Ukraine in Transformation. People and State

ogólnouniwersyteckie

Skills in Ukrainian or other Slavic languages will be appreciated but not required.

The course is an introduction to crucial aspects of the history, culture, society, economy, and politics of contemporary Ukraine, as well as their international reception. Thus, it is a problem- rather than disciplinary-oriented.

The course has a unique form, designed to provide (multiple) Ukrainian and international perspectives on the aforementioned issues. Except for elements of lecture and seminar it includes meetings (mostly remote) with Ukrainian artists and scholars, students' presentations, preferably prepared in tandems. Due to the course’s character, Ukrainian students are heartily welcomed. Щиро запрошуємо студентів з України!

The ongoing war in Ukraine may influence the content of the course.

The scope of the course is broad and transdisciplinary. It is the premise to achieve the two basic goals of the course.

First of all, the course is thought of as a platform to study the most important issues in Ukrainian society and culture. The emphasis will be put on linguistic and confessional transformations and their influence on the political system. We will analyze selected cultural phenomena (especially in music and literature) that are reflecting and perpetuating the above-mentioned transitions. Special attention will be paid to the emerging role of folk culture in contemporary Ukraine. At least one meeting will be devoted to the myth of Huculshchna, an important touristic and cultural center located in the Carpathians that, during the ongoing war, became a shelter for thousands of internally displaced people.

The other aim of the course transgresses the borders of science and encompasses a social factor. Thanks to the presence of Ukrainian experts from different regions of the country and the presence of multinational students (hopefully also from Ukraine) we expect to start the polyphonic discussion, based on respect and partnership.

During the course we will discuss current Ukrainian press articles.

English translations of Ukrainian books are scarce. Thus in the literature list I am including the bunch of books and papers that are in Ukrainian and other languages that we will talk about within the course.

Andrukhovych Y., 2011, Лексикон інтимних міст

Applebaum A., 2017, Red Famine. Stalin’s War on Ukraine

Ascherson N., 2011, The Black See: From Pericles to Putin

Bilaniuk L., 2005, Contested Tongues, Language Politics and Cultural Correction in Ukraine

Bilaniuk L., 2016, Ideologies of Language in Wartime

Chromik B., 2009, Bohaterowie prawie mityczni. Narracje z Bojkowszczyzny

Cyzevs’kyj D., G.S.N. Luckyj 1997, A History of Ukrainian Literature (From the 11th to the End of the 19th Century with An Overview of the Twentieth Century

Hrytsak Y. 1998, National Identities in Post-Soviet Ukraine: The Case of Lviv and Donetsk

Hrytsak Y., 2019, Нарис історії України. Формування модерної нації ХІХ-ХХ століття

Jaroszewicz M., O. Małynowska 2018, Najnowsza migracja z Ukrainy do Polski: (nie)stały fenomen?

Pavlenko A., 2008, Multilingualism in post-Soviet countries: Language revival, language removal, and sociolinguistic theory

Pavlyshyn M., 2010 Martyrology and literary scholarship: the case of Vasyl Stus

Pieniążek P., 2017, Greetings from Novorossiya: Eyewitness to the War in Ukraine

Plokhy S., F. E. Sysyn 2003, Religion and Nation in Modern Ukraine

Plokhy S., 2015, The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine

Plokhy S., 2021, The Frontline: Essays on Ukraine's Past and Present

Strynadyuk L.P., 2014, У нас, гуцулів

Vincenz S., 1955, On the High Uplands. Sagas, Songs, Tales and Legends of the Carpathians

Yermolenko V. (ed.) 2020, Ukraine in Histories and Stories. Essays by Ukrainian Intellectuals

Zabuzhko O. 2011, Field Work In Ukrainian Sex

Zaleska-Onyshkevych L.M.L., M.G. Rewakowicz, Contemporary Ukraine on the Cultural Map of Europe.

Zhadan S., 2021 The orphanage: A novel

Zhadan S., 2016, Voroshilovgrad.

Knowledge

The graduate:

understands the cultural and social processes taking place in Ukraine and their relevance for the entire continent (K_W01)

understands the relationships between the various dimensions of social change in Ukraine (K_W02)

understands the historical and cultural ties between Ukraine, the countries and peoples of the northern Mediterranean coast and the rest of Europe (K_W03)

understands the value of an interdisciplinary approach to the analysis and interpretation of social changes in Ukraine and cultural changes regarding them (K_W07).

knows the most important methods either of humanities and social sciences and knows how to integrate them into interdisciplinary research (K_W07, K_W08).

Abilities

The graduate:

is able to select and make a critical assessment of information regarding Ukraine coming from various scientific, popular science, journalistic and other sources. (K_U01)

within the field of Ukrainian studies is able to independently conceptualize research problems, selects the appropriate sources, conducts their critical analysis and evaluation according to previously established criteria, can adapt the methodology accordingly to research theme, draw conclusions with the awareness of various points of view. The student is also able to interpret social processes occurring in Ukraine in an advanced and interdisciplinary way, especially the changes taking place in them (K_U04).

is able to prepare an oral or written presentation concerning Ukraine taking into account the needs of recipients, in particular with the use of a range of digital tools; can present arguments to support her/his beliefs and knowledge in a logical and convincing manner (K_U05)

is able to present the results of individual and team academic work in an appropriate form: as a report, presentation, essay. (K_U06)

is able to prepare written works concerning Ukraine taking into account the requirements for academic work (K_U07).

Social competences

The graduate:

is ready to continue scientific interest in Ukraine after finishing the course (K_K01).

knows the principles of engaged science and how to relate them to the conditions of military conflict. (K_K06)

Students are expected to be able to use the knowledge presented during the seminar, to understand the basic processes ongoing in the Ukraine and to present it publicly in oral or written form.

Grading is based on four factors.

1) Active participation in the classes (25%)

2) Very short report on the issues ongoing in the Ukraine (5%)

3) Class presentation (20%)

4) Term paper or conversation with Lecturer (optionally). The topic of paper/conversation coincide with the class presentation (50%)

Two unexcused absences are allowed.

In case of 3 or 4 unjustified absences, it is possible to make up for them after consultation. In case of 5 or more unjustified absences there is no possibility for obtaining course credit.