Baltic-German Culture and Society
Course code
AIG6319.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Baltisaksa kultuur ja ühiskond
Course title in English
Baltic-German Culture and Society
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester
Heidi Rifk (language of instruction:Estonian)
lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
The aim of this course is to introduce various aspects of Baltic-German culture and society, exploring their historical and contemporary interpretations within a broader interdisciplinary framework. Also, the course aims to develop interdisciplinary project skills across universities.
Brief description of the course
This interdisciplinary course provides a comprehensive overview of Baltic-German history from multiple perspectives, including art history and literary studies, with a focus on the manor as a distinctive phenomenon of Baltic-German culture. The manor is one of the most well-known and popular aspects of Estonian cultural history and a significant part of the Baltic-German heritage, firmly embedded in Estonia's national cultural memory and heritage landscape.
The course is built on the premise that the manor is a key concept for analysing Baltic history and culture, and understanding it requires looking beyond the manor house and the lord of the manor. Lectures and seminars delivered by academics from Tallinn University and the Estonian Academy of Arts provide an in-depth exploration of the manor as an essential feature of the region’s multicultural history.
Key topics covered in the course include the origins of manors, the manor as a production unit and a centre of culture and social life, everyday life in the manor, as well as its representations in Baltic-German literature and Estonian folklore. The course also examines the afterlife of manors: their role as “foreign” heritage, sites of memory, and the restoration of manor buildings.
The course consists of online lectures, on-site seminars, and practical group work. At the end of the course, students present the results of their research projects at a student conference.
The course is built on the premise that the manor is a key concept for analysing Baltic history and culture, and understanding it requires looking beyond the manor house and the lord of the manor. Lectures and seminars delivered by academics from Tallinn University and the Estonian Academy of Arts provide an in-depth exploration of the manor as an essential feature of the region’s multicultural history.
Key topics covered in the course include the origins of manors, the manor as a production unit and a centre of culture and social life, everyday life in the manor, as well as its representations in Baltic-German literature and Estonian folklore. The course also examines the afterlife of manors: their role as “foreign” heritage, sites of memory, and the restoration of manor buildings.
The course consists of online lectures, on-site seminars, and practical group work. At the end of the course, students present the results of their research projects at a student conference.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- understand the manor as a key phenomenon in Baltic-German history from various perspectives;
- be able to critically reflect on the role of Baltic-German culture in Estonian history and contemporary society;
- be familiar with key historical sources, methods, disciplines, and researchers related to Baltic-German studies;
- be able to identify and select appropriate sources and methods to analyse a specific phenomenon in Baltic-German history and/or culture;
- develop teamwork skills and take responsibility for a specific task in a project.
- understand the manor as a key phenomenon in Baltic-German history from various perspectives;
- be able to critically reflect on the role of Baltic-German culture in Estonian history and contemporary society;
- be familiar with key historical sources, methods, disciplines, and researchers related to Baltic-German studies;
- be able to identify and select appropriate sources and methods to analyse a specific phenomenon in Baltic-German history and/or culture;
- develop teamwork skills and take responsibility for a specific task in a project.
Teacher
Heidi Rifk, Maris Saagpakk, Inna Jürjo
Additional information
The course will feature guest lecturers, including Ants Hein, as well as Linda Kaljundi, Hannes Vinnal, Hilkka Hiiop, and Riin Alatalu from the Estonian Academy of Arts.
Independent Work:
As a group, prepare a written research project plan that includes the project’s objectives, research questions, appropriate sources and methods, a timeline, and each member’s individual contribution. Present the plan to the instructors for feedback.
Present the research findings as a group in the form of a slide presentation. The final format must creatively complement the slide presentation in a non-written form (e.g., animation, podcast, visual infographic, or short video).
Write an individual reflection on your role in the team, evaluating both your own and other members' contributions to the project. The reflection should also address the learning outcomes and your personal development.
Independent Work:
As a group, prepare a written research project plan that includes the project’s objectives, research questions, appropriate sources and methods, a timeline, and each member’s individual contribution. Present the plan to the instructors for feedback.
Present the research findings as a group in the form of a slide presentation. The final format must creatively complement the slide presentation in a non-written form (e.g., animation, podcast, visual infographic, or short video).
Write an individual reflection on your role in the team, evaluating both your own and other members' contributions to the project. The reflection should also address the learning outcomes and your personal development.
Study programmes containing that course