An Interview with Eneken Laanes, Head of the MA Programme in Literature, Visual Culture and Film Studies

Literature, Visual Culture and Film Studies (LVF) is a research-oriented Master’s programme jointly offered by Tallinn University and the Estonian Academy of Arts. We spoke with Eneken Laanes, Head of the Programme, about what defines LVF, who it is designed for, and where it can lead graduates next.

What is the core idea behind the Literature, Visual Culture and Film Studies programme?

At its heart, LVF is a humanities Master’s programme focused on research and critical thinking across different cultural media. We study how narratives and images createcultural meaning are in literature, film, and visual culture — both historically and in contemporary contexts.

Rather than treating literature, film, or visual culture as separate fields, the programme brings them into dialogue. This allows students to understand how stories and images move across media and how cultural memory, power, and identity are shaped through different forms of representation.

How would you describe the academic approach of the programme?

LVF is a research-oriented programme. Teaching takes place mainly through seminars, where students work closely with texts, films, and visual material. We place strong emphasis on analytical reading, academic writing, and independent research.

Students are encouraged to develop their own research interests early on and to think critically about theory, methodology, and interpretation. The programme is well suited to those who enjoy deep intellectual engagement and want to understand cultural phenomena in a rigorous, systematic way.

Who is this programme designed for?

The programme is designed for students who are genuinely interested in the humanities as a research field. Many of our students come from backgrounds in literature, cultural studies, film studies, art history, or related disciplines, but we also welcome applicants with broader humanities or social sciences backgrounds, provided they have a strong motivation for critical and theoretical work.

LVF is particularly suitable for students who are considering doctoral studies or research-based careers in culture, academia, or related fields. That said, the skills developed in the programme — critical analysis, research competence, and advanced writing — are also valuable in analytically oriented cultural and intellectual professions.

What makes studying this programme in Tallinn distinctive?

Tallinn offers a very stimulating environment for this kind of programme. The city has an active literary, film, and visual culture scene, which provides a rich contextual background for our studies. While the programme itself is academically focused, students often engage with cultural institutions, festivals, archives, and events taking place in the city.

An important strength of the programme is that it is jointly offered by Tallinn University and the Estonian Academy of Arts. This collaboration allows us to draw on expertise in literature, film studies, visual culture, and cultural memory research across both institutions.

What kinds of topics and research areas do students work on?

Students work on a wide range of topics, depending on their interests. These may include narrative theory, memory and trauma studies, visual culture and politics, film aesthetics, literary modernity, or the relationship between art and society.

What unites these projects is a strong focus on theoretical reflection and methodological clarity, as well as close engagement with cultural material. By the time students write their Master’s thesis, they are well prepared for independent research.

What opportunities do graduates have after completing the programme?

Because of the programme’s strong academic and research focus, many graduates continue on to doctoral studies, either at Tallinn University or at other international universities. Others pursue careers in cultural institutions, publishing, education, and cultural analysis, as well as in roles that require advanced analytical thinking and strong academic writing skills.

Rather than preparing students for a single profession, LVF equips graduates with deep intellectual and research skills that can be applied across a wide range of contexts.

What would you say to prospective students considering LVF?

If you are curious about how literature, film, and visual culture shape the way we understand the world — and if you enjoy reading, watching, thinking, and writing critically — then LVF may be a very good fit for you.

It is a demanding programme, but also a very rewarding one for students who want to take the humanities seriously as a field of research and inquiry.

Read more about the programme here.