Josh Call
@joshcall.bsky.social
English Prof. @GrandViewUniv Researching games, writing, and rhetoric. There will be food. Sweary Prof. He/Him. Lawful Good. Views are my own.
Keep thinking about this poster and how true it is. Mighht be time to hang it back up in my office.
November 6, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Keep thinking about this poster and how true it is. Mighht be time to hang it back up in my office.
Everyone around me is excited for Spoopy Season.
Meanwhile, I'm over here cheering for soup season.
Thinking of making some lasagne pesto soup this weekend.
Meanwhile, I'm over here cheering for soup season.
Thinking of making some lasagne pesto soup this weekend.
October 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Everyone around me is excited for Spoopy Season.
Meanwhile, I'm over here cheering for soup season.
Thinking of making some lasagne pesto soup this weekend.
Meanwhile, I'm over here cheering for soup season.
Thinking of making some lasagne pesto soup this weekend.
Saw a student walking across campus today dressed as a Wookie.
The kids are alright.
The kids are alright.
October 31, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Saw a student walking across campus today dressed as a Wookie.
The kids are alright.
The kids are alright.
My son earned his Eagle Scout rank this week. This has been an adventure four years in the making. I'm incredibly proud of him and his dedication to his interests, but it's also a reminder that he's definitely getting older.
Parenting is often bittersweet. I wish my father could have seen this.
Parenting is often bittersweet. I wish my father could have seen this.
October 28, 2025 at 4:15 AM
My son earned his Eagle Scout rank this week. This has been an adventure four years in the making. I'm incredibly proud of him and his dedication to his interests, but it's also a reminder that he's definitely getting older.
Parenting is often bittersweet. I wish my father could have seen this.
Parenting is often bittersweet. I wish my father could have seen this.
Per one of my students: "Does the rapture count as an excused absence?"
September 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Per one of my students: "Does the rapture count as an excused absence?"
Of all the things I thought I'd be buying in my late 40's, never did I imagine a golf cart on the list.
And I don't play golf.
And I don't play golf.
September 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Of all the things I thought I'd be buying in my late 40's, never did I imagine a golf cart on the list.
And I don't play golf.
And I don't play golf.
This has been a project long in the making, and evolving from several years of conversations with good friends and colleagues. I'm beyond proud to have worked with everyone to help bring these to life.
Genre is inherently political. It captures the sensibilities of contemporary life and strategies for responding to the present that cultivate different futures
Updated/Final covers for a passion-project w/ @joshcall.bsky.social, @profmatthew.bsky.social, and @betsybrey.bsky.social
Out Jan 2026!
Updated/Final covers for a passion-project w/ @joshcall.bsky.social, @profmatthew.bsky.social, and @betsybrey.bsky.social
Out Jan 2026!
September 5, 2025 at 2:52 AM
This has been a project long in the making, and evolving from several years of conversations with good friends and colleagues. I'm beyond proud to have worked with everyone to help bring these to life.
All those constitutional literalists about the second amendment of the last 20+ years have suddenly become highly invested in post-structural semantics when it comes to due process.
April 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
All those constitutional literalists about the second amendment of the last 20+ years have suddenly become highly invested in post-structural semantics when it comes to due process.
Took my son snowshoeing this weekend for one of his last scout merit badges. It's been a while since I did that myself, and I'm definitely feeling it in the arthritis today.
It was worth every step for a good afternoon helping him get closer to his goals.
Still gonna old-man grumble today...
It was worth every step for a good afternoon helping him get closer to his goals.
Still gonna old-man grumble today...
February 17, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Took my son snowshoeing this weekend for one of his last scout merit badges. It's been a while since I did that myself, and I'm definitely feeling it in the arthritis today.
It was worth every step for a good afternoon helping him get closer to his goals.
Still gonna old-man grumble today...
It was worth every step for a good afternoon helping him get closer to his goals.
Still gonna old-man grumble today...
Of all the things that exhaust me working in higher education, the emotional labor of aggressively angry students is perhaps the most taxing.
I could not have predicted how much of my teaching life would be so similar to working as a bouncer.
I could not have predicted how much of my teaching life would be so similar to working as a bouncer.
February 13, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Of all the things that exhaust me working in higher education, the emotional labor of aggressively angry students is perhaps the most taxing.
I could not have predicted how much of my teaching life would be so similar to working as a bouncer.
I could not have predicted how much of my teaching life would be so similar to working as a bouncer.
Looks like Murder by Death will be playing in Iowa this summer.
Been a while since I last went to a concert, so maybe it's time again.
Been a while since I last went to a concert, so maybe it's time again.
February 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Looks like Murder by Death will be playing in Iowa this summer.
Been a while since I last went to a concert, so maybe it's time again.
Been a while since I last went to a concert, so maybe it's time again.
As the laws about curriculum continue to emerge, I was told by one angry parent that the inclusion of Rene Descartes and Erving Goffman in my class reading was 'leftist woke propaganda."
Let that settle in for a laugh before the uncomfortable scope of this stupidity makes us all more angry.
Let that settle in for a laugh before the uncomfortable scope of this stupidity makes us all more angry.
January 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
As the laws about curriculum continue to emerge, I was told by one angry parent that the inclusion of Rene Descartes and Erving Goffman in my class reading was 'leftist woke propaganda."
Let that settle in for a laugh before the uncomfortable scope of this stupidity makes us all more angry.
Let that settle in for a laugh before the uncomfortable scope of this stupidity makes us all more angry.
Reposted by Josh Call
My article "Sex as Reward in Games" can be found among great company in the recently published Handbook of Sex and Sexuality in Games Studies by Bloomsbury. You can find more details and buy the book here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bloomsbur... (if you're interested in reading my article dm me).
The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sex and Sexuality in Game Studies
The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sex and Sexuality in Game Studies consists of a comprehensive collection of essays that review and supplement current work focusing o…
www.bloomsbury.com
January 29, 2025 at 12:40 PM
My article "Sex as Reward in Games" can be found among great company in the recently published Handbook of Sex and Sexuality in Games Studies by Bloomsbury. You can find more details and buy the book here: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bloomsbur... (if you're interested in reading my article dm me).
Syllabi finished, Blackboard pages updated, Spring 2025 is ready to roll.
I'm not ready, but the semester is, so here we go I guess?
I'm not ready, but the semester is, so here we go I guess?
January 11, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Syllabi finished, Blackboard pages updated, Spring 2025 is ready to roll.
I'm not ready, but the semester is, so here we go I guess?
I'm not ready, but the semester is, so here we go I guess?
Reposted by Josh Call
2025’s #GenerationAnalog will be July 15-16, online, free, open to public, with the theme PUNK
Abstracts due: March 31, 2025
(750 words)
Acceptance by: May 1, 2025
(Past acceptance rate: 30-50%)
Abstracts due: March 31, 2025
(750 words)
Acceptance by: May 1, 2025
(Past acceptance rate: 30-50%)
Generation Analog 2025 “PUNK” CFP | Analog Game Studies
analoggamestudies.org
December 27, 2024 at 8:09 PM
2025’s #GenerationAnalog will be July 15-16, online, free, open to public, with the theme PUNK
Abstracts due: March 31, 2025
(750 words)
Acceptance by: May 1, 2025
(Past acceptance rate: 30-50%)
Abstracts due: March 31, 2025
(750 words)
Acceptance by: May 1, 2025
(Past acceptance rate: 30-50%)
Holiday breaks mean a chance to catch up on all the work I can't do during the regular semester.
Today I'm finishing the bathroom remodel. Got the new shower installed and drywall placed/textured. Now to paint and install the new fixtures.
Today I'm finishing the bathroom remodel. Got the new shower installed and drywall placed/textured. Now to paint and install the new fixtures.
December 27, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Holiday breaks mean a chance to catch up on all the work I can't do during the regular semester.
Today I'm finishing the bathroom remodel. Got the new shower installed and drywall placed/textured. Now to paint and install the new fixtures.
Today I'm finishing the bathroom remodel. Got the new shower installed and drywall placed/textured. Now to paint and install the new fixtures.
I am currently more potato than human.
December 25, 2024 at 11:56 PM
I am currently more potato than human.
Hosting the holidays this year. 25lbs of pulled pork, 15lbs of garlic-parmesan mashed potatoes, and bacon-roasted green beans. Assorted pies for desert.
Gonna put everyone to sleep with a food coma before they even get to open presents.
Gonna put everyone to sleep with a food coma before they even get to open presents.
December 25, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Hosting the holidays this year. 25lbs of pulled pork, 15lbs of garlic-parmesan mashed potatoes, and bacon-roasted green beans. Assorted pies for desert.
Gonna put everyone to sleep with a food coma before they even get to open presents.
Gonna put everyone to sleep with a food coma before they even get to open presents.
Did our annual tradition of going book shopping on Christmas Eve and getting a book for everyone.
Now to settle in with some good tea, and a new William Gibson novel!
Now to settle in with some good tea, and a new William Gibson novel!
December 25, 2024 at 2:05 AM
Did our annual tradition of going book shopping on Christmas Eve and getting a book for everyone.
Now to settle in with some good tea, and a new William Gibson novel!
Now to settle in with some good tea, and a new William Gibson novel!
I think one of my favorite things about being a parent has been to hand both of my children the physical books that I used to read at their age, and watch them fall in love with those stories as well.
December 9, 2024 at 3:45 PM
I think one of my favorite things about being a parent has been to hand both of my children the physical books that I used to read at their age, and watch them fall in love with those stories as well.
Having midwestern academic thoughts about never going to another conference again if I can't drive there.
So, anywhere within 24 hours of home.
So, anywhere within 24 hours of home.
January 24, 2024 at 1:27 AM
Having midwestern academic thoughts about never going to another conference again if I can't drive there.
So, anywhere within 24 hours of home.
So, anywhere within 24 hours of home.
Academia keeps informing me that people are reading my dissertation, and all I can say is I'm sorry.
No, seriously. I'm sorry. I was young and still learning how to write. 🤣
No, seriously. I'm sorry. I was young and still learning how to write. 🤣
January 19, 2024 at 12:45 AM
Academia keeps informing me that people are reading my dissertation, and all I can say is I'm sorry.
No, seriously. I'm sorry. I was young and still learning how to write. 🤣
No, seriously. I'm sorry. I was young and still learning how to write. 🤣
Large pot of pasta fagioli on the stove. The house is filling with the smells of garlic, cumin, and crushed red pepper.
Normally, Midwesterners are happy for winter because they can put a pot of soup our chili in the garage overnight.
It might be so cold we will freeze the soup solid instead.
Normally, Midwesterners are happy for winter because they can put a pot of soup our chili in the garage overnight.
It might be so cold we will freeze the soup solid instead.
January 14, 2024 at 8:21 PM
Large pot of pasta fagioli on the stove. The house is filling with the smells of garlic, cumin, and crushed red pepper.
Normally, Midwesterners are happy for winter because they can put a pot of soup our chili in the garage overnight.
It might be so cold we will freeze the soup solid instead.
Normally, Midwesterners are happy for winter because they can put a pot of soup our chili in the garage overnight.
It might be so cold we will freeze the soup solid instead.
All seven syllabi for spring finished, with a couple of days to spare.
January 11, 2024 at 11:32 PM
All seven syllabi for spring finished, with a couple of days to spare.
Fell on a patch of ice.
I'm fine, and uninjured, but I think I cracked the ground. I don't bounce quite like I used to...
I'm fine, and uninjured, but I think I cracked the ground. I don't bounce quite like I used to...
January 10, 2024 at 12:20 AM
Fell on a patch of ice.
I'm fine, and uninjured, but I think I cracked the ground. I don't bounce quite like I used to...
I'm fine, and uninjured, but I think I cracked the ground. I don't bounce quite like I used to...