Workshop 6: Contemporary Ukrainian Popular Culture

This workshop explored the role of popular culture in Ukraine since the collapse of the USSR to the present day. It brought together leading academics and practitioners to examine music, sport, fashion, internet memes, and other forms of cultural expression as arenas for negotiating national identities, gender norms, emotional regimes, and economic practices. We focused on the role of popular culture in Ukraine's cultural diplomacy and nation branding, especially in the face of Russia's war.

You can find recordings of the talks below by clicking on the presenters' names.

Popular Music

Dmytro Shurov AKA Pianoboy is a songwriter and musician. With bands like Okean Elzy, Esthetic Education, and Zemfira, he helped redefine Ukraine's musical landscape. He has also worked as judge on the Ukrainian X-Factor and as music producer of the Ukrainian selection for the Eurovision song contest. He wrote the music for the popular television show 'Servant of the People' starring Volodymyr Zelensky

Iuliana Matasova is an academic and singer-songwriter. She is a leading expert on Ukrainian popular music. Her current book project on Ukrainian women singer-songwriters and their relation to American women's music challenges established understandings of post-socialist transition in Ukraine

Sport

Alexander Krassyuk is a boxing promoter. He played a vital role in the unstoppable rise of Oleksandr Usyk through the Cruiserweight and Heavyweight boxing divisions. During his time as Usyk's promoter, Krassyuk oversaw Usyk's victories in multi-million pound fights against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, and helped Usyk turn into one of the most memorable athletes of the 21st century

Andy Brassell is a renowned football journalist and author of the best-selling book We Play On: Shakhtar Donetsk's Fight for Ukraine, Football and Freedom

Fashion and Visual Culture

Sonya Kvasha is a creative director and cultural producer. She works at the intersection of arts, media, design, and fashion. Her work and impact have been featured in Forbes, among others

Laada Bilaniuk is a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington. Her fieldwork has included investigation of the language dynamics in post-Soviet Ukraine. More recently, she has published on creativity and resilience in the face of Russia's war, with a particular focus on the role of the internet and memes

Schedule:

9:30am-10am: Coffee and tea (Hilda Besse foyer)

10am-12 midday: Popular Music (Dmytro Shurov and Iuliana Matasova)

12 midday - 1pm: Lunch break (lunch will be provided for speakers; audience members may purchase their lunch at St Antony's dining hall)

1pm-3pm: Sport (Alexander Krassyuk and Andy Brassell)

3pm-3:30pm: Tea and coffee (Hilda Besse foyer)

3:30pm-5:30pm: Fashion and visual culture (Sonya Kvasha and Laada Bilaniuk)