Course Overview

This course offers a multifaceted journey to Ukraine, a country in the heart of Europe. What faces constitute a landscape of Ukraine? Is it a beautiful young lady (Mavka) determined to achieve her goals and take a deserved place among other European countries? Is it a strong young man (Cossack) always on a battlefield for his national identity and independence? How have the faces of Ukraine changed being caught in the web of Covid-19 pandemic and military conflict,  and how have these reconfigured its general landscape?

During six weeks, participants of the course will be immersed in history, culture, art and storytelling of Ukraine. Narratives about the country are presented verbally, in pictures, songs, and dances. The course covers a 'face' of Ukraine before the Covid-19 pandemic and military conflict, its national symbols, stereotypes, customs and traditions, some geographical and economic features. Then, a pandemic 'face' of Ukraine will be discussed alongside discussions of current  transformations. Moreover, the course sheds light on similarities between Ukraine and Ireland from different perspectives. 

Course Schedule:

Wednesday 7-9 pm  for six weeks. 28 September to 2 November.

Location-Western Gateway Building Room G13, UCC 

Closing date for applications: Friday 16 September 2022

 

This course consists of a two-hour lecture each week. Lectures are presented via multimedia presentations. Every class also includes Q & A sessions, group discussions, quizzes and brainstorming. 

Week 1 

Face 1: Known and Unknown (Part 1)

·         Ukraine or the Ukraine?

·         Unique geographical position of Ukraine in Europe.

·         A glimpse of the Ukrainian history.

 

·         Ukraine as the breadbasket of Europe and global food security.

Week 2 

 Face 1: Known and Unknown (Part 2)

·         National symbols of Ukraine.

·         Ukrainian Folklore.

·         Manifold cultural life of Ukraine.

 

·         Ukrainian National Identity or what is it like to be Ukrainian?

 

 Week 3 

Face 2: Weaving the Web of Similarity Patterns between Ukraine and Ireland

·         Historical links: Vikings, Cossacks, Famines and beyond.

·         Ukrainian and Irish national identities: Freedom, independence, peace.

 

·         Drawing analogies between Ukrainian and Irish art.

 

 Week 4

Face 3: A Variety of Covid-19 Pandemic Images

·         Pandemic face of Ukraine in media.

·         Covid-19 pandemic images in music and poetry.

 

·         Covid-19 pandemic images in visual arts and dance.

 

Week 5 

Face 4: In the Web of the Military Conflict: Media Facts and Artistic Representations

·         Some facts of the media coverage.

·         Verbal war face(s) of Ukraine through the eyes of Ukrainian and foreign poets.

·         Visual war face(s) of Ukraine by Ukrainian and world artists.

·         Tunes of war in the world of music. 

 

 Week 6 

Face 5: A Linguistic Landscape of the Country 'before' and 'after' 

·         Learn 'Laskavo Prosymo', 'Diakuiu', 'Buvai' and other Ukrainian words.

·         Ukraine and the world go linguistically viral in the times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

·    New war-related words and concepts.

 

Course Lecturer

Professor Olena Marina, Department of English Philology, Translation and 

Philosophy of Language, Kyiv National Linguistic University, Head of an Educational and Research Centre for Multimodal and Translation Studies.

 

Entry Requirements

Applicants must be at least 18 years old at course commencement. 

Assessment

Short courses are not assessed. Students will receive a UCC Certificate of Attendance upon completion.

 

Contact Details for Further Information

 

 Email: shortcourses@ucc.ie