Popular culture affects our daily lives more than we realize. If in the 1960s, the human and civil rights movement in the West found expression in pop culture, in today’s world, the relationship between the two is no longer as clear and unanimous. Yet, even today, often the only way to express one’s dissatisfaction and limitations is through music, art, literature….

Pop culture is something that we view as self-evident and frivolous, but indisputably it is a medium that impacts society and our lives, and reflects our values and objectives.

Therefore, human rights and pop culture?! Enlightenment on the subject will be provided on 9 December at Tallinn City Theatre’s Põrgulava.

The role of pop culture in the promotion of human rights and the points of contact between these two fields of activity throughout history and today will be introduced by music critic and lecturer Tõnis Kahu. Opinions will be moderated by Lauri Mälksoo, Professor of International Law at the University of Tartu.

The speakers and moderators details below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

	Tõnis Kahu is lecturer at Tallinn University and a music critic who has for years held lectures about popculture and popmusic. He has published several articles about popculture and tolerance, popcultures role in education and its connections to society. Photo: Tiit Blaat (Eesti Ekspress)
	Lauri Mälksoo is Estonian law professor and lecturer.Since 2002 he works for the Chancellor of Justice. He is the chairman of the supervisory board of the International Centre for Defence Studies. In 2009 he was the first Estonian to receive the prestigious ERC grant. Photo: Website of the Chancellor of Justice
	Elmo Nüganen is Estonian actor and theatre- and filmproducer. Since 1992 he is the chief artistic director of Linnateater. Among others, he has produced Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” and Tammsaares “I Loved a German.” He is the director and writer of the renowned film “Names in Marble.” Photo: Raigo Pajula (Postimees)
	Kadri Kõusaar has graduated from Tartu University in Spanish, but since she’s been a teenager, she has been working as a film-, music- and literary critic and as a TV and radio host. She has published essays and columns and three novels: “Ego” (2001), “Vaba tõus” (2004) and “Alfa” (2011).Her debut film, a psychological drama “Magnus” was the first Estonian film to be featured ate the Cannes Film Festivals official program.Her second movie “The Arbiter” will premiere in 2013. Photo: Private collection.
	Hent-Raul Kalmo is the deputy of the Chancellor of Justice. He has received a masters in law from Harvard and a masters (cum laude) in economic analysis from Paris University in 2011. He is currently doing his doctoral thesis in law in Paris University. He has published works on sovereignty and the Estonian Constitution. Photo: Private collection.
	Ringo Ringvee is Estonian poet, theologist, DJ and councelor on religious issues. In 2011 he defended his doctoral thesis “Country and Religion in postsoviet Estonia 1991-2008.” The main areas of his research are the secularization of society and religion in Estonia. His first poetry collection was published in 1989. As a fan of Reggae music he has also directed music broadcasts, notably in Radio 2. Photo: ERR