| Course title | Ukraine: History, Identities and Culture |
|---|---|
| Course code | FJC/0380 |
| Organizational form of instruction | Seminary |
| Level of course | Bachelor |
| Year of study | not specified |
| Semester | Winter and summer |
| Number of ECTS credits | 4 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Status of course | Compulsory-optional |
| Form of instruction | Face-to-face |
| Work placements | This is not an internship |
| Recommended optional programme components | None |
| Lecturer(s) |
|---|
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| Course content |
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1. Course Introduction 2. Modern Ukrainian History: Fight for Freedom 3. Ukraine and East European Countries 4. Ukrainian Diaspora in Europe 5. Ukrainian Identites: East meets West 6. Post-Soviet Legacy of Ukraine 7. Representations of Past Ukrainian History: famine 8. Representations of Past Ukrainian History: genocide of Ukrainians for centuries 9. Ukrainian cultural diversity 10. Factors of National Character and Politics 11. Cultural and Society After Chornobyl Tragedy: Nuclear (Non)-Representations 12. Present and Future of Ukrainian Society: Decolonizing Culture, Society 13. The Road to Independence 14. Test
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| Learning activities and teaching methods |
| unspecified, unspecified, unspecified |
| Learning outcomes |
|
The course presents an overview of the literature, visual arts, and social thought produced in Ukraine and its transnational diaspora since regaining independence in 1991. It starts with looking at literary, filmic, and scholarly representations of two milestones of contemporary Ukrainian history, which shaped the socio-political life in Ukraine today: the Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Euromaidan of 2013-2014. Looking deep at these major events and their formative role in shaping Ukrainian identity and pro-Western orientation, we will also consider ethnic, social, and cultural diversity in Ukraine, its political geography, and different conceptions of its history. The course considers the ways literature and the arts have dealt with and debated social and political issues in various periods, including such questions as: How do fictional representations open up new ways of thinking about catastrophic events (genocide, war, relocation, exile, environmental crisis) and social problems (corruption, poverty, gender, inequality, and discrimination)? How does language shape the way we think about society? What role do the arts and education play in political and social justice causes? Our readings and viewings will also lead us to look back on earlier historical periods as they relate to the present. In the case of geopolitical issues raised in post-1991 Ukraine, the state-making experience of the Ukrainian Cossacks, the Russian Empire, the Ukrainian National Republic, and the Soviet legacy looms large. This nuanced historical perspective will enable us to analyze the Russia-Ukraine war in terms of clashing identities and global geopolitical.
In addition to covering a generically diverse range of texts (fiction, poetry, film, photography, philosophical essays, and academic articles), the course will teach students to: - refine their skills in reading and interpreting texts that are rhetorically, historically, or culturally unfamiliar and challenging - think critically about what they are seeing, reading, and hearing - construct convincing arguments using multimodal analysis and the conventions of academic writing - be inclusive and sensitiv to the immense diversity of cultures and social orders in the world today - apply their intellectual and creative interests to Ukrainian culture and history |
| Prerequisites |
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- English language level minimum B1
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| Assessment methods and criteria |
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unspecified
- 70% attendance - Short presentation/panel discussions (7-10 minutes+QA) about each week?s assigned text (2-3 students per topic). - Test or essay (optional) |
| Recommended literature |
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| Study plans that include the course |
| Faculty | Study plan (Version) | Category of Branch/Specialization | Recommended semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): German Philology in the Czech-German Intercultural Context (A12) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Teaching German Language and Literature for Secondary School (A14) | Category: Pedagogy, teacher training and social care | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Intercultural German Studies (A14) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Cultural History (A14) | Category: History courses | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Intercultural German Studies (A14) | Category: Philological sciences | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): History (Single Subject) (A14) | Category: History courses | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |