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Mikhail Fonov

1st year student, International Economics Program,

Alfred Nobel University, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

Galyna Miasoid

PhD in Pedagogy, Ass.Professor, Lecturer in History of Ukrainian culture course,

Alfred Nobel University, Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

A brief overview of Ukrainian culture history

Ukraine has an extensive history. However the development of any nation never proceeds without cultural development on the main lands of the people’s settlement. The history of culture is a specific subject which rests mainly upon various aspects: political, cultural and religious. Ukrainian culture has both Oriental and Occidental elements and has several periods of its development. First and probably the most significant one that stimulated robust cultural development in the territories of modern Ukraine is the culture of East Slavs in the pre-Christian period, followed by Kyiv Rus culture. Afterwards there was the Ukrainian Baroque Development period. Then the culture of Ukraine in 18th-20th centuries emerged. State independence culture proceeded from 1917 up to 1920. Culture of Soviet Ukraine took its turn and finally the culture of independent Ukraine arrived.

What particularly happened during each of these periods? When Kyiv Rus was established and King Volodymyr (Vladimir) ruled the country, he tried to reform polytheistic paganism, which he considered to be a barrier for Kyiv Rus internal and external policy, to transform it into monotheistic religion type, where Perun was the supreme god. Baptizing of Rus stimulated the development of various arts and branches of culture. Literature, science, education and architecture were among them. “Collection of Svyatoslav” by Deacon John (1073-1076) is the oldest written record of Kiev Rus. It contains both religious texts and works of ancient writers, explaining the rules of human behaviour in different circumstances. The first paintings appeared to match the biblical themes; the “Oranta” icon is a vivid example. The period that appeals to me most is Ukrainian cultural revival of the late 18th – early 20th centuries. It witnessed the birth of literary Ukrainian language. It started with a thorough research on ethnography done by M. Maksymovych. Ivan Kotlyarevsky created his “Eneyida”. Such famous literary critics as H. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, A. Metlynsky, M. Kostomarov lived and worked at that period. Universities were founded in Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkov. Brotherhood of Saints Cyril and Methodius was established which principles were: equal opportunities for all Slavic nations to develop their national language and culture, education for the broad masses of people and unification of all Slavs in the spirit of the Slavophilism of the time in a federated state in which Ukraine would play a leading role. M. Starytsky made a considerable contribution to Ukrainian theatre and dramaturgy. He wrote several original dramatic works as well as librettos for many of Mykola Lysenko's operas. T. Shevchenko and P. Kulish were the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian Romantic movement, which, to a large extent, crystallized modern Ukrainian national identity. The extroverted and passionate poet and artist Shevchenko became Ukraine’s famous national bard. Published in 1840, Taras Shevchenko’s poetry book “Kobzar” became not only the example of exceptional poetic genius of the Ukrainian origin, but also a manifestation of the Ukrainian spirit and the will for freedom.

The development of culture cannot proceed without the development of science. Hence a series of discoveries were made and several significant postulates were set forth. In the sphere of mathematics the theory of stability and equilibrium of mechanical systems movement by O.M. Lyapunov appeared. Chemistry and physics developed to keep pace with the time. The name of I.I. Mechnikov is also worth mentioning. He contributed significantly to the establishment of the world second bacteriological vaccination station in Odessa in 1886. As for music and dance evolution, many of the dynamic and colourful folk dances of Ukraine reflect a rural or Cossack lifestyle. The oldest dances are the khorovod, agricultural dance games associated with the cult of the sun. Introduced in the late 18th century, classical ballet developed under Russian and European influence and attained high standards.

One more period that also should be considered is the Soviet culture period that is believed to have started in 1923. This epoch is characterized by the development of the Soviet empire infrastructure and so the culture main task was to promote all those processes. In 1950s many industrial plants have been constructed. Famous in those days, the film “Vysota” (“the Height”) tells us how the Ural industrial plant has been built. However all the events that we can see in the film took place in Dnieprodzerzhinsk and the plant that appears in this movie is DMKD (now PJSC Dneprovsky Integrated Iron&Steel Works named after Dzershinsky). How great it is to see familiar places in the film that remained in the hearts of millions.

As for literature there is some controversy here. Not every poet or writer wanted to tolerate the mass culture trends that were set by Soviet authorities. Let us take as an example only two of hundreds representatives of the so-called ‘executed renaissance’ in 1930s – the world famous founder of ‘Berezil’ theatre Les Kurbas and the talented playwright Mykola Kulish, to name the few. The former exposed the Soviet regime for what it was, the latter depicted vividly the process of Soviet communes formation and was proclaimed as a bourgeoisie-nationalist playwright. Both were imprisoned to the labour camps to the North of Russia, both were shot dead. Though, they had to drain the cup of sorrow to the dregs. While in the camp Mykola Kulish was encaged like an animal and hold so until he fell into a state of utter mental derangement. It is only in independent Ukraine that they and their life sacrifices were paid tribute.

As for the modern period in the history of Ukrainian culture we can say that it is still on. We are the people who create it. Unfortunately nowadays there are fewer opportunities for culture development than in previous centuries. However the world has changed. New problems arise every day and it is inevitable that they will find their reflection in literature, music, painting and songs.

References:

1.                 http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/literature.asp

2.                 http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/Culture.asp

3.                 Ukraine – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture. / Anna Shevchenko. – Great Britain: Kuperard, 2005. – 168 p.

4.                 History of Ukrainian Culture: Methodical advices for teachers and students. / Compiler: N. Martynenko. – Kharkiv: KNMU, 2011. – 33 p.