Course code

HIK6334.HT

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Populaarkultuuri teooriad

Course title in English

Theories of Popular Culture

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2024/2025 Autumn semester

Tõnis Kahu (language of instruction:Estonian)

lecturer of 2024/2025 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

The subject introduces students to crucial questions in the theory of popular culture. It also provides them with information about the most significant contributors in that field. The subject looks at the history of pop-cultural thinking in the context of general trends and methods of the theory of culture.

Brief description of the course

The course provides students with the analytical overview on several theoretical ideas, mostly belonging to 20th century – Frankfurt School (Adorno, Marcuse, Benjamin), theory of ideology (Althusser, Gramsci), structuralist approach (Barthes), Cultural Studies (Williams, Hall, subcultural theory) and also concepts of „high“ and „low“ in culture (Bourdieu). Special attention is given to newer trends in pop-cultural thinking mostly related to the various concepts of postmodernity (Baudrillard, accelerationism etc).

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- is able to use basic vocabulary of pop-cultural analysis (concepts, methods, terminology) and to understand the ideas of the crucial theoretical contributors in the field;
- has bility to read critically and contextualize theoretical texts about popular culture (and culture in general) is expected to improve.

Teacher

Tõnis Kahu

Study programmes containing that course

Choreography (KUKRB/24.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/24.HT)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/23.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/22.FK)
Theory of Culture (HIKTB/22.HT)
Choreography (KUKRB/20.FK)
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)