On Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25, 2024, we will hold the symposium "Challenges of Ukrainian Culture Beyond Turbulent Times."

More than two years have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through explanations by experts in international politics, military studies, and political science, basic knowledge about the background and historical context of the war is becoming widely shared within Japan. However, the reality is that there is still very little understanding of the society and culture of Ukraine—a party to the war resisting aggression—partly due to the small number of experts in the country.

It goes without saying that understanding the cultural aspects of a target country or society is just as important as understanding its history and politics. This is because understanding cultural practices—including folklore, customs, linguistic activities, literature, and the arts in general—brings to light the dimensions of experience and emotion of the people living in that society, and encourages an inherent understanding of the worldview that supports their existence as political subjects.

Ukrainian national consciousness, formed historically from the era of Kievan Rus' through the rise of the Cossack Hetmanate, has fluctuated between independence and subjugation through years of rule by the Kingdom of Poland, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Since gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it has been torn between Russia and Europe. Now, having passed through a crisis of national survival due to Russian aggression, Ukrainian national identity is undergoing a dramatic transformation through various cultural practices.

Therefore, we have planned a symposium to discuss Ukrainian society and culture from multiple perspectives, bringing together experts in Ukrainian society and culture active both in Japan and abroad, along with commentators who have focused on recent trends in Ukraine. This symposium aims to trace the lineage of Ukrainian culture, which has been passed down from the past to the present despite being at the mercy of a history of domination by neighboring countries. In particular, it seeks to highlight dynamic social changes through an examination of various aspects of cultural practices that have developed in Ukraine since the Maidan Revolution and the full-scale war with Russia.

【Date and Time】

Saturday, February 24, 2024, 13:00–18:30

Sunday, February 25, 2024, 10:30–17:30

【Venue】

Hiyoshi Campus, Raiosha 1st Floor, Symposium Space

【Target Audience】

Keio students, faculty and staff, Keio University alumni, researchers, general public

【Fee】

Free

【Registration】

Pre-registration required for online participation

Not required for in-person participation

Register here.

【Co-organized by】

・National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU) Global Area Studies Program "East Eurasian Studies Project"

National Museum of Ethnology Base

・MEXT Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) "Modern History of Great Power Chauvinism" (Representative: Tomohiko Uyama) / Challenging Research

"Dancing the Revolution: Intertextuality of Body Representation in China and the Soviet Union" (Representative: Yoko Tamura)

・Keio Research Center for the Liberal Arts

Please check here for details such as application contents.