Finnexia®: Learn Finnish...faster!

Abstract

Finnexia^® is a multimedia advertisement campaign for a new (fictitious) medication that helps people learn the Finnish language. Through a satirical sales pitch, Finnexia^® presents an opportunity for public discussion about acquisition of the Finnish language and its role in the experience of foreigners in Finland. Through the pharmaceutical advetising framework, this project serves as the final artistic production of Lisa Erdman's doctoral research entitled, "Performative art interventions facilitating public dialogue". The research is being carried out in the Department of Art and Aalto Univeristy in Helsinki, Finland.

The pharmaceutical parody in Finnexia^® presents a satirical critique of over-medicalization and  reliance on pill-based treatments for human ailments. Ultimately, the project involves investigating people’s experiences and thoughts relating to their own cultural experience, not out of an urgent desire for answers, but rather as a means to generate more questions that may lead to new perspectives on the issues at hand.

Question and comments: lisa.erdman@aalto.fi