Lost in Translation: Celtic Myth and the Persona Series

This collaborative research project examines how Celtic mythological figures transform when adapted into the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei video game franchises. Comparing medieval Welsh and Irish source texts with their video game incarnations, this research reveals what cultural, narrative, and political specificity disappears in cross-media translation.

Course: ENG 6801 - Instructor: Dr. Louise Kane, University of Central Florida Presented: High Impact Practices Student Showcase Spring 2026

Interactive Padlet Presentation

View the Network Graph

Project Overview

The project analyzes three case studies: Arianrhod (Welsh Mabinogion), Cú Chulainn (Irish “Tochmarc Emire”), and Lugh (“The Fate of the Children of Tuireann”). Each analysis compares medieval source texts (c. 8th-15th centuries) with their video game adaptations to document systematic cultural erasures.

Research Findings

Systematic Erasures Identified

The project documents three consistent patterns across all three mythological figures:

1. Female Agency Removal: Women who enable male heroism in source texts are systematically eliminated
2. Moral Complexity Flattening: Ethical ambiguity and calculated violence are simplified into heroic narratives
3. Cultural Specificity Reassignment: Welsh origins become “English,” legal frameworks disappear, intellectual partnerships vanish

Case Study Results

• Arianrhod: Reduced from autonomous legal agent to “Goddess of England,” erasing Welsh origin and maternal resistance
• Cú Chulainn: Retains battle frenzy and magical spear while removing Emer’s intellectual partnership and Scáthach’s mentorship
• Lugh: Preserves solar power and unstoppable spear but strips away calculated legal manipulation

Theoretical Framework

Drawing on critical media theory to analyze cross-cultural translation:

• Walter Benjamin: Aura and reproduction in cultural transmission
• Walter Ong: Orality and literacy transitions
• Wendy Chun: Habitual media and technological mediation
• Deleuze and Guattari: Rhizomatic networks and cultural flows

Digital Humanities Applications

Game Studies

Demonstrates how video games function as modern mythological synthesis, combining and recontextualizing ancient narratives for contemporary audiences.

Cultural Analysis

Reveals patterns in how Japanese game developers interpret and adapt Celtic mythology, highlighting cross-cultural creative processes.

Network Visualization

Provides a model for mapping intertextual relationships between traditional narratives and modern media adaptations.

Technical Specifications

• Data Visualization: D3.js v7 with force simulation
• Interactivity: Node selection and detailed information panels
• Responsive: CSS Grid layout adapting to screen sizes
• Accessibility: Keyboard navigation and screen reader support
• Performance: Optimized for networks with 50+ nodes

Research Context

This project emerged from broader research into Celtic literature and its modern adaptations. It demonstrates how digital methods can illuminate patterns in cultural transmission and creative adaptation that traditional literary analysis might miss.

Related Work

• Digital mapping of mythological networks
• Game studies approaches to cultural representation
• Cross-cultural adaptation studies
• Celtic studies and digital humanities

Future Development

• Expansion: Additional mythological traditions (Norse, Egyptian, Japanese)
• Temporal Analysis: Evolution of character representations across game series
• Comparative Networks: Multiple gaming franchises using similar source materials
• Educational Tools: Interactive mythology database for Celtic studies courses

Technical Details

Built with: D3.js, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript Data Format: JSON with structured mythology metadata Hosting: GitHub Pages with Jekyll integration License: Educational use with proper attribution

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Project Team

Glenn S. Ritchey III - PhD student in Texts & Technology at UCF, research focus on constraint-based literature and procedural authorship. Contributed network visualization development and Celtic literary analysis.

Christina Restrepo Nazar - PhD in Curriculum, Instruction, and Teacher Education from Michigan State University. Currently developing AI resources for community-based learning. Contributed pedagogical framework and accessibility analysis.

Teddy Duncan Jr. - Scholar working at the intersection of Lacanian psychoanalysis, animal studies, and American literature. Author of Interpreting Meat (McFarland, 2024). Contributed psychoanalytic and theoretical framework development.