Contemporary Ukrainian literary studies and the Soviet heritage

Abstract

Current Ukrainian literary studies, within the framework of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, reveal two primary issues: the absence of a suitable academic language for contemporary research, and a lack of awareness of its own historical narrative as a colonized nation. A significant factor contributing to the present circumstances is society’s failure to acknowledge two critical aspects of Ukraine’s history in recent centuries: the experiences of occupation and colonialism. The experiences of occupation and colonization were frequently treated within the Russian imperial, and subsequently Soviet, discourse as a peripheral narrative. This led to the emergence among Ukrainians of a sense of inferiority and being of secondary importance, which in turn influenced the reflective character of scientific approaches within the realm of literary studies. Gaining awareness of one’s colonial history enables the overcoming of colonial trauma through the creation of a personal narrative that reflects authentic historical experiences. Consequently, it is important to develop a new and autonomous methodological framework for Ukrainian literary studies.