Winter School

“Truth and Method:
from Freedom to Values”
(organizer TÜ/ CECT)
Degree course co-sponsored by the Estonian Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts (GSCSA) and the Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory (CECT)

University of Tartu, Estonia

February 4-8, 2013

4­­­­ ECTS credits

Methods serve as an invisible tool kit for scientific knowledge production, encompassing theoretical approaches, established terms and concepts, explanatory frameworks, and various scholarly practices from fieldwork and gathering of source data to the dissemination of research results. Contemporary research trends in human and social sciences treat methods, however, also as a direct object of investigation. Methods provide limited interpretations of reality, while critical considerations of accredited paradigms reveal or disenchant hidden meanings, help to trace disciplinary histories and reveal disciplinary identities. Even though the title of this Winter School session refers to Gadamer`s magnum opus, the intention is not to demarcate approaches but to provide potential inspiration to look beyond the self-consciousness of humanities scholarship and to reflect on the making of method.

Rethinking of methods proposes innovative ways for explaining the social role of scholars, power relations, research ethics, or scholarly agency. Such an approach subsumes both the objects of study as well as the emergent research interests. The concept of freedom implies in this context simultaneously also its opposite, the concept of limitation: circumscription of a method, freedom to choose a research field, conventions of research methods.

The GSCSA Winter School of 2013 aims to revisit the intense and complex relationships between rules and freedom, the given and creativity, objectivity and subjectivity, truth and values in the scholarly process, both as direct objects of investigation and from meta-discursive perspectives.

Winter School lecturers include: Prof. Stephen Bann (University of Bristol), Dr. Ain Riistan (University of Tartu), Prof. David Huron (Ohio State University), Prof. Liesbeth Korthals Altes (University of Groningen), Prof. Orvar Löfgren (University of Lund), Prof. Keith Moxey (Barnard College, Columbia University), Ass. Prof. Andrea Petö (Central European University), Prof. Nigel Rapport (University of St. Andrews).

Practical workshop facilitators include: Marju Himma-Kadakas (University of Tartu), Anne Kalvi (University of Tartu), Prof. Ullrich Kockel (Heriot Watt University Edinburgh), Prof. Patrick Laviolette (Tallinn University), Dr. Timo Maran (University of Tartu), Prof. Máiréad Nic Craith (Heriot Watt University Edinburgh).

The winter school consists of:

1) interdisciplinary lectures and discussions conducted by Estonian and guest lecturers;

2) workshops in smaller groups moderated by guest lecturers;

3) one day of practical workshops.

All workshops require previous registration. Workshops have a quota of participants! Lectures are open to public.

Programme

04.02, Monday

9:30–10:00 wake up coffee and registration – Jakobi 2 lobby

10:00–10:10 opening words (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. Kristin Kuutma, Programme Director of the Winter School

10:10–10:55 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. Orvar Löfgren (University of Lund) “The importance of messy methods in cultural analysis” SEE LECTURE

10:55–11:25 discussion, moderator Dr. Anu Kannike (Tallinn University)

11:25–12:00 coffee break – Jakobi 2 lobby

12:00–12:45 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. Nigel Rapport (University of St Andrews) “Knowing anyone: Towards a cosmopolitan methodology of the global individual” SEE LECTURE

12:45–13:15 discussion, moderator Prof. Kristin Kuutma (University of Tartu)

13:15–14:30 lunch – University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14:30–16:30 parallel workshops (registered PhD students only)

Group 1: Orvar Löfgren “The hidden routines of academic research” (Jakobi 2-107)

Group 2: Nigel Rapport “Social science beyond systems and relations: Seeking a method in distortion” (Jakobi 2-109)

18:00–22:00 reception – White Hall of History Museum (Lossi 25) (registered participants only)

Welcoming words by Martin Hallik, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, University of Tartu

05.02, Tuesday

Practical workshops (programme on separate sheets, registered students only):

Workshop 1: “Popularisation of research” (Lossi 36-205)

Workshop 2: “Peering into Peer Review” (Zaal, Town Hall Square 10, III floor)

Workshop 3: “Copyright and Contemporary Creative Works” (University of Tartu Library, W. Struve 1, room 186)

Workshop 4: “Creative Truths in Cross-Cultural Fieldwork” (Tartu Citizen’s Home Museum, Jaani 16)

Workshop 5 (for MA students): “Proposals for research methods, and methods for research proposals” (Emajõe Maja (Emajõe Building), Emajõe 8)

18:00 dinner / winter school club – Restaurant Dorpat (Soola 6) (registered participants only)

06.02, Wednesday

9:30–10:00 wake up coffee and registration – Jakobi 2 lobby

10:00–10:45 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. Keith Moxey (Barnard College, Columbia University) “Truth and method: The challenge of the image” SEE LECTURE

10:45–11:15 discussion, moderator Prof. Krista Kodres (Estonian Academy of Arts)

11:15–11:45 coffee break – Jakobi 2 lobby

11:45–12:30 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof.Stephen Bann (University of Bristol) “The signs of the times – Temporality and print media in post-revolutionary France” SEE LECTURE

12:30–13:00 discussion, moderator Ass. Prof. Marek Tamm (Tallinn University)

13:00–14:30 lunch – University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14:30–16:30 parallel workshops (registered PhD students only)

Group 1: Keith Moxey “Contemporaneity, or what time is tomorrow?” (Jakobi 2-107)

Group 2: Stephen Bann “More means worse? Criteria of truth and value in the understanding of print media” (Jakobi 2-109)

18:00 dinner – Tartu Elektriteater (Lai St. 37) (registered participants only)

19:00 movie night – Tartu Elektriteater (Lai St. 37) “If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” (UK / USA, 2011)

See: http://www.ifatreefallsfilm.com/film.html

The film is introduced by Siim Vatalin, Estonian Green Movement (member of the board)

07.02, Thursday

9:30–10:00 wake up coffee and registration – Jakobi 2 lobby

10:00–10:45 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. Liesbeth Korthals Altes (University of Groningen) “Narratology and narrative theory between science and (meta-)hermeneutics” SEE LECTURE

10:45–11:15 discussion, moderator Ass. Prof. Marina Grišakova (University of Tartu)

11:15–11:45 coffee break – Jakobi 2 lobby

11:45–12:30 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Prof. David Huron (Ohio State University) “Doing musicology: Some lessons from music research”

12:30–13:00 discussion, moderator Prof. Jaan Ross (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre)

13:00–14:30 lunch – University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14:30–16:30 parallel workshops (registered PhD students only)

Group 1: Liesbeth Korthals Altes & Marina Grišakova “Narratology and narrative theory between science and (meta-)hermeneutics” (Jakobi 2-107)

Group 2: David Huron “Accommodating quantitative research within the arts and humanities” (Jakobi 2-109)

18:00 dinner / winter school club – Restaurant Eduard Vilde (Vallikraavi 4) (registered participants only)

08.02, Friday

9:30–10:00 wake up coffee and registration – Jakobi 2 lobby

10:00–10:45 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Ass. Prof. Andrea Petö (Central European University) “Missing, forgotten, and omitted: Methodological challenges and their consequences”

10:45–11:15 discussion, moderator Ass. Prof. Leena Kurvet-Käosaar (University of Tartu)

11:15–11:45 coffee break – Jakobi 2 lobby

11:45–12:30 public lecture (Jakobi 2-226)

Dr. Ain Riistan (University of Tartu) “From mythos to logos: Religious fundamentalism in the face of the modern condition called the meaning deficit disorder” SEE LECTURE

12:30–13:00 discussion, moderator Dr. Elo-Hanna Seljamaa (University of Tartu)

13:00–14:30 lunch – University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

14:30–16:30 parallel workshops (registered PhD students only)

Group 1: Andrea Petö “Missing, forgotten, and omitted: Methodological challenges and their consequences” (Jakobi 2-107)

Group 2: Timothy Fitzgerald “Religion and politics in international relations: Methodology” (Jakobi 2-109) – CANCELLED

18:00 closing reception – University Cafe (Ülikooli 20), 2nd floor (registered participants only)

21:00 graduation party at Tartu Jazz Club (Ülikooli 20) Tõnis Mägi and Friends – concert “Hetk” (“Moment”)

See: http://tartujazzclub.ee/parem-reede-tonis-magi-ja-sobrad/ (Free admission for Winter School participants. The concert is a public event, it might get crowded!)

Upon full participation in the study programme students will be awarded 4 ECTS points.

Full participation includes:

– All lectures (and following discussions) (total 8);

– 2 workshops. Students are expected to do preparatory work in order to participate in the workshops. Reading material for seminars is available: http://www.ut.ee/CECT/materials . Registered participants receive a username and password from the student coordinator;

– 1 practical workshop.

For registered participants, the division of seminar groups is accessable under reading materials. Please make sure that you have indicated your programme preferences via web form.

Also join the Winter School Facebook Group!

The language of the degree course is English. The accommodation and travel costs of the students of GSCSA will be reimbursed. Organizers will arrange accommodation and provide participants with travel details.

Programme Director: Prof. Kristin Kuutma (University of Tartu; Head of the GSCSA Programme at the University of Tartu)

Programme Manager: Monika Tasa (University of Tartu), monika.tasa@ut.ee

Programme Consultant: Elo-Hanna Seljamaa (University of Tartu)

Student Coordinator: Helen Kästik (University of Tartu), ktkdk@ut.ee

Winter School Assistant: Kristina Hermann (University of Tartu)

Estonian Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts and the Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory are funded by the European Union Structural Assistance.