CV

(13.1.2023)

Education and degrees awarded

• 2002 PhD, Media Studies, Faculty of Humanities, University of Turku
• 1998 MA, Cinema and TV studies, University of Turku
• 1997 BA, Cinema and TV studies, University of Turku

Current positions

• 2011–  Professor of Media Studies, University of Turku, Head of department, 2012–
• 2006–  Title of Docent, Feminist Media Studies, University of Turku
• 2004–  Title of Docent, Media Culture, University of Tampere

Previous positions

• 03-04/2022 Visiting Professor, SSSHARC/Faculty of Arts and Social Science, University of Sydney (Hunt-Simes Visiting Chair in Sexuality Studies)
• 03/2020 Visiting Professor, Department of Political Science and Sociology, University of Florence
• 2013–17 Deputy Head, School of History, Culture and Art Studies, University of Turku (on research leave for the academic year 2015-2016)
• 02-05/2016 Visiting Scholar, Comparative Media Studies, MIT
• 02-05/2016 Consulting Researcher, Microsoft Research New England, Social Media Collective, Cambridge, MA
• 2010–11  Professor of Digital Culture, University of Jyväskylä
• 2007–10  Research fellow, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki
• 2010–11, Assistant professor in Media Culture, University of Tampere (on leave of absence until resigned)
• 2005–07, Assistant professor in Digital Culture, University of Jyväskylä
• 2004–05, Academy of Finland postdoctoral researcher, Centre for Women’s Studies, University of Turku
• 2003–05, Course director, diploma on online communication, Palmenia, University of Helsinki, (part-time secondary occupation)
• 2003, Lecturer in Media Culture, University of Tampere
• 1999–2002,  Doctoral researcher, The Gender System Graduate School / Departments of Cinema and TV Studies/Media Studies, University of Turku

Awards, grants and fellowships

• 2020 Association of Internet Researchers’ Nancy Baym Book Award (for Paasonen, Jarrett & Light, NSFW: Sex, Risk, and Humor in Social Media)
• 2020-2022 project member of Rethinking Sexuality: A Geopolitics of Digital Sexualities in Estonia, Sweden and Finland, PI Jenny Sundén, Östersjöstiftelsen
• 2019-2022/2025 PI for the consortium, Intimacy in Data-Driven Culture, Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland, CULT Programme
• 2017-2021 PI of the research project Sexuality and Play in Media Culture, The Academy of Finland
• 2014, Sabbatical research grant, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation / Professor Pool (for the academic year 2015-2016)
• 2011, Jutikkala Award in the Humanities, Finnish Academy of Science and Letters
• 2007–2010, research fellowship, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki
• 2004-2007 project member and deputy director, Disturbing Differences: Feminist Readings of Identity, Location and Power research, Academy of Finland, PI Marianne Liljeström
• 2004–2005, Academy of Finland postdoctoral researcher
• 2003, Postdoctoral Research Grant, Finnish Cultural Foundation
• 2003, PhD dissertation award in the Humanities, Turku Finnish University Society

Supervised PhD theses (finished)

• Hanna Varjakoski, Vastarintaa, ikäleikkiä ja aktivistimummoja. Vanhenemisen kotimaiset mediakuvastot (Resistance, playing with age identities and activist grannies. Portrayals of ageing in the Finnish media). Media Studies, University of Turku, 2023.
• Kaisu Hynnä-Granberg, The Feeling Body in the Media: Affective Engagements with Body Positive Media . Media Studies, University of Turku, 2023.
• Mari Lehto, Affective Power of Social Media – Engagements with Networked Parenting Culture. Media Studies, University of Turku, 2021.
• Sanna Spišák, Porn and Norms – Pornography and normative notions of gender, love, sex, and relationships in the sexual narratives of Finns on their adolescent experiences. Media Studies, University of Turku, 2019.
• Anna-Elena Pääkkölä, Sadomasochistic Imageries and Erotica in Musical and Audiovisual Representations (Musicology, University of Turku, 2016)
• Marjo Kolehmainen, Politiikkaa makeiskulhossa? Itse valtiaat, poliittinen huumori ja huumorin poliittisuus (“The Satirical Autocrats: Political humour in the Finnish public sphere”). Media Culture, University of Tampere,  2015.
• Aino-Kaisa Koistinen, The Human Question in Science Fiction Television: (Re)imagining Humanity in Battlestar Galactica, Bionic Woman and V. Contemporary Culture, University of Jyväskylä,  2015.
• Laura Saarenmaa, Intiimin äänet: Julkisuuskulttuurin muutos suomalaisissa ajanvietelehdissä 1961–1975 (on celebrity culture and Finnish media history). Media Culture, University of Tampere,  2010.
• Tanja Sihvonen, Players Unleashed! Modding the Sims and Game Culture. Media Studies, University of Turku, 2009.
• 2005–date, supervisor of over 100 MA theses at Universities of Turku, Jyväskylä and Helsinki

Teaching activities and pedagogical competence (selected)

• Media Studies, University of Turku. In charge of postgraduate studies, MA seminar, PhD seminar. BA and MA-level classes on media and networks, internet research, affect and media, pornography, participation in curriculum planning, 2011-
• co-chair of doctoral colloquium, Association of Internet Researchers, 2016-2019, 2022
• University of Jyväskylä, MA program for Digital Culture, 2005–2007; 2010–2011. Participation in curriculum planning, co-teacher of MA seminar; classes on media culture, internet research methodology, popular culture studies
• University of Tampere, Media Culture, 2003, 2006. Teacher of BA seminars and classes on media analysis, feminist popular culture studies, introduction to media culture, pornography
• 10 ECTS course on Feminist University Pedagogy, 2005–2006
• course director and supervisor of diploma work on online communication, Palmenia University of Helsinki, 2003–2006
• full courses also taught at University of Helsinki, Department of Communication & Christina Institute for Women’s Studies (2007–2008), Estonian Academy of the Arts, E-Media Centre, (2000–2001), Sibelius Academy, Music technology (2003), Stockholm University, Cinema Studies (1999), University of Turku, Departments of Cinema and TV Studies & Gender Studies (1998-2005)

Commissions of trust

Service as a pre-examiner or as an opponent of a doctoral dissertation, as a member in dissertation committees:

• external examiner, Gender Studies, University of Sussex, 2011–2012; Cinema Studies, Stockholm University, 2012; École des hautes etudes en sciences sociales, 2015; Department of English, King’s College, 2018;  Media and Cultural Studies, University of Sydney, 2018; Humanities, Alpen-Adria Universität Klagenfurt, 2018; Department of Art, Literature and Culture, University of Aarhus, 2018 & 2022; Film and Moving Image Studies, Concordia University, 2018; Romance Studies, Boston University 2020; Integrated Studies in Education, McGill University 2021
• pre-examiner and opponent: Folklore Studies, University of Joensuu, 2007; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, 2013–2014; Social Psychology, University of Helsinki 2014; Communication Studies, University of Vaasa 2014–2015, Literature and Film Studies, University of Oulu, 2022
• opponent: School of Communication, Media and Theatre, University of Tampere, 2014; Media Studies, University of Tampere 2020
• pre-examiner: Media Studies, University of Lapland, 2006; Sociology, University of Helsinki, 2010; Gender Studies, University of Helsinki, 2011; Practical Philosophy, University of Helsinki 2015

Evaluation of academic/scientific or artistic competence

• reviewer for associate/full professorship applications: Theory of Visual Culture, University of Art and Design, 2009; Social Science, IT University of Copenhagen, 2012; Contemporary Anglophone Culture, University of Vaasa, 2013; Media Studies and Popular Culture, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 2021
• reviewer for promotion files (selected): University of Washington, 2012; University of East London, 2014; Tulane University 2014; University of Hong Kong, 2016; University of Sussex, 2017; Goldsmiths College, 2017; University of Illinois Chicago, 2017; CUNY, 2019; Chestnut Hill College, 2020; Curtin University, 2020; Cyprus University of Technology, 2020; Fordham University, 2022; University of Oslo, 2022; University of Helsinki, 2022-23
• evaluation of academic competence of docent: Interdisciplinary studies of gender and media culture, University of Lapland, 2009; Media Culture, University of Tampere, 2011; Digital Culture, University of Turku, 2011; Art History and Gender Studies, University of Helsinki, 2012; Media and communication studies, University of Tampere, 2013; Cultural and gender studies, University of Eastern Finland, 2018; Sociological Technology Studies, University of Lapland, 2018; Media Culture, Tampere University 2019; Gender Studies, University of Helsinki, 2021
• competition judge, Falling Walls Lab, Turku 2014
• member of Association of Internet Researchers Nancy Baym book award committee, 2014
• chair of AVEK Media Art Prize Committee, 2007
• competition judge, Digital Media and Learning (DML) competition, HASTAC & MacArthur Foundation, 2009 and 2010

Referee for funding applications (selected)

• Swedish Research Council, 2011; Turku Institute for Advanced Studies, 2009, 2011; Leverhulme Trust, 2016, 2021; ERC 2020 & 2022; British Academy 2021

Memberships and positions of trust in scientific and scholarly societies

• executive board member and treasurer, Association for Cultural Studies (ACS), 2010–2019
• director of IIPC / International Institute for Popular Culture, 2014-2015; 2017-2019, member of steering group since 2012
• board member, Console-ing Passions, 2015–2018
• executive board member, Association of Internet Researchers (AoIR), 2015–2017
• board member, Finnish Society for Cultural Studies, 2012–2013; Finnish Network for Cultural Studies, 2003–2007; Finnish Society for Mass Communication Research, 2000; Finnish Society for Cinema Studies 1999–2001

Membership in national or international expert groups, evaluation or steering committees:

• chair of publishing forum panel 22 (literature, art studies and architecture), Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, 2014–2017, panel member 2010–2017
• member of advisory board, Gender Studies Graduate School, 2013–16
• committee member for the selection of Sanoma Foundation visiting professor, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, 2012–2014
• member of steering group, VITRO graduate school on communication studies, 2011–2015
• member of evaluation group on Media and Communication Studies in Higher Education in Finland, co-author of the report. The Finnish Higher Education Evaluation Council, 2006

Organization of scientific meetings:

• conference chair, Sexual Cultures 3: Play! conference, University of Turku, May 28–29, 2019
• co-organizer, Affective Politics of Social Media Symposium, University of Turku, October 12–13, 2017
• member of program committee, 10th Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, Tampere, 2014
• organizer of Economies of desire seminar, University of Turku, 2013
• program chair, IR 10.0 – Internet: Critical, The Annual Conference of the Association of Internet Researchers, Milwaukee, 2009
• theme leader, DAC’09 Digital Arts and Culture Conference, UC Irvine, 2009
• organizer of Networks of desire seminar, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, 2008
• member of program committee, Gender, Images, and Global Contexts – The 3rd Christina Conference on Women’s Studies / The 4th European Gender & ICT Symposium, University of Helsinki 2007
• co-organizer, Affective encounters: Rethinking Embodiment in Feminist Media Studies Conference, University of Turku, 2001

Service on editorial boards and in peer review

Member of editorial advisory board:

• Kvinder, Køn & Forskning, 2021-
• Journal of Scandinavian Cinema (Intellect), 2016- (editorial board member 2010–2015)
• Porn Studies (Routledge), 2014–

Present memberships in journal editorial boards and book series:

• Postmodern Culture (JHU Press), 2021-
• MedieKultur: Journal of Media and Communication Research, 2021-
• International Journal of Cultural Studies (SAGE), 2018-
• Monstrum: A peer-reviewed journal of studies in horror and related genres, 2017-
• New media & society (SAGE), 2016-
• Capacious: The Journal for Emerging Affect Inquiry (Millersville University), 2016-
• Social media + society (SAGE), 2015-
• Sexualities (SAGE), 2014–
• Mapping Pornographies (Mimesis International), 2013-

Past memberships

• Nykykulttuuri publication series, 2010–2017
• Computers and Composition (Elsevier), 2011–2017
• Lähikuva 2004–2007 (editor in chief, 2004–2006)
• Kulttuurintutkimus, 2003–2006
• Tiedotustutkimus, 1999–2002

Referee for scholarly publications:

• book manuscripts for e.g., the MIT Press, Routledge, Ashgate, Polity, I.B. Tauris, Zed Books, Goldsmiths Press, Bloomsbury Academic
• for e.g., the journals New media & society, Feminist Theory, Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, Women’s Studies International Forum, European Journal of Cultural Studies, International Journal of Cultural Studies, GLQ, Nora, Social Media & Society, Kvinder, køn & forskning, Journal of Gender Studies, Sexualities, Sexuality & Culture, Feminist Media Studies, Television & New Media, CyberPsychology & Behavior, NECSUS: European Journal of Media Studies, Distinktion: A Journal for Social Theory, Journal for Cultural Research, Research in Social Movements, Conflicts and Change, Frontiers, Computers and Composition, Celebrity Studies, Feminist Studies, Convergence, Porn Studies, Fibreculture, Journal of Scandinavian Cinema, Capacious, Naistutkimus/Sukupuolentutkimus, Kulttuurintutkimus, Lähikuva, Nuorisotutkimus, Ethnologia Fennica, Ethnologia Europea, Tiedotustutkimus/Media ja viestintä

Selected invited talks

• keynote, Multiplatform 2022: Corporealities, a Conference on Bodies and Embodiment in Games, Manchester Metropolitan Game Centre, June 23, 2022
• keynote, Transformations of Attention, UCSB Transcription Center, March 4, 2022
• keynote, 10th Finnish Conference on Cultural Studies, University of Eastern Finland, December 8-10, 2021.
• keynote, Summer School for Sexualities, Cultures and Politics. IPAK.CENTER, Belgrade/online, August 17-20, 2021
• plenary, The 17th Technology, Knowledge & Society Conference, University of Melbourne/online, April 8-9, 2021
• keynote, Mediating Sexualities Conference. University of Lille/online, November 3-5, 2020
• keynote, Viral Masculinities. University of Exeter/online, August 31-September 11, 2020
• keynote, 2nd AoIR Flashpoint Symposium Digital Transformations: Polarization, Media Manipulation and Resistance. Porto Alegre/online, September 3-4, 2020
• plenary, 9th Winter School, Troubling Gender: Theory and Method. Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts, University of Tartu, February 3-7, 2020.
• keynote, Philosophy of Computer Games 2019: Aesthetics of Computer Games Conference, St. Petersburg, October 21-24, 2019
• keynote, Pleasures of Violence Conference, Oxford Brookes University, March 7-8, 2019
• keynote, Affects, Interfaces, ScreensConference, University of Aarhus, August 29-30, 2018
• keynote, Sexualities and Digital Culture in Europe ECREA symposium, Athens, May 26-27, 2017
• plenary speaker, The Digital Everyday: Exploration or Alienation? conference, King’s College London, May 6, 2017
• Popular Affect Online spotlight plenary, Crossroads in Cultural Studies Conference, University of Sydney, December 14-17, 2016
• keynote, The Affective Turn Revis[it]ed: Towards New Understanding, University of Helsinki, September 12-14, 2016
• keynote, Bland Boring Banal: A Symposium on Lackluster Feeling and Digital Media in Extreme Times, Amsterdam, December 16-17, 2015
• keynote, FINSSE 2015, University of Vaasa, October 9-10, 2015
• Summer School for Sexualities, Cultures and Politics. IPAK.CENTER, Belgrade, August 15-23, 2015
• keynote, EUPOP 2015, Humboldt University, Berlin, July 29-31, 2015
• plenary panel, In the Flow: People, Media, Materialities, ACSIS Conference, Norrköping, June 15-17, 2015 
• keynote, Krop/u/mulig: Jubliaemuskonference om den medierede krop. Odense, University of Southern Denmark, April 18, 2015
• keynote, Mediated Belongings Symposium: Rethinking Social Theory Today, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, March 26-27, 2015
• keynote, Search and Exploration of X-Rated Information workshop, WSDM/University of Rome, February 5, 2013
• keynote, Digitisation and Value seminar, University of East London, December 5, 2012
• keynote, Sexual Science 2.0: Technological Innovations in Sexuality research Conference, Tampa, November 8–11, 2012
• plenary, Internet Research 13.0: Technologies. University of Salford, October 18–21, 2012
• keynote, Sexual Cultures Conference, Brunel University, London, April 22–23, 2012.
• plenary, Somatechnical Configurations Conference, Södertörn University, April 13, 2012
• keynote, Cartography of pornographic audiovisual, IX MAGIS International Spring School, Gorizia, April 2011
• keynote, 3rd Digital Cultures Workshop: Navigating Multiplicity, University of Salford, July 2, 2010
• keynote, Gender Bender Festival, Bologna, October 28-November 2, 2008
• keynote, Art and Politics of Netporn Conference, Amsterdam, September 20–October 1, 2005
• keynote, Lifescapes symposium. Austrian Architectural Society (ÖGFA), Vienna, May 16–19, 2001

• other guest lectures and talks: Department of Cultural Studies, University of Ljubljana (2022), Het Nieuwe Instituut, Rotterdam (2022), ICI Berlin, SMU & ZfL Intimacy Lecture Series (2021), Technology & Innovation Studies, University of Padova (2021); Queer seminar, University of Stockholm (2021); Coalition Margins lecture, Skopje (2020); Futures Lecture Series, Uniarts Helsinki (2020); University of Milan (2020); AHCS Speaker Series, McGill University (2020); GEM Lab, Concordia University (2020); School of Communication, Simon Frasier University (2020); Social Media Research Group seminar, Swinburne University of Technology (2019); The Sexual Representation Collection, University of Toronto (2018); Art Salon + LASER  Talk, Toronto (2018); Media Studies, University of Toronto Scarborough (2018), School of Art, Centre for Film and Media, University of Kent (2017); Centre for Research in Media and Cultural Studies, University of Sunderland (2017); School of Social and Policy Studies Seminar Series, Flinders University (2016); Interdisciplinary Studies in Sexuality, Concordia University (2016); Experimental Art+ Politics Series, Brown University (2016); PLASMA Series (Performances, Lectures, and Screenings in Media Art), SUNY Buffalo (2016); Södertörn University (2015); Simpson Centre for the Humanities, University of Washington (2012); Karlstad University (2011); Northestern University (2009); Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (2008); Cornell University (2008); CUNY Graduate Centre (2007); OCAD (2007); Jawaharlal Nehru University (2006)