Episode Details

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by author, podcaster and anthropologist Michael Kilman.

Michael shares fantastic insights on what anthropology is and how it can be applied to writing fantasy books.

We delve into cause-and-effect, the anthropological roots of monsters, taboos, and cross-cultural myth structures, and discuss why these are goldmines for fantasy writers.

We also look at how worldbuilding through anthropology explores real-world, cross-cultural issues, and we look at a wide range of examples of approaches that humans take to structure their societies.

In short, using anthropology in your world creation process can help to create more nuanced and complex characters and cultures, making tension and conflict feel more impactful, and stories more immersive.

I hope you enjoy it!

More About Michael Kilman

Michael co-wrote Build Better Worlds: An Introduction to Anthropology for Game Designers, Fiction Writers, and Filmmakers with forensic anthropologist Kyra Wellstrom.

He recently published an academic book chapter titled Worldbuilding as Pedagogy: Teaching Anthropology and Diversity in Contentious Times.

He's spent 11 years teaching anthropology at university level, including a course called Anthropology Through Science Fiction, has hosted a TED Talk, and also hosts a live Ask an Anthropologist about Worldbuilding series on YouTube, which you can check out for even more on the topic.

https://loridianslaboratory.com/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelKilmanAuthor

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBC4FaVnOAs - Michael's TED Talk

https://www.instagram.com/loridianslab/

https://loridianslab.medium.com/

https://substack.com/@loridianslaboratory

More From The Toolshed

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More resources and contact > https://richiebilling.com/