Kultuurimõtestamises

Kultuurimõtestamises, which translates roughly to the interpretation or meaning-making of culture, refers to the process by which people and communities interpret cultural phenomena such as rituals, texts, traditions, artifacts and social practices. The term emphasizes how cultural meanings are produced, negotiated and contested within specific historical and social contexts.

The concept draws on hermeneutics, semiotics and cultural theory, and is used in cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, literature and history to analyze how different actors attribute significance to cultural elements. It focuses on how meanings are shaped by context, power relations, memory and identity, and how interpretations can evolve over time. Researchers typically employ methods such as textual and discourse analysis, ethnography, participant observation and comparative studies to explore interpretive processes.

In practice, kultuurimõtestamises encourages recognizing multiple readings of culture rather than seeking a single authoritative interpretation. It highlights reflexivity and the situated nature of knowledge, acknowledging the researcher’s own positionality and the contingency of interpretations.

Challenges include avoiding ethnocentrism and essentialism, and preventing overgeneralization. Because cultural meanings are dynamic, interpretations can differ across communities and over time. The term is widely used in Estonian scholarly writing across disciplines to frame discussions about how culture is understood, interpreted and communicated.