Irony and jokes in environmental protests in Estonia
When and Where
Description
Monday, November 25, 2024, at 4:00PM
Alumni Hall Room 404
Irony and jokes in environmental protests in Estonia
Prof. Kadri Tüür
The talk addresses irony as a rhetoric device in environmental protests, Aesopian language and the power of laughter, especially in hopeless situations. The subject is related to a wider research project on Estonian environmentalism carried out in 2020-2024 at Tallinn University.
For half a century (1940-1991), the Republic of Estonia was incorporated into Soviet Union. During that time, colonialist attitude towards the local natural resources prevailed. Estonians tried to resist, but with little success: they had to witness degradation of agricultural system and of forests, extracting mineral resources for the benefit of the central government, poisoned rivers, and so on. In 1987, a series of environmental protests known as „phosphorite war“ broke out in Estonia, leading to a wider upsurge of independence movement, finally culminating in re-establishing of the independent Republic of Estonia. I will take a closer look at a cartoon by Priit Pärn from 1987 (see attached) as my main example reflecting the above-mentioned processes.
Upcoming Events for the Department of Slavic and East European Languages and Cultures Lecture Series:
Fall 2024
September 30, 2024 - TBA
October 7, 2024 - Andrij Ljubka (In Ukrainian)
"Literature and War."
October 21, 2024 - Ann Komaromi - Slavic & East European Department & Centre for Comparative Literature;
& Philipp Lekmanov - Slavic & East European Department
"Soviet Dissident Testimony."
presenting the soon-to-be launched Database of Soviet Dissident Memoirs.
November 25, 2024 - Kadri Tüür
"Irony and jokes in environmental protests in Estonia."
Winter 2025
January 27, 2025 - Mika Pylsy - Slavic & East European Department
adsfsad"Ingrian Finnish Literary History."
February 24, 2025 - Valeriya Minakova
"At the Crossroads of Memories: State, Regional, and Individual Perspectives on the Russian-Caucasian War among Circassians in Adygea."
March 31, 2025 - TBA