Morgan is presenting at the 2025 International Conference on Games and Narrative on March 6, from 15:30 to 16:30 EST. The conference is hybrid, and virtual attendance is available. Online registration can be completed at this link until Thursday, February 27, at midnight EST.
Abstract: "Writing History in Pentiment: Medieval Manuscripts, Historical Accuracy, and the Politics of Representation"
This paper examines how Pentiment (Obsidian Entertainment, 2023) uses medieval manuscript aesthetics and a complex system of fonts and visual cues to challenge conventional ideas of “historical accuracy” in video games, particularly regarding the Middle Ages. By embedding the game within the pages of a manuscript, it highlights how history is selectively written, omitted, and rewritten to suit specific audiences. More than a stylistic choice, its approach to writing—analyzed through medieval paleographic studies—conveys characters’ social status, education, and emotions, while also reinforcing the game’s broader critique of historical narratives.
Pentiment questions assumptions that portray the Middle Ages as a dystopian era of violence, oppression, and chaos, exposing how these tropes persist in media as politically neutral “facts.” As Esther Wright suggests, the game takes a deconstructionist approach to history, subverting entrenched notions of accuracy that privilege a white, cis-male, heteronormative perspective. By centering manuscript culture as a core mechanic, Pentiment reflects on how history is constructed—what is recorded, erased, and shaped by power. Ultimately, the game prompts players to reconsider the foundations of historical storytelling.
Conference Information:
ICGaN: International Conference on Games and Narrative 2025
Theme: Adapt, Adopt, Adjust: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Adaptation, Storytelling, and Simulation
Location: University of Waterloo, Ontario
Dates: March 3–6, 2025
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