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Cultures and Identities in Europe

What does it mean to be European? Discover European cultures, identities and policies with this course.

19,343 enrolled on this course

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  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Get a greater understanding of Europe and its people

What is European identity? What do we understand and promote as European culture? On this course you will answer these questions and others as you critically consider the formation of diverse identities and cultures in Europe.

You will explore fundamental European policies on culture, creativity and the media, and shed light on the importance of memories and shared heritage. You will also look at the policy behind European cultural and media industries and question current approaches to cultural creativity that rely heavily on economics.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 12 seconds What is European culture today, and which are the elements that compose this unique mixture? Elements from Europe’s past– wars and conflicts, scientific achievements and inventions, philosophies and political theories, religions and ideologies, traditional cultural expressions– are surely fundamental. But other elements also enrich the mixture– lesser-known languages, local customs, minority cultures, migrant communities’ traditions, and new forms of art. Institutions and policies intervene in this process and contribute to the shaping of contemporary European culture.

Skip to 1 minute and 4 seconds This MOOC will provide you with the necessary tools to understand what is nowadays a European culture and a European identity and how they relate to the many that exist at national and local levels in Europe. You will learn how institutions and policies shape European culture, as well as how the cultural heritage of Europe can be mobilised to generate new forms of art to produce cultural goods and to set up new industries.

Skip to 1 minute and 37 seconds Don’t miss this opportunity. Join us in this revealing journey from the past through the present and to the future of Europe.

What topics will you cover?

European identities

  • What is Europe?
  • Diversity in Europe

European memory and heritage

  • European memories
  • Constructing European heritage

European creativity

  • Cultural industries in Europe
  • Urban creativity
  • Cultural creativity and European Futures

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Engage with current debates on what is 'European identity', what is 'European culture', and what it means to talk of them in the singular or the plural (cultures, identities).
  • Explain the relationship between notions of identity, memory, heritage, and culture.
  • Interpret main approaches to cultural heritage and the public use of history.
  • Identify European policies in the media and cultural sector.
  • Discuss critical approaches to cultural industries

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in European culture, but will be of particular interest to those working in the arts, culture and heritage.

Who will you learn with?

Jeremie Molho is Research Fellow at the European University Institute

Anna Triandafyllidou is Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada.

Who developed the course?

European University Institute (EUI)

We are the European University Institute (EUI), the leading institute in Europe dedicated to social sciences and humanities. Founded in 1972 by the six original members of the then European Communities, the EUI has earned a reputation as a transnational hub of research and higher learning.

Global Governance Programme

One of the flagship programmes at the European University institute (EUI), launched in 2010 in response to a growing need for global governance in an ever more interconnected and multipolar world.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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