Monuments of the Second World War in the Postwar Ukraine: Planning and Everyday Experience

During the seminar, Iryna Sklokina will offer for discussion the synopsis of her book "World War II Monuments in Postwar Ukraine: Planning and Everyday Life."

This book project offers a look at monuments not only from the perspective of ideological and political changes in the postwar decades, but primarily from the perspective of postwar reconstruction and urban planning, the formation of a culture of remembrance in communities, and everyday practices of using monuments as public places. This study draws attention to the interaction of both professionals (officials, architects) and groups with different wartime experiences, relatives of the deceased, for whom participation in the creation and visitation of monuments was important. This is not only about visiting within the framework of official celebrations, but also in the context of tourism, recreation, personal rituals, as well as forgetting and invisibility.

The focus on material aspects (treatment of the remains of the dead, aspects of financing and resources, involvement of physical labor, policing of memorial space and conflict in everyday use) helps to contextualize monuments not only in the symbolic space of the city, but also in the history of everyday life.

This Seminar will be held in a workshop format. Researchers are invited to discuss scholarly projects, research at various stages of development, and completed research that is being prepared for publication.

Participation in the Urban Seminar requires preliminary reading and discussion of the researcher's text. If you would like to join the Seminar, please email Maryana Mazurak (m.mazurak@lvivcenter.org), and we will send you the materials in advance.

Credits

Cover Image: Larysa Tukalo's family archive, Kharkiv