Welcome to the Digital Citadel. Our articles discuss how to use Game of Thrones, today’s most popular medievalist cultural phenomenon, in the classroom. Game of Thrones can be used to teach medieval history and culture, to introduce students to the concept of medievalism, and to explore its popularity from the perspective of cultural and media studies.
The authors of these articles were instructional assistants for Wilfrid Laurier’s first-year medievalism course ML102 (Game of Thrones and Medieval Culture), beginning in fall 2015. They wrote based on their hands-on experience with the challenges involved in using Game of Thrones as a window on the Middle Ages while still ensuring that students understand that it is a medievalist text that reshapes medieval material for present purposes.
The different articles available on the site explore various parallels between George R.R. Martin’s storyworld and medieval history and culture, as well as the challenges of teaching from the standpoint of medievalism studies. Additionally, we have several articles exploring the Game of Thrones phenomenon from the perspective of cultural and media studies. These are meant to be practical guides that will assist instructors planning to integrate Game of Thrones into classroom activities, whether as part of a single lesson or a larger unit or course.
Living In The Middle Ages: Everyday Life in Medieval Europe and Westeros
Stick Them With The Pointy End: Lessons in Medieval Warfare
De-centering The Middle Ages
The Old Gods And The New: Religion in Medieval Europe and the World of Ice and Fire
Playing The Game Of Thrones: Power, Rulership and Civil Strife
Critical Thinking About Popular Culture: Media and Cultural Studies and the Game of Thrones Phenomenon
About The Authors
Disclaimer: The materials on this site are the intellectual property of their respective authors. You may access and download the material only for personal and educational use. The opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not reflect the views of Wilfrid Laurier University or any of its employees. Wilfrid Laurier University is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied.
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