Study

Cultural Research explores cultures as ongoing processes through which humans negotiate how to live in groups, come to a consensus on norms of society and imbue their lives with significance and meaning. If we broaden our gaze beyond the confines of our own world we soon become aware of a complex bundle of transcultural nodes that has expanded through   globalization. We observe how grassroots cultures undergo change and reconfigure as a result of increased mobility, science, the media, resource scarcity, climate change and global inequalities. The political and economic policy landscape also impacts cultural change and draws ourattentiontocultures past, present and future. 

The media and their role in constructing  meaning are a central focus of study, illustrating the ways in which continually evolving social processes of cultural production, circulation and consumption emerge. These processes produce global ripples and our task as cultural researchers is to follow up on the traces left by the media and to differentiate between global and local impacts. Studying the media uncovers hidden global networks, as well as differences and similarities between cultures. It also brings to light contrasts and alternative ways of using the media within cultures. It is precisely these contrasts and similarities that cultural researchers are interested in exploring.

Cultural Research explores interactions and concrete practices; forms of social organization and movements; material objects, conflicts, various forms of media; film, literature and photography. It raises subjects such as digitalization, urban diversity, indigenous media productions; power and politics, consumer and corporate culture; exile, forced migration and diaspora, or intercultural communication.

Click here for application procedures for the BA in Cultural Research

Click here for application procedures for the MA in Transcultural Studies