Elective course: Reception of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the cultural discourse of CEE 3224-PRZEDF98
The course focuses on the analysis of representations and interpretations of the Russo-Ukrainian War in the cultural discourse of Central and Eastern Europe. It examines the political, social, and cultural transformations triggered by the conflict that began in 2014 and entered its full-scale phase in 2022. Particular attention will be paid to the ways in which wartime experiences shape collective memory, national identities, intercultural relations, and new forms of public communication.
The course will analyze literary texts, feature and documentary films, theatre performances, music, media materials, journalism, social media content, and other forms of contemporary culture. The primary focus will be on examples from Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, the Baltic states, and the Czech Republic. The course adopts an interdisciplinary approach, drawing on literary studies, cultural studies, media studies, imagology, memory studies, and trauma studies.
Course topics:
1. The Russo-Ukrainian War as a Culture-Forming Event in Central and Eastern Europe.
2. Collective Memory, Cultural Trauma, and the Experience of War.
3. “Self”, “Other”, and “Stranger”: Imagological Images of Ukraine, Russia, and the West in Cultural Discourse.
4. Ukrainian Literature in Response to the War: From 2014 to the Full-Scale Invasion.
5. The War in the Literature of Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany, and the Baltic States.
6. Documentary Literature, War Reportage, and Testimonies of War.
7. Documentary Cinema and the Russo-Ukrainian War.
8. The War in Feature Films from Ukraine, Poland, and Other Countries of the Region.
9. Russian and Belarusian Culture in the Context of the War: Between Propaganda, Silence, and Resistance.
10. Documentary and Socially Engaged Theatre in Times of War.
11. Music as a Tool of Resistance, Solidarity, and Community Building.
12. Social Media, Internet Memes, and New Forms of Wartime Communication.
13. Propaganda, Disinformation, and Counter-Narratives in the Media Space of Central and Eastern Europe.
14. Refugees, Migration, and Images of Ukraine in the Cultures of Host Countries.
15. Regional and European Identity and Cultural Perspectives after the War.
Classes will be conducted in the form of discussions based on assigned readings, films, audiovisual materials, or materials presented by the instructor and/or students.
Student workload includes:
Classroom participation – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
Preparing for classes – 30 hours (1 ECTS)
Course coordinators
Mode
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: the graduate knows and understands:
- the complex nature of cultural phenomena occurring in Central and Eastern Europe in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War, with particular emphasis on the processes of cultural memory, identity transformations, and intercultural relations in the countries of the region (K_W09);
Skills: graduates are able to:
- search for, select, analyse and use the information they need from various sources (K_U01);
- formulate and analyse research problems, select research methods and tools, and conduct, under the supervision of an academic advisor, simple research in the field of cultural studies and related disciplines concerning the Russo-Ukrainian War, processes of cultural memory, identity transformations, and intercultural relations in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe (K_U02);
- develop their research skills, independently acquire knowledge with the support of an academic advisor, formulate ideas effectively, and present research results in oral and written form (K_U03);
- use theoretical approaches, research paradigms and concepts specific to cultural studies in typical professional situations (K_U04);
- conduct a critical analysis of cultural texts related to the Russo-Ukrainian War and its reception in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe; identify various types of cultural production (literature, film, theatre, music, media and social media), interpret them, and compare different representations of the war and its consequences, taking into account diverse cultural, historical and identity-based perspectives within the region (K_U05);
- draw on acquired knowledge to formulate and logically construct oral and written statements concerning the cultural, social and political aspects of the Russo-Ukrainian War and its reception in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe; use arguments based on the analysis of cultural texts, take into account different interpretative perspectives, and respond to the views of other participants in discussion (K_U06);
- independently prepare oral and written presentations in Polish and in a selected foreign language on the Russo-Ukrainian War and its reception in the cultural discourse of Central and Eastern Europe, using appropriate sources and tools of cultural analysis, present the results of their work to a group, and participate in discussions on the issues under consideration (K_U08).
Social competences: graduates are prepared to:
- critically evaluate their knowledge, continuously develop their competencies and expand their understanding of the cultural, social and political consequences of the Russo-Ukrainian War and their reflection in the cultures of Central and Eastern European countries (K_K01);
- communicate effectively and function in society, including culturally diverse environments; work in a team, cope with typical
professional situations, verify their views through evidence-based discussion, and critically assess their own knowledge (K_K02);
Assessment criteria
The organization of classes:
According to The detailed rules of studies at the Faculty of Applied Linguistics (The Resolution No. 114 by the Faculty of Applied Linguistics Board of 19 December, 2017):
1) Attendance at all classes, covered by the plan, shall be compulsory (§ 9 (2)).
2) It is not possible to have a retake if the reason of failing the credit was noncompliance with the requirement to participate in them. In such a case a student can be conditionally registered in an successive stage of study and can repeat the failed course.
3) In case of 30 hours in semester, 2 absences without justifying are acceptable. Missed classes must be made up in accordance with the requirements of the lecturer. The requirements are provided by the lecturer during the first class.
Assessment methods and criteria
The course ends with an assessment of the knowledge acquired by students during the course. Classes will be conducted in the form of discussions on assigned readings or material presented by the lecturer. Active participation in the discussion means substantive participation in at least 50% of the classes. The oral examination will consist of two questions randomly selected by the student from the material discussed in class during the semester.
The final grade will be based on:
- active and substantive participation in classes (50%);
- the presentation on a topic assigned by the lecturer (50%).
Grading scale:
0%–49% – 2
50%–60% – 3
61%–70% – 3+
71%–80% – 4
81%–90% – 4+
91%–100% – 5
Additional knowledge – 5+
Bibliography
Source texts and videos:
Chleba z minového pole: Reportáže z Ukrajiny, Slovart CZ 2022.
Forro T., Zpěv sirén: Putování do srdce ukrajinské války, Absynt 2025.
Velký vlastenecký výlet (2025), reż. Robin Kvapil.
Adler S., Die Ukraine und wir: Deutschlands Versagen und die Lehren für die Zukunft, Christoph Links Verlag 2022.
Eine Deutsche im Ukraine-Krieg: Das Fronttagebuch der Savita Diana Wagner, Herder Verlag GmbH 2026.
Stavrou O., Russlands Krieg gegen die Ukraine: Worum geht es?, Wien 2024.
Weigandt A., Für euch würde ich kämpfen: Mein Bruch mit dem Pazifismus, 2025.
Fingerova I., Zugwind, 2026.
Der lange Februar, reż. Michael Stadnik, 2023–2025.
Klumbytė N., Ukraine: Stories of Occupation, 2026.
Mariupolis 2 (2022), reż. Mantas Kvedaravičius.
Костюченко Е., Моя любимая страна, 2023.
Свидетель (2023), reż. Dawid Daunaszwili.
Позывной „Пассажир” (2024), reż. Ilia Kazankow.
Photophobia (2023), reż. Ivan Ostrochovsky, Pavol Pekarcik.
Szczerek Z., Wymyślone miasto Lwów, Warszawa 2022.
Twardoch Sz., Null, Warszawa 2025.
Wyrwał M., Psy na ruskich. Polacy walczący z Rosją w Ukrainie, Kraków 2024.
Skąd dokąd (2023), reż. Maciej Hamela.
Ludzie (2024/2025), reż. Maciej Ślesicki.
Żadan S., Internat, Czarne, 2019.
Duda T., Córeczka, KEW, 2023.
Zabużko O., Najdłuższa podróż, Agora, 2022.
Amelina W., Patrząc na kobiety, patrząc na wojnę, Czarne, 2025.
Donbass (2018), reż. Sergey Loznitsa.
20 Days in Mariupol (2023), reż. Mstysław Czernow.
Буча (2024), reż. Stanislav Tiunov.
Донька (2024), reż. Egor Olesov.
2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025), reż. Mstysław Czernow.
Scholarly works and elaborations:
Alexander Jeffrey C., Znaczenia społeczne. Studia z socjologii kulturowej, Wydawnictwo Nomos, Kraków 2010.
Assmann J., Pamięć kulturowa, Warszawa 2008.
Bauman Z., Obcy u naszych drzwi, Wydawnictwo Naukowe PWN, Warszawa 2016.
Demel G., Czyj – swój? Czyj – obcy? Swoi, obcy i wrogowie w filmowych narracjach o wojnie ukraińsko-rosyjskiej przed 24 lutego 2022 r., „Kultura i społeczeństwo”, 2023, nr 3, s. 283–313.
Leerssen J., Imagologia: o zastosowaniu etniczności do nadawania światu sensu [w:] „Porówniania”, 2017, nr 2(21), s. 10, https://pressto.amu.edu.pl/index.php/p/article/view/13943/13637.
Obraz współczesnej Ukrainy w mediach w Polsce, red. Iwona Hofman, Justyna Maguś, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Marii Curie-Sklodowskiej, Lublin 2014.
Pavlyshyn M., Ukrainian Literature. A Wartime Guide for Anglophone Readers, Cambridge University Press 2025.
Riabczuk M., Ukraina. Syndrom postkolonialny, Kolegium Europy Wschodniej, 2022.
Szerszeń T., Być gościem w katastrofie, Warszawa 2024.
Turner V., Proces rytualny. Struktura i antystruktura, Warszawa 2010.
Zamojska E., Inny jako obcy. Imigranci w polskim dyskursie publicznym i edukacyjnym, „Studia edukacyjne”, 2013, nr 3.
Sontag S., Widok cudzego cierpienia, Kraków 2010.
Zychowicz P., Ukraińcy. Opowieści niepoprawne polityczne, Poznań 2022.
Other teaching materials (especially audiovisual) will be provided by the lecturer.