Southeast European Center for Semiotic Studies

SEECSS in Bulgarian Academia is positioned between the fields of social and cognitive sciences. As a relatively new subject, compared to traditional disciplines, the study of semiotics is open to the new trends and tendencies in the vital whirl of theories and practices in the general move towards the reconciliation of different concepts into a unitary and applied theoretical frame. Besides the well known professors and specialists, the staff of the Center includes a group of PhD students that have become an organic core for the new ideas and projects that the University kindly supports. On NBU`s campus the Center collaborates with the Departments of New Bulgarian studies, Advertising and Marketing, Applied Linguistics, Cognitive Sciences, Philosophy and Sociology, Visual Arts, Theatre, Drama and Cinema. Click here to continue reading

Events and publications

During the 9th congress of IASS in Helsinki and Imatra, (Finland, 2007), important decisions were made for the recognition and institutionalization of Semiotics as an international thematic network. It consists of many departments that are in constant contact as well as individual scholars and PhD students. SEECSS was represented by four senior lecturers in the congress which took active role in the devising of all future plans for the development of semiotics on a global scale. Debates were initiated about the possibility for standardization of semiotics and making it popular through the translation of a common corpus of introductory texts by classical authors into the different local languages (Summa Semioticae). Also the intensification of the international student exchange, based on a comprehensive geographic map of semiotic courses over academic institutions worldwide. Another useful idea emerged as well – to share successful practices in order to support the teaching of semiotics in certain universities and its integration with other developing theories, as well as working on applied and empirically orientated modules. Due to the fact of winning the project for an “Intensive program in semiotics”, the Center overtook the responsibility for one of the three places as coordinator of the future project for the thematic network in which more than 30 universities are to participate. The launching of the Master`s program in Advertising and Lifestyles in NBU (proposed and conducted by the Center and consisting of many semiotic courses that have an applied profile) inspired other semiotic departments in Europe and we already actively share our know-how in the semiotic community.

History of the EFSS (1995- )