The Semiotics of Pop Culture and Human and Other-than-human Relations

This course will examine how the relationships and meanings associating human and other-than-humans are mediated, constructed, and perceived within pop culture. Other-than-humans – here referring to A.I., robots, machines, nonhuman animals, and environments and ecosystems – and their relationship to humans will be examined within the context of spectacles, transmediality, and participation culture, rationalisation, and various perspectives in semiotics, including zoo and ecosemiotics.

Students can expect to gain a general overview and working knowledge of different semiotic and culture study views on other-than-human relations and pop culture. Moreover, students will be able to identify key concepts and terms, and theoretical applications.

Course leader

Andrew Mark Creighton
Pauline Suzanne Delahaye

Target group

all students on the level of BA and MA

Course aim

Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge through a presentation at the end of the course, in which they must examine an object of study by making use of a combination of theories discussed in the course.

Students completing the course will:

– Gain knowledge of relevant theoretical views on other-than-human – human relations and pop culture.
– Understand the transdisciplinary nature of studying these relations.
– Apply these perspectives to an object of study
– Gain relevant knowledge and information to, independently, further their studies in the topic.

Fee info

EUR 500: Students are responsible for their travel, accommodation and travel insurance (visa arrangements if needed) from their home country to Tartu and back to their home country. It is recommended to visit the Tartu Welcome Centre website and Student Hostel website to find accommodation opportunities. It is possible to take a bus from Tallinn Airport to Tartu Coach Station (180km). Ticket information on Tpilet.

Scholarships

Find out about the scholarships on our website.