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David Kocik

David Kocik

@davidkocik.bsky.social

930 followers 1.7K following 610 posts

🏳️‍🌈 Researching video games, sexuality, and transnational media circuits though a cultural studies lens | Percussionist and cat dad

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David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 7h

Also what is this thumbnail??

Reposted by David Kocik

CGSA/ACÉJ @cgsaacej.bsky.social · 11d

📣✨Call for Papers!📣✨

CGSA 2026 will take place at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec from June 11-14th, 2026.

This year’s chosen theme is “On Repeat”.

Submissions are due January 7th, 2026 at 11:59 PM PST

Full CfP here: gamestudies.ca/conference-c...

Conference // Conférence

Version française ci-dessous The 2026 CGSA/ACÉJ annual conference will be a hybrid event co-hosted by the Technoculture, Art and Games Lab (TAG) at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec&nbs…

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 16d

The way she should have had three wins in a row 😭

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 20d

And Junglep*ssy is the queen 🥰

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 20d

Good morning!

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 22d

Sat for One Battle After Another!

a cartoon says let 's all go to the lobby

Alt: Montgomery Burns sings to get ourselves some snacks

media.tenor.com

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 25d

Oh I'll be first to sign up for that class

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 25d

One and the same I'd say!

a black and white photo of a man wearing a fur coat .

ALT: a black and white photo of a man wearing a fur coat .

media.tenor.com

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 25d

Oh!

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 26d

And every Wicked Part 2 one is bad 😴😴

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 26d

Any thoughts on seeing it on an IMAX 2D screen? Its either that or a normal screen for me. Also I just learned it's based loosely on Vineland which is an amazing novel!

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

Me playing Silent Hill (1999):

ptklein @ptklein.com · 27d

Yo this fog is THICK

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

Silksong critiques the very things that mega conglomerate media needs to survive: devotion to and suffering under capitalism as supposed spiritual salvation.

a cartoon character wearing a hat and holding a cane

ALT: a cartoon character wearing a hat and holding a cane

media.tenor.com

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

I also think it's pretty tasteless to equate the memeified "suffering" and devotion of fans of Hollow Knight to the very real critiques of religious capitalism and death in the name of a global world order that has betrayed everyone but the elites of society.

A screenshot of Keller Gordon's review of Silksong for NPR

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

The Polygon review is the most thoughtful one I've encountered so far. Patience, discipline, and calm in the face of suffering is required both by the game and the gameworld, where religious devotion is at once the only means of living and what suppresses life in every sense of the word.

Screenshot of Patricia Hernandez's review of Silksong for Polygon

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

These boss fights develop meaning through their very frustrations and lack of narrative! It doesn't matter why this big bug is attacking you because the political machine requires you to fight each other for the scraps of civilization that are left in Pharloom.

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · 27d

I've been routinely disappointed by popular press games criticism in general since AV Club got bought out. But the misunderstanding of the themes, plot, and gameplay of Silksong in the NYT review are astounding. Meaninglessness due to crushing political and religious power is essential to the series

Screen cap of Yussef Cole's review of Silksong from the NYT, screen capped via archive.ph

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 19

I had to muster up the courge to get up today

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 18

two men are standing next to each other with one wearing a blue and white feathered headpiece

ALT: two men are standing next to each other with one wearing a blue and white feathered headpiece

media.tenor.com

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 18

PTA really gave us the sequel to: youtu.be/aB8jgTWlS1Y?...

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 9

I don't mind bosses at all because there's almost always a nearby bench and you can get your beads back almost instantly. Now when I lose like 500 of em cuz I'm struggling with platforming.... Haha but it still feels overall fair and balanced to me

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 9

Loved watching Masterpiece Mystery with her

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 9

November in theaters, December in Netflix!

David Kocik @davidkocik.bsky.social · Sep 9

Definitely team up! Begrudgingly so naturally

Reposted by David Kocik

Edmond Chang @edmondchang.bsky.social · Sep 9

CFP: Black Cultural Futurism