The Community approaches the knowledge of humanity from anthropological, historical, and philosophical perspectives. This interdisciplinary, yet common focus allows the students to broaden the frames of humanities’ knowledge beyond the disciplines they study. In the anthropological part, the initial focus is on digital and sensory approaches to the everyday, as well as new methodological approaches (such as computational and big data ethnography, sensory walking, ethnography on a distance). In the historical part we analyze the history of the cultural encounters generated by the European colonial expansion in the early modern period (such as the criollismo in Latin America). The philosophical part brings forward concepts such as the Other, the stranger, morality and critically reflects them through some of the key texts. In the final part of the Eutopia learning unit, at the Students’ Open Forum, participants present their own (ongoing) research and rethink it through the epistemological contexts of the three disciplines. The Forum also encourages the students to actively collaborate with each other, forming the ties across the partner universities.
Learning Community Activities
Past Events
2025:
Student Open Forum 2025
In the final stage of the EUTOPIA learning unit, the Students’ Open Forum provides a platform for participants to present and critically engage with their ongoing research through interdisciplinary perspectives. This annual event fosters academic exchange and strengthens ties among students and faculty from partner universities, reinforcing a dynamic learning community.
The 2025 edition, hosted by the Department of Ethnology and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Ljubljana, focused on “Climate Change and the Responsibility of Anthropologists for Our Shared Future.” Discussions explored various anthropological insights into tourism, cultural resilience, and environmental change across diverse contexts.
Students presented their fieldwork and research on topics such as the impact of tourism on local communities in Bohinj, the evolving perceptions of national identity, sustainable tourism strategies, and the ecological and social resilience of landscapes. The forum highlighted the role of anthropology in addressing contemporary global challenges and provides an opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful discussions about sustainability and cultural heritage.
The event took place on January 17, 2025, from 13 to 15.30 at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana.
Programme
2024:
Sensory walk around smart streets of Ljubljana
On a sensory walk in Ljubljana, we presented an insight into the future of smart cities and explain how technologies and algorithms already determine the rhythm of everyday life. The walk was led by experts in multimedia systems and digitization from the University of Ljubljana and the City of Ljubljana. On the streets of Ljubljana, we learnt about some “smart” solutions for regulating traffic in Ljubljana and visions of future “smart” cities.
Date: November 26, 2024 at 16.00 (CET)
Walk led by: prof. dr. Rajko Muršič (UL FF), prof. dr. Dan Podjed (UL FF), dr. Sabina Popit (Ljubljana Municipality), prof. dr. Jože Gun (NTF UL)
Student Open Forum 2024
January 26, 2024, 9:00 – 14:55
Programme
2022:
Student Open Forum 2022
The current activities from this community started in October 2022 with the sensory walk Birds in the city, led by prof. Rajko Muršič and prof. Dan Podjed (UL) and ornithologist Dare Fekonja.
The following activities took place online:
- November 23, 16.00-18.15 CET: Lecture by prof. Alexandre Coello (UPF): Martyrdom, sanctity and violence in colonial discourses
- December 13, 18.00-20.00 CET: Workshop by prof. Rajko Muršič (UL): Sensory ethnography: Sound, walking and urban spaces
- December 14, 16.00-18.15 CET: Workshop by assist. Ana Svetel and assist. Veronika Zavratnik (UL): Ethnography in/of the social networks
- December 16, 10.00-13.30 CET: Student open forum (Students’ discussion on the concepts of solidarity, mutuality and commons)
2021:
PART 1:
Building of learning community, experimenting digital and sensory ethnography (October 28 and 29, 2021) which was led by prof. Rajko Muršič (University of Ljubljana).
This was delivered in a series of blended and practical classes where students covered the following:
a. Ethnography on a distance, Thursday, October 28, 13:00-16:10, CET
The aim of the first part of the blended practical classes is to try, reflect and discuss ethnographic work from a distance, as students had to practice during the pandemic, and a way of working that will remain one of the most important methodological tools in ethnographic practice. Rajko Muršič and Dan Podjed briefly presented methods and topics, and students then did a distant fieldwork exercise: i.e. making calls to previously informed societal actors who were ready to communicate with the student researcher. After the intensive communication, the student-researchers wrote short memos/reflections, and presented them to other students discussing their experiences with others, and critically reflecting on the merits and limitations of available smartphone applications for distance research.
b. Individual blended sensory walk, Friday, October 29, 9:40-13:00, CET
Is it possible to experience everyday environment completely anew? With this exercise, students tested an individual sensory walk, using smart phones and various other storage devices (sound recorder, video camera, etc.). Following a short introduction about sensory walks as a qualitative research method (by Rajko Muršič), the students went for a walk in their own spaces place, whilst being open to all kinds of sensory experience while walking (sounds, sights, odours, things to touch or taste …). With the use of digital devices, they recorded the experience (visual and aural) and then later presented the reasons for these captured moments to other students.
c. Challenging big data: Orange as an analytical tool*, Friday, October 29, 14:40-16:10 CET
Dr Ajda Pretnar Žagar demonstrated how to conduct ethnographic work with big data and how to use computational methods to answer anthropological questions. She will present two use cases, one with analysis of Twitter data and the other with analysis of Instagram images. All examples were demonstrated with the analytical software Orange, developed at the University of Ljubljana.
d. Ethics in digital research, Friday, October 29, 16:20-18:00 CET
Discussion on ethical limits in digital ethnographic research: Rajko Muršič, Ajda Pretnar Žagar, Dan Podjed, Ana Svetel and all student participants.
PART 2:
Ethnography and Cultural Encounters, 1492-1750, November 17 and December 1, 2021 – Led by prof. Alexandre Coello de la Rosa (Pompeu Fabra University)
This activity included a lecture followed by a presentation and discussion of the assigned readings. It took place on the Collaborate platform.
The aim of the course that the activity was based on is to analyse the history of the cultural encounters generated by the European colonial expansion in the early modern period (16th-18th centuries), with an emphasis on the production of ethnographic knowledge, literary and visual. The course adopts a global comparative perspective, taking account of the various contexts of such encounters in Africa, Asia, America and the Pacific. The course will emphasize the overseas empires of Spain and Portugal, but will also include materials generated by the Dutch, French and British commercial and colonial experiences. Each seminar will explore a distinct theme and will involve the contextual analysis of a variety of ethnographic sources. Four key questions will constitute a thread throughout the sessions: the problem of cultural perception and (mis)translation; the ideals, practices and contradictions of religious missions; the complex nature of colonial and imperial power; and the paradoxical development of universalist and cosmopolitan ideas.
PART 3:
‘The Stranger’, December 7 and December 16, 2021, led by prof. Marc Van den Bossche (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
This activity included lectures followed by discussions of the assigned readings. It took place on MS Teams.
a. Stranger, Tuesday, December 7, 2021, 18.00-20.00 CET
The question of the stranger. Students discussed the classic texts by Georg Simmel and Alfred Schütz. Students were asked to reflect on how Bauman translates their vision to our current dealings with the stranger? This was followed by a look at Sara Ahmed’s critique of and additions to Bauman’s thinking.
b. Morality, Thursday, December 16, 2021, 18.00-20.00 CET
Bauman’s critique of modernity includes a revision of the conception of a kind of morality that would be bound to a specific social context. He wants to search for a universal morality that even precedes thought. Students across the universities compare this vision in a cross-campus setting with that of Judith Butler in her ‘Precarious Life’.
Concluding Event: Open Student Forum
The Connected Learning Community’s activities were concluded with Student Open Forum event held online on January 27th. The final study activity within the EUTOPIA Learning Unit Epistemology of Everyday Life 2021/22, took place in the form of short presentations. Some of the students synthesized various theoretical and epistemological approaches, presented earlier through the lectures, workshops and practical classes of the Learning Unit. Furthermore, students reflected and re-assesed their own ethnographic work and anthropological positions in the light of the newly accessed knowledge.
See the programme.
How to get involved?
(Students and educators)
Contact the Learning Community: Rajko Muršič (rajko.mursic@ff.uni-lj.si) or Blaž Bajič (blaz.bajic@ff.uni-lj.si)