About
Joel Mansikka is affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities, Psychology and Theology at the University of Helsinki, where he contributes to research at the intersection of religion and digital culture. His academic work focuses on religious themes in video games, particularly in role-playing game narratives.
His research interests include the symbolic and narrative dimensions of video games as modern mythologies, with a special emphasis on the Final Fantasy series as reflections of epic and spiritual motifs. He explores methodological frameworks for analyzing religion in digital environments, contributing to the emerging field of digital religious studies.
The recent publications highlight a growing scholarly trend in examining how religious concepts are embedded in and expressed through interactive media. His work bridges religious studies with game studies, emphasizing interpretive and cultural analysis.
Joel Mansikka has been actively involved in organizing academic events, including the Tvärminne Annual Seminar for Doctoral Students (2023) and the upcoming conference Religion: Concealed and Revealed (2025), indicating engagement in academic community building and mentorship.
His research outputs demonstrate a commitment to both academic and public discourse, with open-access contributions aimed at broadening understanding of religion in contemporary digital forms.
