Warhammer 40k’s first academic conference asked the big questions about Space Marines

I don’t know about you, but I often take time out of my day to ask myself the big questions. Where do I want to be in five years? Do I believe in an afterlife? And what do the political and economic systems of the Imperium of Man in Warhammer 40,000’s lore say about human nature?

It’s exciting to see that academics agree, with many coming together to create the world’s first academic conference dedicated to all things Warhammer. (Unfortunately, this just includes 40K, so nothing on Age of Sigmar.) The two-day conference was held at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, with iconic artist John Blanche serving as keynote speaker. 

Speeches concerned heady topics like the impact of sixteenth-century history on the theology and iconography of the Imperial Cult, the narrative role of the nefarious Genestealer Cults, and the nature of authority in a setting that worships an unspeaking, undying God-Emperor.

While much of the Warhammer hobby covers big, bombastic battles between Space Marines — often called “bolter porn” as a joke by the fanbase — the novels also cover a surprising amount of ground when it comes to theological, philosophical, and intellectual matters. In both the Horus Heresy series and the modern day writing, you can find characters arguing over the true nature of divinity, human nature, and government’s obligation to man. 

Sure, sometimes the people having those arguments are the 8 foot tall Roboute Guilliman, son of the Emperor, and his space elf companion, but that doesn’t make the writing any less interesting. The first book of the Horus Heresy, Horus Rising by Dan Abnett, is actually largely composed of characters discussing the purpose of the Great Crusade and the Imperium itself. Not every book puts that much time into building an intellectual framework, but it’s great to see that academics have noticed the depth of the setting and are celebrating it in a conference.

Videos from the conference are going live soon on the official site. If you want to take a break from the non-stop action of Space Marine 2, or if you’re more interested in finding out about the world after playing through Rogue Trader, this might be the perfect opportunity to dive deep into both the lore and it’s tangible impact on the fandom.