Joint PhD supervision under ARTEMIS programm : Meeting with Teodora Spetsiotou

Teodora Spetsiotou is a PhD candidate under a joint supervision program within the ARTEMIS initiative. She discusses with us her motivations, academic goals, and impressions of studying at a European university.


PhD Supervisors:

- Professor Pascal Desmichel (Faculty of Arts, Culture, and Humanities of Clermont Auvergne University)
- Professor Maria Zoubouli (Department of Music Studies, University of Ioannina).


Title of the Thesis:

La ville dans sa représentation visuelle et sonore : Collection des cartes postales et des enregistrements des studios mobiles dans les grands ports de la Méditerranée Orientale au début du XXe siècle (The city in its visual and sound representation: collection of postcards and mobile studio recordings in the major ports of the eastern Mediterranean in the early 20th century).


 

We had the pleasure of speaking with Teodora Spetsiotou about her motivations and goals regarding this joint PhD supervision, the ARTEMIS University, and what a European university represents for a European student. Below is the transcript of our conversation.


Could you please tell us your name, where you're from, and your academic background? What are your hobbies or interests?

My name is Dora Spetsiotou and I am from Greece. In 2012 I graduated from the Music High School of Lesvos, an island in the Northern Aegean Sea in Greece. The same year I started my undergraduate studies at the Department of Folk and Traditional Music of the Technological Educational Institute of Epirus, Greece, from which I graduated in 2020, with a music specialization in singing. During my undergraduate studies I took part in the Erasmus student exchange program, at Istanbul Technical University (2015-2016). In 2020, I was accepted into the “Public History” postgraduate program of the Hellenic Open University, which I completed in February 2023. In October 2023 I was accepted for a joint Ph.D. program, a synergy between the Department of Music Studies of the University of Ioannina (Music Documentation Laboratory) in Greece, and the Clermont Auvergne University (UMR Territoires) in France. From my hobbies I would choose cooking and dancing. However, I love travelling everywhere a lot.What is your thesis about? Why did you choose to realize a joint PhD and what would be the benefits for you?

The thesis is a comparative study between historical postcards and historical commercial discography. My research aims to decipher the mechanisms of representation, present in commercial media of 19th and early 20th century. I am focusing on major cities-ports of the Eastern Mediterranean, between 1900 and 1920. This is a study that deals with geopolitical upheavals, imaginary cities, aesthetic issues, commercial realities and more.

I choose to realize a joint PhD following my Greek supervisor’s advice, Maria Zoubouli. She has been collaborating with Clermont Auvergne University and, along with professor Pascal Desmichel there, who is my second supervisor, we decided to implement this very interesting collaboration. For me, this is a great opportunity to work with two excellent professors, in two different fields. This grants me with an interdisciplinary view of the subject, opening up my knowledge horizons.

Do you know ARTEMIS project? What a “European University” means for you?

ARTEMIS is a European University project. A major international center of multidisciplinary expertise very important to students, researchers, and teaching staff. “European University” is a great environment to exchange and enrich knowledge. As a matter of fact, I will receive a scholarship from ARTEMIS, for the year of my staying in Clermont-Ferrand. This is critical for my studies, the development of my project and my research work in Clermont-Ferrand.

How many time will you spend in Clermont-Ferrand? What were the first impressions about the city and the surroundings?

I came in Clermont-Ferrand for the first time in March 2024, taking advantage of a short-term Erasmus mobility scheme. I have been permanent living in the city from mid-May 2024, doing an Erasmus-supported internship at the Municipality of Clermont-Ferrand, Department of International Relations.

One of the things that impressed me about the city is that the fact that this is a pedestrian-friendly city. Transportation is rather easy, taking advantage of buses and trams. Moreover, the wide and clean pedestrian streets allow people to enjoy strolling around the city. Beautiful gardens and parks enhance the city’s image. Another advantage is the festivals in and around the city. There are many performances and most of them are free of charge. The nature surrounding the city is also impressive. One of the more serious hardships I face in everyday life is the language. This is why I’ve been taking intensive French classes to improve it.

Will you engage in any student association?

Yes, I would like to do so. I believe that this can help me to better integrate into UCA. I am already in contact with Clermont’s Auvergne doctoral candidate association, "Doct'Auvergne".

Do you define yourself as a European citizen? And do you think your mobility in Europe will strengthen this feeling/identity?

Yes, I define myself as a European citizen and this mobility has reminded me of the importance of being a European citizen. It is really important that as a European citizen I can move to another European city very quickly, like travelling within the same country. However, the bureaucracy and the procedures required in many cases are extremely complex. I wish the procedures were simpler. I would prefer to having research as my priority.