Cultural Theory
Course code
HIK6331.HT
old course code
Course title in Estonian
Kultuuriteooria
Course title in English
Cultural Theory
ECTS credits
6.0
Assessment form
Examination
lecturer of 2026/2027 Autumn semester
Lauri Linask (language of instruction:Estonian)
lecturer of 2026/2027 Spring semester
Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.
Course aims
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Brief description of the course
The course will give an overview of varios approaches and contexts for defining and understanding culture (culture and environment, culture and society, culture and thinking, culture and communication etc.). Comparative overview of main disciplines studying culture (cultural anthropology, cultural studies, semiotics of culture, cultural pschology, cultural sociology, cultural philosophy etc.) will be given. Main terms of cultural theory will be discussed (language, communication, memory, identity, text etc.). The course will deal with the following topics:
- the area and task of study for cultural theory;
- genesis of thinking in cultural theory;
- cultural determinism and universalism;
- cultural theory and cultural criticism;
- ways of defining culture;
- ways of studying culture;
- outcomes of cultural theory;
- main terms for understanding various cultural communities;
- cultural areas;
- culture and practice.
Students are expected to work through mandatory literature, write midterm essaus and prepare for exams using mandatory and supplementary literature.
- the area and task of study for cultural theory;
- genesis of thinking in cultural theory;
- cultural determinism and universalism;
- cultural theory and cultural criticism;
- ways of defining culture;
- ways of studying culture;
- outcomes of cultural theory;
- main terms for understanding various cultural communities;
- cultural areas;
- culture and practice.
Students are expected to work through mandatory literature, write midterm essaus and prepare for exams using mandatory and supplementary literature.
Learning outcomes in the course
Upon completing the course the student:
- explains the scope, aims and historical development of cultural theory and compares the objects of inquiry and methodological foundations of the main disciplines concerned with the study of culture;
- compares different definitions of culture and explains the key concepts of cultural theory and the relationships between them;
- compares and relates the views of culture associated with key authors and approaches in cultural theory, identifying their main claims, theoretical assumptions and methodological implications;
- critically reads and interprets texts in cultural theory, identifies their main arguments and assumptions, evaluates the strength of their arguments, and situates the texts in their historical, cultural and scholarly contexts;
- defines the scope of an object of inquiry in the study of culture, selects appropriate concepts and a theoretical perspective for examining it, applies them in analysing cultural phenomena, and reflects on the possibilities and limitations of the chosen approach;
- formulates and justifies theoretically informed positions on culture, both orally and in writing, uses disciplinary terminology, and discusses different interpretations.
- explains the scope, aims and historical development of cultural theory and compares the objects of inquiry and methodological foundations of the main disciplines concerned with the study of culture;
- compares different definitions of culture and explains the key concepts of cultural theory and the relationships between them;
- compares and relates the views of culture associated with key authors and approaches in cultural theory, identifying their main claims, theoretical assumptions and methodological implications;
- critically reads and interprets texts in cultural theory, identifies their main arguments and assumptions, evaluates the strength of their arguments, and situates the texts in their historical, cultural and scholarly contexts;
- defines the scope of an object of inquiry in the study of culture, selects appropriate concepts and a theoretical perspective for examining it, applies them in analysing cultural phenomena, and reflects on the possibilities and limitations of the chosen approach;
- formulates and justifies theoretically informed positions on culture, both orally and in writing, uses disciplinary terminology, and discusses different interpretations.
Teacher
Lauri Linask
The course is a prerequisite
Study programmes containing that course
Theory of Culture (HTKUB/27.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/26.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/26.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/24.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/25.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/24.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/22.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/23.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/22.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/21.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/20.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/19.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/18.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/17.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/16.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/26.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/26.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/24.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/25.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/24.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/22.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/23.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/22.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/21.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/20.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/19.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/18.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/17.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/16.HT)