play" (1934) documents her own games, e.g. her murder game, and games of the Algonquin Round Table, e.g. Alexander Woollcott's murder game variant. A pretty uncommon text, this might be its first complete digitization 🧵 1/
archive.org/details/mcme...
archive.org/details/mcme...
A fun fact is that I was the English subtitler for one of Franz Rogowski's early films, FRONTALWATTE (2011), a Berlin film about listless young people which deserves more attention.
Franz Rogowski turns 40 today.
February 2, 2026 at 1:28 PM
A fun fact is that I was the English subtitler for one of Franz Rogowski's early films, FRONTALWATTE (2011), a Berlin film about listless young people which deserves more attention.
Reposted by Evan Torner
Order We Are Each Other’s Liberation: Black & Asian Feminist Solidarities to get my speech from the vigil for the 1 year anniversary of the 2021 Atlanta massage parlour murders.
The editors approached me as I left the stage to ask if they could publish my speech.
Grateful I said yes. 🤲🏽
The editors approached me as I left the stage to ask if they could publish my speech.
Grateful I said yes. 🤲🏽
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Order We Are Each Other’s Liberation: Black & Asian Feminist Solidarities to get my speech from the vigil for the 1 year anniversary of the 2021 Atlanta massage parlour murders.
The editors approached me as I left the stage to ask if they could publish my speech.
Grateful I said yes. 🤲🏽
The editors approached me as I left the stage to ask if they could publish my speech.
Grateful I said yes. 🤲🏽
Reposted by Evan Torner
What a list from @mayascade.bsky.social for the @blackfilmarchive.bsky.social!
blackfilmarchive.substack.com/p/28-films-f...
blackfilmarchive.substack.com/p/28-films-f...
28 Films for the 28 Days of Black History Month
28 Films to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Black History Month
blackfilmarchive.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:01 AM
What a list from @mayascade.bsky.social for the @blackfilmarchive.bsky.social!
blackfilmarchive.substack.com/p/28-films-f...
blackfilmarchive.substack.com/p/28-films-f...
There are still occasions when prestige is simply well-deserved.
Kendrick Lamar stands atop hip-hop's Grammy hill: He's now the most-awarded rapper in the ceremony's history, surpassing Jay-Z.
Follow for more live updates: bit.ly/4c5D4uR
Follow for more live updates: bit.ly/4c5D4uR
February 2, 2026 at 2:34 AM
There are still occasions when prestige is simply well-deserved.
Reposted by Evan Torner
On Langston Hughes’s birthday, I share this timeless poem.
February 1, 2026 at 5:45 PM
On Langston Hughes’s birthday, I share this timeless poem.
Reposted by Evan Torner
I'm releasing Aqua Tofana, a tarot-based solo game about poisoning your husband, set in 1600s Italy and inspired by true events!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wan...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wan...
Aqua Tofana
A baroque solo game about poisoning your husband
www.kickstarter.com
February 1, 2026 at 4:56 PM
I'm releasing Aqua Tofana, a tarot-based solo game about poisoning your husband, set in 1600s Italy and inspired by true events!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wan...
www.kickstarter.com/projects/wan...
Reposted by Evan Torner
Here's the #VR experience I made for #GlobalGameJam! Trigger warning: political/intense + my way of processing the 😠stuff that has been happening recently.
"With Our Own Eyes":
andyman404.itch.io/with-our-own...
Trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLV...
#gamedev #ggj #ggj26 #globalgamejam #xr
"With Our Own Eyes":
andyman404.itch.io/with-our-own...
Trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLV...
#gamedev #ggj #ggj26 #globalgamejam #xr
February 2, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Here's the #VR experience I made for #GlobalGameJam! Trigger warning: political/intense + my way of processing the 😠stuff that has been happening recently.
"With Our Own Eyes":
andyman404.itch.io/with-our-own...
Trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLV...
#gamedev #ggj #ggj26 #globalgamejam #xr
"With Our Own Eyes":
andyman404.itch.io/with-our-own...
Trailer:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHLV...
#gamedev #ggj #ggj26 #globalgamejam #xr
Still a banger, after all these years
February 2, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Still a banger, after all these years
Reposted by Evan Torner
The powerful front page of the reformist newspaper Sazandegi features the names of 3,000 individuals who, according to government reports, were killed during the protests in Iran. #Iran #IranProtests2026
February 1, 2026 at 11:28 PM
The powerful front page of the reformist newspaper Sazandegi features the names of 3,000 individuals who, according to government reports, were killed during the protests in Iran. #Iran #IranProtests2026
Reposted by Evan Torner
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
February 1, 2026 at 2:11 PM
As Black History Month begins, we honor the generations of Black New Yorkers who built this city into the “gorgeous mosaic” we call home.
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
Today, we reflect on the words of Mayor David Dinkins: our city’s first Black mayor (and a democratic socialist!).
White, Harviainen, and Boss (2012) argue in our Immersive Gameplay book that "immersion" is a non-unified concept manifesting differently within specific play cultures.
Talking uncritically about "immersion" as something universal simply means one hasn't played much across other play cultures.
Talking uncritically about "immersion" as something universal simply means one hasn't played much across other play cultures.
Ok, #ttrpg hot take time. I've had a couple of beers, may regret this later.
If metacurrency ruins your immersion, then unless you've been doing some FKR bullshit, then every other RPG you've ever played has also done that. All of them require doing things that are "meta".
If metacurrency ruins your immersion, then unless you've been doing some FKR bullshit, then every other RPG you've ever played has also done that. All of them require doing things that are "meta".
February 1, 2026 at 2:33 PM
White, Harviainen, and Boss (2012) argue in our Immersive Gameplay book that "immersion" is a non-unified concept manifesting differently within specific play cultures.
Talking uncritically about "immersion" as something universal simply means one hasn't played much across other play cultures.
Talking uncritically about "immersion" as something universal simply means one hasn't played much across other play cultures.
Reposted by Evan Torner
Takeaway:
Any time the Trump administration says "AI" or anything about software or data, what you should hear is "repression as a service"
This has 2 parts:
1. AI as an excuse to consolidate data
2. AI to execute orders that humans would refuse
Any time the Trump administration says "AI" or anything about software or data, what you should hear is "repression as a service"
This has 2 parts:
1. AI as an excuse to consolidate data
2. AI to execute orders that humans would refuse
January 31, 2026 at 3:50 AM
Takeaway:
Any time the Trump administration says "AI" or anything about software or data, what you should hear is "repression as a service"
This has 2 parts:
1. AI as an excuse to consolidate data
2. AI to execute orders that humans would refuse
Any time the Trump administration says "AI" or anything about software or data, what you should hear is "repression as a service"
This has 2 parts:
1. AI as an excuse to consolidate data
2. AI to execute orders that humans would refuse
Reposted by Evan Torner
Get Ready for Five Fires!
Follow the BackerKit page and help take this #ttrpg of DJs, breakers, MCs, and graffiti writers from PDF to Print.
Follow the BackerKit page and help take this #ttrpg of DJs, breakers, MCs, and graffiti writers from PDF to Print.
Get Ready for Five Fires
From Thoughtcrime Games LLC - Get Ready for Five Fires
www.backerkit.com
January 31, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Get Ready for Five Fires!
Follow the BackerKit page and help take this #ttrpg of DJs, breakers, MCs, and graffiti writers from PDF to Print.
Follow the BackerKit page and help take this #ttrpg of DJs, breakers, MCs, and graffiti writers from PDF to Print.
Reposted by Evan Torner
the life of an animator rarely if ever comes with the prestige or recognition of live action cinema. there is no glitz, no glamour. its just long long hours with inks, cels, paper, light tables, and a million minute decisions. in this way it shares a lot with game dev
most creators remain anonymous
most creators remain anonymous
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 PM
the life of an animator rarely if ever comes with the prestige or recognition of live action cinema. there is no glitz, no glamour. its just long long hours with inks, cels, paper, light tables, and a million minute decisions. in this way it shares a lot with game dev
most creators remain anonymous
most creators remain anonymous
From Peter Fleming's Dark Academia:
January 31, 2026 at 1:02 PM
From Peter Fleming's Dark Academia:
Reposted by Evan Torner
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
January 30, 2026 at 11:58 PM
every epstein file drop underscores how elite power operates through shared socio-economic networks, regardless of people's ideological differences, populist posturing, or public feuds
One day, my son asked me how Emperor Palpatine got all his power.
Since it's been a snowy hellscape the past week, we've now been watching *every* SW movie (not show) in timeline-chronological order:
TPM --> AotC --> Clone Wars --> Solo --> Rogue One --> ANH --> ESB --> RotJ --> TFA --> TLJ...
Since it's been a snowy hellscape the past week, we've now been watching *every* SW movie (not show) in timeline-chronological order:
TPM --> AotC --> Clone Wars --> Solo --> Rogue One --> ANH --> ESB --> RotJ --> TFA --> TLJ...
January 31, 2026 at 10:35 AM
One day, my son asked me how Emperor Palpatine got all his power.
Since it's been a snowy hellscape the past week, we've now been watching *every* SW movie (not show) in timeline-chronological order:
TPM --> AotC --> Clone Wars --> Solo --> Rogue One --> ANH --> ESB --> RotJ --> TFA --> TLJ...
Since it's been a snowy hellscape the past week, we've now been watching *every* SW movie (not show) in timeline-chronological order:
TPM --> AotC --> Clone Wars --> Solo --> Rogue One --> ANH --> ESB --> RotJ --> TFA --> TLJ...
Reposted by Evan Torner
Restitution digital durch @kulturspk.bsky.social: „Außerdem soll ein digitales Archiv der Nuba-Fotografien im Büro des Pan Nuba Rats entstehen. Die digitalisierten Fotografien und Videos wurden dem Rat übergeben.“
via @monopolmagazin.bsky.social
www.monopol-magazin.de/riefenstahls...
via @monopolmagazin.bsky.social
www.monopol-magazin.de/riefenstahls...
Riefenstahls Fotos neu gelesen – Nuba-Perspektive im Fokus
Wie sehen die Nuba heute die berühmten Fotos, die die NS-Filmemacherin Leni Riefenstahl von ihnen und ihren Vorfahren machte? Ein Forschungsprojekt gibt ihnen eine Stimme
www.monopol-magazin.de
January 31, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Restitution digital durch @kulturspk.bsky.social: „Außerdem soll ein digitales Archiv der Nuba-Fotografien im Büro des Pan Nuba Rats entstehen. Die digitalisierten Fotografien und Videos wurden dem Rat übergeben.“
via @monopolmagazin.bsky.social
www.monopol-magazin.de/riefenstahls...
via @monopolmagazin.bsky.social
www.monopol-magazin.de/riefenstahls...
Reposted by Evan Torner
I’ll just leave this here. 😄
Odysseus: In Search of a Clockwork Larp | Nordic Larp
Running a clockwork larp is a fool’s errand, because the very point of a clockwork is interdependence, and the very point of a larp is agency. The Odysseus team invested a massive amount of skilled…
www.nordiclarp.org
January 31, 2026 at 9:48 AM
I’ll just leave this here. 😄
For 2 years, I was part of the incredible 200-volunteer team that produced the 2024 runs of the blockbuster larp Odysseus.
Now YOU can play this extraordinary experience, with a team of professionals, in 2026-2027!
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Now YOU can play this extraordinary experience, with a team of professionals, in 2026-2027!
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Odysseus – First Light by Ellarion Tales - Indiegogo
Odysseus – First Light is an epic sci-fi larp about survival. Help us build a spaceship and join us onboard!
www.indiegogo.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:28 AM
For 2 years, I was part of the incredible 200-volunteer team that produced the 2024 runs of the blockbuster larp Odysseus.
Now YOU can play this extraordinary experience, with a team of professionals, in 2026-2027!
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Now YOU can play this extraordinary experience, with a team of professionals, in 2026-2027!
www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/...
Reposted by Evan Torner
<waves to all my BIPOC TTRPG designers>
Hello!
You may think you are feeling impostor syndrome, but did you stop to consider it may actually be a reaction to being silently (or loudly ) invalidated in society and in the TTRPG community?
They feel similar, but they arent the same thing.
Hello!
You may think you are feeling impostor syndrome, but did you stop to consider it may actually be a reaction to being silently (or loudly ) invalidated in society and in the TTRPG community?
They feel similar, but they arent the same thing.
January 30, 2026 at 1:09 PM
<waves to all my BIPOC TTRPG designers>
Hello!
You may think you are feeling impostor syndrome, but did you stop to consider it may actually be a reaction to being silently (or loudly ) invalidated in society and in the TTRPG community?
They feel similar, but they arent the same thing.
Hello!
You may think you are feeling impostor syndrome, but did you stop to consider it may actually be a reaction to being silently (or loudly ) invalidated in society and in the TTRPG community?
They feel similar, but they arent the same thing.
Reposted by Evan Torner
✅making games is a communal effort that requires the specialized labor of many different fields.
✅making games is a solo artistic journey where one person stubbornly creates everything on their own.
👍👍both ways are artistically relevant, and bring different things to the table.
✅making games is a solo artistic journey where one person stubbornly creates everything on their own.
👍👍both ways are artistically relevant, and bring different things to the table.
January 29, 2026 at 10:46 AM
✅making games is a communal effort that requires the specialized labor of many different fields.
✅making games is a solo artistic journey where one person stubbornly creates everything on their own.
👍👍both ways are artistically relevant, and bring different things to the table.
✅making games is a solo artistic journey where one person stubbornly creates everything on their own.
👍👍both ways are artistically relevant, and bring different things to the table.
Reposted by Evan Torner
COVID-19 left a lasting increase in mortality that has yet to fully unwind in most rich nations, according to an analysis of data from 34 countries.
COVID-19 left lasting rise in deaths in rich countries, study shows
The findings challenge the idea that the pandemic mainly hastened the deaths of the frail who would have died soon anyway and result in fewer fatalities in later years.
ebx.sh
January 30, 2026 at 6:05 AM
COVID-19 left a lasting increase in mortality that has yet to fully unwind in most rich nations, according to an analysis of data from 34 countries.