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Francisco Martinez, from Tallinn University, will deliver a paper entitled
"The Linnahall as an Eventscape". It is one in a series of seminars
"Inimkond/Humankind - Current Issues in Anthropology and Beyond" which are
held every fortnight on Wednesdays. This seminar will be held in auditorium
N315 (Tallinn University Nova building) on Wednesday, 30 January from
18:00-20:00.Abstract:This article seeks to contribute to the debates about
the social meaning given to certain places. I propose to study how a
semi-ruined building stands as a site full of associations in Tallinn,
making a parallel between public spaces and the second law of
thermodynamics. I introduce the concept of entropy in order to explain the
progressive semantisation of places and how the Linnahall arena acquires a
palimpsest quality. The experience of this site becomes thus an event in
itself, since past and future cannot be disconnected to its sensuous
experience. Otherwise, I sketch the concept of eventscape and cult
building, outlining how the fragmentation of certain post-socialist cities
could be understood as a form of entropy - an accumulation of history
manifested in space. Francisco Martínez is a PhD candidate in anthropology
in the Estonian Institute of Humanities, Tallinn University. Francisco
holds degrees in International Economy and Cooperation to Development (MA,
Higher Institute of Economy, Lisbon); Journalism (BA, Madrid Complutense
University); and Russian Studies (Post-Grad Certificate, Moscow School of
Diplomacy MGIMO and St. Petersburg State University). Recently he is
working on the scope of the post-socialist condition and urban ethnography.
He has been employed as a journalist in Berlin, Moscow, St. Petersburg,
Istanbul and Lisbon, publishing over 500 articles and producing 140 video
reports and 45 radio programs. He was also awarded with scholarships in
several European universities.The series of seminars "Inimkond/Humankind
- Current Issues in Anthropology and Beyond" features speakers from
anthropology and related fields, and fosters discussion of their research
with an interdisciplinary audience. It aims to contribute to the culture of
academic scholarship and debate at Tallinn University. Speakers include
local researchers as well as guests from a variety of background
disciplines including those with different interpretations of
anthropological theory and methodology. Presentations in the seminar series
will be of particular interest to staff and students in anthropology,
cultural theory, sociology, and history.For further information about the
seminar series, please contact:Franz KrauseE-mail: franz.krause@tlu.ee