Triggered by the Euromaidan protests of 2013/14, Ukraine over the past eight years has experienced a cultural revival as a response to Russian aggression. This revival has manifested itself no more...Show moreTriggered by the Euromaidan protests of 2013/14, Ukraine over the past eight years has experienced a cultural revival as a response to Russian aggression. This revival has manifested itself no more so than in music, where numerous Ukrainian artists have used traditional instruments and ethnic motifs in combination with broader, “western” styles of popular music. In this thesis I will argue that the motivation behind this music revival - and by extension the wider cultural revival in general - is a restorative nostalgia for a free, flourishing, democratic, western-oriented, independent Ukraine that is entirely separate from Russia. After noting the stark similarities between music revivalism and restorative nostalgia, I will answer how more deeply held restorative nostalgic sentiments manifest themselves in Ukrainian revivalist music, and investigate why these sentiments manifest themselves in the way that they do. I will argue that contemporary Ukrainian revivalist popular music is instrumentalising the past in present-day culture in order to “create a future”. I term this process “signposting” insofar that signposts create a future for those who follow them, promising where they will eventually end up should they choose that path. Given Russia’s renewed, full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24th February 2022, this topic is particularly current, and will demonstrate Ukrainian culture’s tenacity, ingenuity, adaptability and resilience in the face of Russian military and cultural aggression. While the discussions in this thesis predominantly focus on cultural artefacts from between 2014 and 2021, all evidence is pointing to another Ukrainian cultural revival borne out of the events of 2022 that will make the revival of the past decade seem fairly timid by comparison. To this end, I include an afterword looking at Ukrainian music during the latest chapter of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.Show less
In deze scriptie onderzoek ik binnen het kader van Feminist Criticism in hoeverre Elisaveta Kul'man in haar werk legitimiteit creëert voor de vrouwelijke dichter. Uit mijn analyse van de gedichten ...Show moreIn deze scriptie onderzoek ik binnen het kader van Feminist Criticism in hoeverre Elisaveta Kul'man in haar werk legitimiteit creëert voor de vrouwelijke dichter. Uit mijn analyse van de gedichten 'Korinna', 'Feestdag van Pindarus' en de gedichtenreeks 'Bloemenkrans' blijkt dat Kul'man enerzijds de vrouwelijke dichter binnen een mannelijke genealogie en canon plaatst en daarmee de positie van de vrouwelijke dichter tussen mannelijke dichters legitimeert. Anderzijds houdt Kul'man binnen de gedichten vast aan de gangbare opvattingen over vrouwelijke dichters. Vrouwen zijn beperkt in hun creativiteit en worden qua onderwerpen beperkt door hun lieflijke aard. Desalniettemin is er sprake van een ontwikkeling binnen het werk van Kul'man, waarin een groeiende zelfverzekerdheid en bewustzijn voor de positie van de vrouwelijke dichter zichtbaar wordt.Show less
Since the Euromaidan uprising of 2013-2014, Ukrainian political leaders have made serious commitments to strengthening ties between Ukraine and the EU, and this is one of the main guiding...Show moreSince the Euromaidan uprising of 2013-2014, Ukrainian political leaders have made serious commitments to strengthening ties between Ukraine and the EU, and this is one of the main guiding principles for contemporary Ukrainian politics. This thesis seeks to understand how a pro-European attitude is reflected in the everyday, private living space of ordinary Ukrainians, which was and often still is heavily influenced by the Soviet past, but is moving toward Europe along with the rest of Ukrainian society. This thesis explores what the ‘European life’ means for Ukrainians living in Kyiv, and aims to understand how the generally pro-European political orientation in Ukraine is reflected in the construction of new housing and the desires Ukrainians have for their living space.Show less
This thesis examines the relationship between pornography and post-Soviet nostalgia in post-2000 Russian cinema, analysing the extent to which the two phenomena are depicted and interact with one...Show moreThis thesis examines the relationship between pornography and post-Soviet nostalgia in post-2000 Russian cinema, analysing the extent to which the two phenomena are depicted and interact with one another. Through formal film analysis of three case studies, this thesis seeks to demonstrate that in addition to the multi-faceted depiction of post-Soviet nostalgia, sex has far from vanished from Russian film screens and often carries symbolic connotations.Show less
Present Bachelor of Arts thesis paper presents an empirically oriented news framing analysis that is carried out on a number of RIA Novosti and Sputnik News publications, in order to determine the...Show morePresent Bachelor of Arts thesis paper presents an empirically oriented news framing analysis that is carried out on a number of RIA Novosti and Sputnik News publications, in order to determine the change of intensity of Russian Public Diplomacy efforts in the news media dimension since 2014. The analysis is based on Public Diplomacy, Soft Power, and News Framing theory, and conducted on articles falling under an overarching theme of Russian perception of the historical West. The analysed frames are synthesised in their purest form on the basis of Russian official ideology, paying special attention to the universality of the resonating capacity of the frames, and traced back to publications and appearances of Vladimir Putin, to demonstrate the continuity of a frame, from sponsor to reader. Conclusions are made based on the results of the analysis, and findings on Russian development of Public Diplomacy infrastructure since 1929.Show less
The Decriminalisation of Domestic Violence in Russia. Reasons for and Implications of the Amendment of Article 116 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation
During the turbulent years of de-Stalinization a lot changed in the Soviet society. Tensions of the Cold War eased and the publication of contemporary foreign literature was possible again. The...Show moreDuring the turbulent years of de-Stalinization a lot changed in the Soviet society. Tensions of the Cold War eased and the publication of contemporary foreign literature was possible again. The American novel 'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger made quite and impression on the Soviet reader. This thesis discusses the reception of this American youth novel in Soviet Russia through letters and documents found at the Russian Archive of Literature and Art.Show less
This thesis examines the strategies that the Russian regime uses to legitimize the Crimean intervention in 2014. It will do so by analyzing news articles from RT and Komsomolskaya Pravda that are...Show moreThis thesis examines the strategies that the Russian regime uses to legitimize the Crimean intervention in 2014. It will do so by analyzing news articles from RT and Komsomolskaya Pravda that are concerned with the first, second, and third anniversary celebrations of the Crimean reunification with Russia. Furthermore, the Russia-1 documentary Crimea: The Way Home will be assessed, which was broadcast one year after the intervention in Crimea. Using Von Soest and Grauvogel’s literature on legitimization strategies in post-Soviet authoritarian states, it can be concluded that the Russian regime employs several strategies in order to justify its actions regarding the intervention in Crimea. The main strategies are concerned with President Putin being framed as a charismatic leader of the Russian state, the claim that the Russian regime acted according to procedural mechanisms, and the foundational myth that Russia and Crimea share. Employing these and other claims to legitimacy, the Russian regime aims at justifying its actions and mobilizing public support, not only from the Russian population, but also on an international level.Show less
The purpose of this research is to shed light on the current attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church towards human rights. The analysis of the Russian Orthodox Church's basic teaching on human...Show moreThe purpose of this research is to shed light on the current attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church towards human rights. The analysis of the Russian Orthodox Church's basic teaching on human dignity freedom and rights, an official church document published in 2008 is central to this research. The content reveals a large difference between the Orthodox Christian world view and the Western liberal world view. Whereas Orthodox Christianity defines freedom as freedom from evil, Western liberalism defines freedom as individual autonomy. Connected to this difference in definition is the rejection of the philosophical foundation of Western society by the Russian Orthodox Church. What motivates the church to oppose liberalism is the protection of Christians in their quest for salvation. Taking into account the opinions of other scholars who have analyzed this document, I conclude that its publication points to a strategy adopted by patriarch Kirill. This strategy can be summarized as seeking to enlarge the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church in society, without doing concessions in terms of dogma.Show less
This study focusses on the Khrushchev regime's attempt to reform domestic cooking as a part of its struggle for the communist way of life (kommunisticheskii byt) during the Khrushchev era (1956...Show moreThis study focusses on the Khrushchev regime's attempt to reform domestic cooking as a part of its struggle for the communist way of life (kommunisticheskii byt) during the Khrushchev era (1956—1964). Official Soviet publications (policy documents, cookbooks and women's magazines) are the primary sources to this study. The Khrushchev regime did indeed attempt to reform domestic cooking in order to fit it with communist ideals, such as the liberation of women and the organization of the Soviet population's nutrition according to scientific principles. It, however, also responded to the realities of Soviet daily life (e.g. the persistent shortages of foodstuffs).Show less
In deze scriptie wordt geanalyseerd welke technieken en methodes Tsjechov gebruikt om de innerlijke belevingswereld van het hoogopgeleide vrouwelijke personage vorm te geven in de volgende vier...Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt geanalyseerd welke technieken en methodes Tsjechov gebruikt om de innerlijke belevingswereld van het hoogopgeleide vrouwelijke personage vorm te geven in de volgende vier korte verhalen: "Schoonmoeder-advocaat", "De naamdag", "In eigen honk" en "De bruid".Show less
Deze scriptie behandelt aan de hand van primaire bronnen (waaruit fragmenten zijn overgenomen, en indien nodig vertaald) het leven van vrouwelijke gevangenen in de Goelag in de jaren 1930-'40. Aan...Show moreDeze scriptie behandelt aan de hand van primaire bronnen (waaruit fragmenten zijn overgenomen, en indien nodig vertaald) het leven van vrouwelijke gevangenen in de Goelag in de jaren 1930-'40. Aan de hand van drie hoofdthema's (seksualiteit, het vrouwelijk lichaam en vrouwelijkheid versus ontvrouwelijking) wordt een beschrijving van de elementen gegeven die specifiek voor vrouwen hun ervaring in het kamp vormden. Naast de primaire bronnen zijn secundaire bronnen gebruikt, waaronder in het laatste hoofdstuk enige bronnen die zich richten op gendertheorie. Een terugkerend thema is de kwetsbaarheid of juist de kracht die hun sekse voor de vrouwen teweegbracht.Show less
The nineties in Russia were a hectic period full of change. Gorbachev came to power and implemented new policies such as Glasnost and Perestroika. These policies had an enormous effect on the...Show moreThe nineties in Russia were a hectic period full of change. Gorbachev came to power and implemented new policies such as Glasnost and Perestroika. These policies had an enormous effect on the Russian economy and among other things food shortages appeared. When Gorbachev came to power, people believed in him and the promise of a better future he brought. However when the reforms turned out to have negative economical consequences, people were left disappointed. This national feeling of disappointment was later used by the state to legitimize the change in political course of the new president Putin. This demonizing of the nineties sparked a form of countermemory called ‘Flashmobs’. ‘Flashmobs’ are personal pictures of the nineties posted on social media accounts. This thesis will look at Flashmobs as an expression of reflective nostalgia for the nineties. As a form of democratic protest of people who are saying that the nineties were not all bad, and thereby creating a countermemory against the demonization of the nineties.Show less
This thesis argues that Orthodoxy is being placed as a primus inter pares in Russia's hierarchy of traditional faiths. This is done by analyzing Russia's political, educational and religious...Show moreThis thesis argues that Orthodoxy is being placed as a primus inter pares in Russia's hierarchy of traditional faiths. This is done by analyzing Russia's political, educational and religious dynamics. This objective is pursued by delving into the relationship between President Putin and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow. This is done in order to provide an understanding of how the current relationship between the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church and the President of the Russian Federation is contributing to the perpetuation of a discourse, placing Orthodoxy as a key marker of Russian identity, undermining the country’s secularism. Education is moreover brought into consideration, exploring the way in which Russia’s hierarchy of faiths is made tangible in the country’s state-run schools.Show less
