Academic Programme: Mythical Beginnings
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Jyrki Korpua, Lynn Levanon, Elio Parkkola
Jyrki Korpua: Mythomorphic Beginnings – Eddic Creation Myths and Eucatastrophic Endings in Digital Role-Playing Games Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and God of War Ragnarök
Lynn Levanon: Myth, History, and Progress in Bronze by Amir Harash
Elio Parkkola: Taking Fictional Mythology Seriously – Elden Ring Lore YouTubers as Folklorists of the Folkloresque
From the Shadow of The Three-Body Problem: A New Generation of Chinese Science Fiction and Fantasy
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Gao Weiming, Eero Suoranta, Xia Zijian
How will Chinese science fiction and fantasy develop in the post-Three-Body-Problem era? This discussion will introduce new writers and works who have been transforming Chinese SFF with a completely new approach to world-building, Chineseness, and the plurality of the post-human era.
Among other topics, we will discuss global Sinophone SFF, new female writers, web fiction, and fandom writing, as well as highlight the emerging online platforms and publishing ecosystems that are nurturing these voices.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Chinese science fiction and fantasy or encountering it for the first time, this panel offers a window into one of the most exciting frontiers in global SFF today.
Academic Programme: Posthumanist Beginnings
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Marjut Puhakka, Minna Siikilä-Laitila, Radvilė Musteikytė
Marjut Puhakka: Where Consciousness Begins – Zombies and Posthuman Subjectivity
Minna Siikilä-Laitila: "It wasn't his place to do so." – The Reception of The Willows and Beyond by William Horwood
Radvilė Musteikytė: "A New Era Dawns" – Siiri Enoranta’s Fantasy Novel Nocturnal Lifelines as an Allegory for the Anthropocene
No Game No China: New Experiences in Contemporary Chinese Video Games
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Gao Weiming, Xia Zijian, Meng Xiangpeng
In this programme, three Chinese young fans and researchers are organized to discuss their personal experiences of video games. From classic and pixelated video games in arcades, web and flash games in PC to popular “contemporary” Nijiken mobile games that have been transformed from their Japanese origins, our discussants will share their origins, memories, and meaningful moments.
How did games influence and “ruin”(as the description from their parents and media) their studies and life? How do they describe their opinions and views on the development of Chinese video games?
How did science fiction & fantasy and game meet and interact in China? Beyond nostalgia, the panel will explore how SFF and gaming have increasingly converged in China, and what this intersection reveals about Chinese youth culture, creativity, and imagination. Come for the games, stay for the stories.
