The story of white masculinity in geek culture through a history of hobby gaming

Geek culture has never been more mainstream than it is now, with the ever-increasing popularity of events like Comic Con, transmedia franchising of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, market dominance of video and computer games, and the resurgence of board games such as Settlers of Catan and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. Yet even while the comic book and hobby shops where the above are consumed today are seeing an influx of BIPOC gamers, they remain overwhelmingly white, male, and heterosexual.

The Privilege of Play contends that in order to understand geek identity’s exclusionary tendencies, we need to know the history of the overwhelmingly white communities of tabletop gaming hobbyists that preceded it. It begins by looking at how the privileged networks of model railroad hobbyists in the early twentieth century laid a cultural foundation for the scenes that would grow up around war games, role-playing games, and board games in the decades ahead. These early networks of hobbyists were able to thrive because of how their leisure interests and professional ambitions overlapped. Yet despite the personal and professional strides made by individuals in these networks, the networks themselves remained cloistered and homogeneous—the secret playgrounds of white men.

Aaron Trammell catalogs how gaming clubs composed of lonely white men living in segregated suburbia in the sixties, seventies and eighties developed strong networks through hobbyist publications and eventually broke into the mainstream. He shows us how early hobbyists considered themselves outsiders, and how the denial of white male privilege they established continues to define the socio-technical space of geek culture today. By considering the historical role of hobbyists in the development of computer technology, game design, and popular media, The Privilege of Play charts a path toward understanding the deeply rooted structural obstacles that have stymied a more inclusive community. The Privilege of Play concludes by considering how digital technology has created the conditions for a new and more diverse generation of geeks to take center stage.

Become an ancient Egyptian coloring artist!

Embark on a colorful journey to reveal a hidden Egypt! Explore Egyptian gods, animals, hieroglyphs, designs, and more as you color the elaborate artwork, revealing vibrant details while learning unusual Egyptology facts and coloring tips along the way.

Learn about ancient Egypt color theory, including the history of primary colors in the Egyptian palette, their meaning and symbolism, to inspire your own artistic coloring choices. Use your imagination to color, or follow the suggestions accompanying each art panel, including techniques for adding texture, shading, and depth to your artwork.

Ancient Egypt is filled with beautifully detailed, inspiring artwork and designs to color, frame, and display in your home. Transform and personalize the black-and-white line drawings into your own unique and colorful art. Appealing to all ages, ideal for adults to unwind and relax, and fun to share with the whole family.

Embark on a colorful journey to reveal the hidden treasures of the famous ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Tutankhamun! Explore the extraordinary decorations of his elaborate tomb, spectacular funerary mask, ornate throne, dazzling jewelry, and more as you color the intricate artwork, revealing insights into the young king’s life. Make Tutankhamun your own! Embellish and add your personal touch to the black-and-white line drawings to transform them into a unique colorful artwork, to frame and display in your home. Use your imagination to color, or follow the coloring tips and suggestions accompanying each art panel, including techniques for adding texture, shading, and depth. Appealing to all ages, ideal for adults to unwind and relax, and fun to share with the whole family.

Adult coloring books (such as Secret Garden) have exploded in popularity in recent years, embraced for their calming, therapeutic effect. This elegant, imaginative coloring book explores the dynamic, fanciful creations of iconic fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, who headed the House of Dior at the age of twenty-one before launching his own design house at age twenty-five. He became famous for the "beatnik" look in the sixties, as well as creating the tuxedo suit for women, and his colorful life was the subject of a recent feature film, Saint Laurent.

The book's line drawings for coloring are based on many of the designer's original sketches for dresses over the years, accompanied by full-color photos of original dresses for reference. In these pages, one can see the breadth and versatility of his creations; there are designs inspired by harlequins and the Carnival of Venice, Pop Art and Mondrian, and the cultures of Asia, Africa, and beyond. Colorists will in turn be inspired to match St. Laurent's vivid creations, or to create chic new color combinations of their own.

The Yves Saint Laurent Coloring Book is for fashionistas, coloring book enthusiasts, and others with an interest in the history of fashion and in the life of this extraordinary designer.

Full-color throughout.

This book is produced in conjunction with the Fondation Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent, dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of the House of Yves Saint Laurent.

Taking Kew and colouring in a new direction - relax and unwind with enchanting, etherial collages inspired by the Royal Botanic Gardens.

With over 50 illustrations and collages based on illustrations from the renowned Kew archive, Kew Imaginarium is designed to inspire relaxation and creativity, capturing the essence of the tropical plant collection at Kew. A veritable paradise of colouring, this stunning book is perfect for nature lovers, art enthusiasts and anyone seeking to lose themselves in peace and calm.