Religion and Comics: New Forms of Mediation of Religion

RELIGIOMICS aims at capturing new forms of religion and spirituality represented and experienced in comics by both artists and audiences.

Considering the growth of comics production and consumption, this project is crucial to understand the transformations of religious phenomena in Western societies and their connections with popular culture.

RELIGIOMICS investigates the relationship between comics and religion, by studying: 1) the artists’ subjectivities and biographical paths, 2) the intertwined influences between the artistic production and religion, 3) audiences’ receptions and 4) the transformation of the comics field.

RELIGIOMICS proposes a cross-national comparative perspective focusing on artists and audiences, with different religious and cultural backgrounds in Europe and the USA.

It is innovative in considering comics as a medium for religious expression and not only as an instrument of commodification and banalisation of religion.

It is multidisciplinary as it combines and connects sociology of religion, comics studies, media studies, and sociology of art.

The fellow will be hosted at the University of Lausanne (outgoing associated partner), the University of Harvard (secondment), and the University of Bologna (host institution).

The fellow, an expert in sociology of religion, will gain the expertise to carry out the research: in Lausanne, on the relationship between contemporary art and religion, at Harvard, on comics studies and spirituality and pop culture, and in Bologna on sociology of art and discourse analysis.

RELIGIOMICS will address the following questions: (RQ1) How do comics artists live and represent religion and spirituality? (RQ2) How does the comics medium shape, and how is it shaped by, religion and spirituality? (RQ3) How are religious narratives and symbols experienced by the audiences of comics? (RQ4) How did religion favour the emergence of the semi-autonomous artistic field of highbrow comics in tension with commercial comics?