History and theory of arts

Topic title	Possible scientific supervisors	Source of funding
The relationship between audiovisual arts and animal ethics	prof. dr. Dario Martinelli	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. This proposed dissertation theme aims at analyzing the relationship between audiovisual arts, particularly documentaries, and the theme of animal ethics, with a specific focus on the meat industry and veganism. The candidate should consider analysing a number of fictional films and documentaries, in order to understand how artistic and semiotic strategies are employed to raise public awareness. The dissertation should also explore how the reception of the message varies based on the cultural background of the viewers and what are the most effective ways to promote ethical change, without generating psychological resistance
Cities not only for humans: biocentric and ecocentric approaches to nature-based solutions in cities	doc. dr. Indrė Gražulevičiūtė-Vileniškė	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. The growing need to mitigate the effects of climate change and to improve the well-being and quality of life of urban populations, while pursuing a resilient, resource-efficient and green economy, is driving a shift towards solutions and services provided by nature and ecosystems. This is why nature-based solutions are now gaining increasing attention, both in research and in urban planning and management of the urban environment. The basic idea of nature-based solutions is to use nature to find solutions to global challenges, treating it as a tool rather than an obstacle to human activity. Nevertheless, some researchers criticize nature-based solutions as an anthropocentric (human-centred) utilitarian concept. However, H. Eggermont et al. (2015) point out that biocentric and/or ecocentric approaches (focusing on all sentient beings and ecosystems) and the anthropocentric perspective in nature-based solutions can complement each other in an effective way in the application of different approaches to biodiversity enhancement. The proposed PhD topic aims to explore the applicability of biocentric and ecocentric approaches in the development of nature-based solutions in cities. The tasks of the PhD research are to carry out a literature analysis and theoretical study, to formulate the theoretical assumptions for the application of biocentric and ecocentric approaches in the development of nature-based solutions in cities, to formulate the methodology for the experimental study, to carry out the experimental study, and to summarize the results to formulate guidelines for the application of biocentric and ecocentric approaches in the development of nature-based solutions in cities.
Strategies for Managing Soviet Monumental Heritage: A Comparative Analysis of Lithuania and Central and Eastern European Countries in the Context of Geopolitical Change	m. d. dr. Brigita Tranavičiūtė	state-funded	Research Topic Summary. The large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 has reignited debates in Lithuania and other Central and Eastern European countries about strategies for managing Soviet heritage, particularly monumental heritage that bear witness to the crimes of the totalitarian regime. In Lithuania, as in many other countries that have inherited the Soviet legacy, decisions regarding the management of monumental heritage have become directly influenced by periodic shifts in internal and external political circumstances, as well as public opinion. To date, public discourse has led to several waves of Soviet monument demolitions. However, these actions have not resulted in a coherent, well-conceptualized, and legally established framework for either the preservation or removal of the remaining monumental heritage. The study aims to apply interdisciplinary methods to conduct a comparative analysis of strategies for managing Soviet monumental heritage in Lithuania and other Central and Eastern European countries. The expected outcome is the development of a methodology and practical recommendations for managing Soviet-era monuments in response to evolving geopolitical dynamics, based on insights gained from the comparative analysis.