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The Politics of Popular Culture University of Tartu

Highlights
Tuition fee
550 EUR / full
550 EUR / full
Unknown
Tuition fee
550 EUR / full
550 EUR / full
Unknown
Duration
12 days
Duration
12 days
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Tartu, Estonia
Campus location
Tartu, Estonia

About

The Politics of Popular Culture course provides an overview of the methodological tools required to assess a diverse range of research questions related to politics and popular culture, including Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Multi-modal Discourse Analysis (MMDA). 

Overview

On-site in Tartu 28 July - 8 August 2025

Though often dismissed as “just a bit of fun” (Way, 2021), popular culture’s role in influencing and reflecting broader political developments is finally starting to receive the academic attention it deserves. From Banksy’s street art, to the Olympic games, via the Eurovision Song Contest and even our favourite food, popular culture is the medium through which we most often experience and consume politics as part of the “taken for granted everyday world” (Machin, 2013).

Yet it is precisely this inseparability from the ideologies and power relations with which it is infused (Machin, 2013), that makes popular culture such a challenging and important subject for academic research. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in Ukraine, where popular cultural fields including sport, art and music have been described as a geopolitical battlespace (Saunders, 2024), shaping perceptions and representations of Ukraine in the public sphere (Gaufman and Kurylo, 2024).

This course provides an overview of the methodological tools required to assess a diverse range of research questions related to politics and popular culture, including Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Multi-modal Discourse Analysis (MMDA). Interactive seminars and lectures on the course introduce students to the key theoretical, practical and methodological issues affecting the ways politics interacts with popular culture.

In 2025, the course will take full advantage of the interactive and immersive learning environment in Tartu to reflect on the legacy of the city’s year as European Capital of Culture. Through meetings with leading experts and practitioners in the Estonian cultural sphere, students will come away with a strong awareness of some of the most important issues affecting the relationship between politics and popular culture in Estonia and beyond, as well as a solid basis from which to explore their own areas of interest further.

During this course, the students will deepen their understanding of the ways politics and everyday culture interact, and be encouraged to explore specific case studies including the use of football as a political tool by populist leaders, music as a means of integration for Estonia’s Russian speakers and expressions of national identity through everyday food products. The learners will also develop their knowledge of these case studies further through a group class project and written assignment.

Learning Outcomes  

Upon completing the course, learners will be able to:

  • Analyse ways politics and popular culture interact in a wide range of contexts.
  • Apply methodological tools to examine relationships between popular culture and politics in academic research, including Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and Multi-Modal Discourse Analysis (MMDA).
  • Explore the relationships between politics of popular culture for specific case studies of their own interests.
  • Write about the connections between politics and popular culture in a style suitable for a broader non-academic audience
  • Have the opportunity to publish an article about a topic of their interest with an established online media outlet.

Accreditation

Every seven years, all Estonian higher education institutions must undergo external evaluation – institutional accreditation. The latest assessment took place in 2022. The assessment council of the Estonian Quality Agency for Education decided to accredit the University of Tartu for the next seven years (2023-2029).

Programme Structure

Sunday, 27 July Arrival in Tartu

Day 1: Monday, 28 July: What is the politics of popular culture?

Day 2: Tuesday, 29 July: The politics of popular music

Day 3: Wednesday, 30 July: The politics of music continued

Day 4: Thursday, 31 July: The politics of street art

Day 5: Friday, 1 August: The politics of street art continued

Saturday, 2 August: free daySunday, 3 August: free day

Day 6: Monday, 4 August: The politics of sport

Day 7: Tuesday, 5 August: The politics of sport continued

Day 8: Wednesday, 6 August: The politics of popular culture in Estonia (Music and Arts of Survival)

Day 9: Thursday, 7 August: The politics of food

Day 10: Friday, 8 August: Presentations and course end

Saturday, 9 August/Sunday, 10 August Departure

Audience

MA/advanced BA/early stage PhD students

Lecturers

Michael Cole, PhD Candidate in Political Science at the Johan Skytte Institute of Political Studies.

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 12 days

Start dates & application deadlines

More details

Apply by 7 April 2025 to get the Early Bird discount of -10%!

Language

English

Credits

3 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

  • Tartu, Estonia

What students do after studying

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Which previous knowledge is required?

Students are expected to have a general awareness of contemporary issues related to politics and popular culture.

Previous experience of qualitative research is an advantage.

Entry requirements:

  • Online application form (application period April 1 - April 30 2025)
  • Motivation letter (up to 1 page) that demonstrates the applicant’s motivation to participate, his/her expectations about the programme, how participation in the summer programme relates to his/her studies and interests, and how the applicant plans to use the gained experience and knowledge in the future.
  • Transcript of academic records
  • Copy of passport
  • Application fee of 25 EUR

PS: Only complete applications including all annexes submitted by the deadline will be considered for selection.

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

  • Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
  • Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
  • Liability
  • Home contents and baggage
  • Accidents
  • Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at University of Tartu and/or in Estonia, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees
  • International

    550 EUR/full
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 550 EUR for the full programme during 12 days.
  • EU/EEA

    550 EUR/full
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 550 EUR for the full programme during 12 days.

Living costs for Tartu

300 - 600 EUR /month
Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

1. Estonian National Scholarships at  StudyinEstonia.ee. 

You can read more about the scholarships on the homepage of StudyinEstonia.ee.

2. ENLIGHT scholarship 

More information and the application form are on the ENLIGHT scholarship page: https://ut.ee/en/content/enlight-scholarship 

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