Program Overview

Program Details

The Summer School "The Politics of Popular Culture" was held at the University of Tartu in Estonia. The program provided insights into the connections between popular culture and politics, with a focus on music, street art, sports, and food as four elements of popular culture. The program consisted of seminars that discussed theoretical and methodological approaches, as well as case studies from Eastern Europe.

Program Structure

• The program included seminars that covered theoretical and methodological approaches to analyzing popular culture.
• Exkursions to various locations in and around Tartu were also part of the program, allowing participants to engage with local artists and explore the city's cultural scene.
• Participants worked in groups to approach a self-chosen topic from a discourse-theoretical perspective.

Research Areas

• The program explored the political aspects of popular culture, including music, street art, sports, and food.
• Participants examined the ways in which popular culture reflects and shapes political discourse.
• The program also touched on the importance of considering popular culture in the context of human geography.

Location

The Summer School was held in Tartu, Estonia, which was designated as the European Capital of Culture in 2024. This provided a unique opportunity for participants to engage with the city's cultural scene and explore the ways in which popular culture is reflected in and shapes the urban environment.

Outcome

The program provided participants with a deeper understanding of the connections between popular culture and politics, as well as the methodological approaches used to analyze these connections. Participants also had the opportunity to work in groups and develop their own research projects, which laid the groundwork for future academic pursuits.