Lotman studied the theory of culture, Russian literature, history, semiotics and semiology (general theories of signs and sign systems), semiotics of cinema, arts, literature, robotics, etc. In these fields, Lotman has been one of the most widely cited authors.
Lotman estudou a teoría de cultura, literatura rusa, historia, semiótica e semioloxía (teorías xerais de signos e sistemas de signos), semiótca do cinema, artes, literatura, robótica etc. Neses campos, Lotman foi un dos autores máis citados.