The sixth mass species extinction is one of the greatest ecological threats of our time. This conference focuses on cultural, subjective and semiotic approaches to extinction. A subjective approach to extinction may raise the question of how we experience extinction in the shared lifeworld or semiosphere. At the same time, artistic research seems to open fresh perspectives in combining cultural creativity with environmental decline. Extinction also reduces biocultural diversity and the resilience of ecocultures. By taking a perspective through naturecultures and cultural-ecological systems, we treat extinction as the degradation of such combined systems.
This perspective raises questions about cultural strategies that are effective in adapting to extinction, supporting endangered species, and overcoming trauma:
Keynote speakers
David B. Rothenberg (New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA)
Linda Knight (RMIT University, Australia)
Konverentsi korraldab Tartu Ülikooli semiootika osakond koostöös EU Cost Action projektiga “CA20134 – Traces as Research Agenda for Climate Change, Technology Studies, and Social Justice (TRACTS)” ja Põhjamaade-Balti transdissiplinaarse loovuurimuse võrgustikuga.
The conference is funded by the Estonian Research Council’s grant PRG1504 “Meanings of endangered species in culture: ecology, semiotic modelling and reception.” Conference is part of the Creative Nature Festival programme organized by University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden and partners. The festival belongs to the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme and is supported by SA Tartu 2024.