The world's first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer
This paper discusses the built environment of the Warhammer 40,000 universe through a number of architectural, anthropological, and cinematic theories. The aim is to underline the uniqueness of this setting, grounded firmly in British popular culture to its status as a global phenomenon. In addition to this, the paper examines the hobbyists’ engagement with modelmaking …
The works of the medieval Arabic philosopher Al-Farabi (c. 872-950) reconstruct the thinking of Plato and Aristotle in a world forever changed by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In the Attainment of Happiness and The Philosophy of Plato and Aristotle, Al-Farabi quietly presents a radical political program. Al-Farabi’s ponderous opening meditation on epistemology turns out to …
Warhammer 40,000 has drawn significant inspiration from American author H.P. Lovecraft and the genre of cosmic horror more broadly. Lovecraft stands as an icon of pulp and horror literature who has inspired countless contemporary works of science fiction and pioneered the genre of Lovecraftian, or cosmic horror. The alien nature and design of the Tyranids …
The Warhammer Fantasy setting is rife with cultural and geographical comparisons. The map of the world roughly follows that of our own planet Earth. The continents roughly line up and the main human races that an enjoyer, reader, or player of the setting should find ‘good’ are roughly based on German, British, and French culture. …
This paper examines the relationship between the Adeptus Mechanicus, a highly tech-zealous faction in the popular Games Workshop IP Warhammer 40K, and contemporary techonarratives concerning the development, operation, and utility of modern technological systems. Through the combined examination of both official Adeptus Mechanicus lore (e.g., Warhammer 40K codex) and community engagement (e.g., posts/memes on sites …
The 41st Millenium is swarming with transhuman imaginings. It is littered with thought experiments pushing the recognisable bounds of The Human into fantastical images. From the cyborged Mechanicus priest to the specifically “transhuman physiology” of the Space Marine 40k is fascinated with methods of expanding human capacity to incredibly limits. But are these representations merely …
As the most contemporary of Games Workshop’s world-building efforts, the Mortal Realms of Age of Sigmar tend to echo themes and anxieties relevant to its own time. Much like Warhammer 40,000 reflected the politics of the 1980s, in the global world of the 2010s and 2020s, Age of Sigmar reflects the polycrisis (Morin, 1993, Lähde, …
The Orkish language in Warhammer 40K is a stylized linguistic construct designed to reflect the cultural and social traits of its fictional speakers. While not a fully developed conlang, Orkish is characterized by phonetic distortions, syntactic simplifications, and a lexicon heavily influenced by Cockney speech patterns, particularly those associated with football hooligan subcultures. This study …
This paper offers a depth-psychological reading of Warhammer 40,000, in which the setting is interpreted as a modern myth that dramatises and literalises the central tension of the Western tradition, stretching back to its Grecian origins. I use Camille Paglia’s discussion of the Apollonian and chthonic to argue that Warhammer 40,000 symbolically represents the Western …
The presentation addresses the connection between political power and somatic modifications using the example of the monarchy (Imperium of Man) from the grimdark Warhammer 40k universe, which raises the question of the nature and extent of political control over the human body and its use for the purpose of power projection which corresponds to term …
Game designer Rick Priestley has described the original Warhammer setting as a portmanteau-world: a universe inspired by real world history, folk stories, and fantasy literature, particularly the works of J.R.R. Tolkein and Michael Moorcock. Priestley’s subsequent science-fantasy game, 40k, took the same approach: drawing liberally on roleplaying games, comics, science fiction novels, and movies, as …
The TV show MythBusters (2003 – 2016) took popular myths – can a car engine run on Coca Cola? – and put them to the test. I will swap MythBusters’ engineering for social science to put a myth about learning and Warhammer under a metaphorical microscope: “Doing Warhammer is a waste of time because you …
The Warhammer 40’000 universe is immediately recognisable through its distinct visualgrammar: gothic arches, excessive skulls, layered plate armour, cathedral starships, andbaroque insignia. This presentation examines the design and visual aesthetics ofWarhammer 40’000, exploring how these elements construct its oppressive “grimdark”identity and sustain immersion across miniatures, artwork, and digital adaptations.Using visual culture theory (Mirzoeff, 1999) and …
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among combat veterans presents a complex challenge for mental health professionals. Traditional therapeutic approaches often fall short in addressing the intricate layers of trauma experienced during military service. However, emerging research suggests that unconventional methods, such as utilizing immersive and narrative-driven activities, could offer novel avenues for therapeutic intervention. This abstract …
Warhammer 40,000 draws its influences from across history; notably the in-universe history, theology, and iconography of the Imperial Cult and the Adeptus Ministorum are inspired by the medieval and early modern Roman Catholic Church. One instance of the history of the Adeptus Ministorum paralleling the history of Catholicism can be seen in origin of one …