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
- Starting
- Apply before
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Apply by 7 April 2025 to get the Early Bird discount of -10%!
Language
Credits
Delivered
Campus Location
- Tartu, Estonia
Disciplines
Area & Cultural Studies Visual Arts Political Science View 7 other Short Courses in Area & Cultural Studies in EstoniaWhat students do after studying
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 nowStarting 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
-
International
550 EUR/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 550 EUR for the full programme during 12 days. -
EU/EEA
550 EUR/fullTuition FeeBased on the tuition of 550 EUR for the full programme during 12 days.
Living costs for Tartu
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