Course for international guest/part time students
- Faculty
- Faculty of Humanities
- Organization
- BTK Department of Ukrainian Studies
- Code
- BMI-UKRD-243
- Title
- Modernism and postmodern in the Ukrainian literature 1.
- Usual semester
- Autumn
- ECTS
- 3
- Language
- ua
- Learning outcomes
- A) Knowledge The student is familiar with the most significant movements of Ukrainian Modernism, Avant-garde, and 20th-century literary processes (Symbolism, Impressionism, Futurism, Neoclassicism). They possess comprehensive knowledge of the "Executed Renaissance" (Rozstrilyane vidrodzhennya) era, the impact of Soviet cultural policy, and the literary aspirations of the "Sixtiers" (shistdesyatnyky). They understand modern aesthetic shifts and the influence of political ideologies on literature. B) Skills The student is capable of independently analyzing complex literary texts (e.g., works by Khvylovy, Kulish, Zerov) and identifying stylistic features and poetic devices. They can draw parallels between literary works and related arts (e.g., Boychukism in painting, Kurbas's theater). They can critically examine the literary representations of totalitarian systems (Socialist Realism) and the literary forms of resistance. C) Attitude The student is open to learning about the modernization attempts of Ukrainian literature and its European integration. They are sensitive to the tragedy of artistic freedom, national identity, and human fates in historical crisis situations. They appreciate the role of literature in maintaining national memory and protecting aesthetic values. D) Autonomy and Responsibility The student consciously uses academic literature and develops their independent analytical skills. They take responsibility for the scientific credibility of the literary-historical and ethical statements made in their analyses. They are capable of forming an independent, professionally argued opinion on the connections between Ukrainian modernity and political oppression.
- Course content
- The course reviews the developmental stages of Ukrainian literature where traditional realist representation was replaced by modern European aesthetic aspirations. Students learn about the beginnings of the process with early Modernism, where social issues were overshadowed by psychological depth and the individual's inner world. Special attention is paid to the impressionist work of Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky. The curriculum discusses in detail the Avant-garde experiments of the 1920s, including Futurism (Mykhail Semenko) and the activities of the Neoclassicists (e.g., Mykola Zerov, Maksym Rylsky), who defended cultural continuity and European classical literacy. A central unit of the semester explores the tragedy of the "Executed Renaissance" (Rozstrilyane vidrodzhennya): through the satires of Mykola Kulish and the expressionist novellas of Mykola Khvylovy, we examine the irreconcilable conflict between revolutionary fanaticism and individual morality. The final section of the course presents the return to human values following the era of political oppression and Socialist Realism. The "Thaw" after 1953 enabled the emergence of the Sixtiers (shistdesiatnyky), who – led by Vasyl Symonenko – restored national identity and individual freedom to a central position. Evaluation criteria include the recognition of stylistic features, the interpretation of the period's aesthetic shifts, and the exploration of parallels between literary source materials and their cinematic adaptations (e.g., Parajanov).
- Assessment method
- Exam (five-grade rating system).
- Bibliography
- Literary texts, academic articles and analyses provided during the course.