Courses

Spring 2021 Courses in Ukrainian Studies

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UKRAINE: POWER POLITICS AND DIPLOMACY

Regional Institute

U8755

Points: 3

Tuesday, 2:10PM-4:00PM

Method of Instruction: Online only

Instructor: Valerii Kuchynskyi

Ukraine is at war, the country is in turmoil. What are the chances of the new Government to reach a "peaceful solution" in the Donbass, eradicate corruption, improve economic situation and implement reforms? Is there a future for the Minsk accords? What's the significance of the Normandy Summit? These and other issues, including behind- the- scene- politics, power struggle and diplomatic activities, are dealt with in the newly revised course delivered by a career diplomat. The course is aimed at both graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

Ambassador Kuchynskyi can be reached at: vk2187@columbia.edu

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AGENT OF CHANGE: UKRAINIAN ART BETWEEN REVOLUTIONS

Slavic

GU4121

Points: 3

Tuesday and Thursday, 2:40PM-3:55PM

Method of Instruction: Online only

Instructor: Olena Martynyuk

The course will trace the appearance of the avant-garde on the territory of the Russian Empire with a focus on Ukrainian art as compared to Russian. Examining the art aspiring not only to reflect but to alter the reality originating both in the center and the periphery, the class will explore the array of strategies employed by art for that end. The foundational theories of avant-garde, non-conformism, and dissident art will be studied alongside the most celebrated and influential examples of innovative and radical art from the region. Beginning with socially minded realist practices, the class will consider the impact of the collapse of the Russian and then Soviet Empires on art and reflect on how the societal upheavals affect the understanding of the function and the definition of art. The appearance of Socialist Realism and the versions of opposition to it will be studied, from dissident undermining to neglect and escapism of the second avant-gardes. Ukrainian art of recent decades will be studied in the context of several revolutions (Granite, Orange, Euromaidan) that defined its contemporary history. The class is offered for graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Knowledge of Russian or Ukrainian is not required.

Olena Martynyuk can be reached at om2327@columbia.edu

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ELEMENTARY UKRAINIAN II

Slavic

UN1102

Points: 4

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 11:40AM-12:55PM

Method of Instruction: Online only

Instructor: Yuri Shevchuk

Designed for students with little or no knowledge of Ukrainian. Basic grammar structures are introduced and reinforced, with equal emphasis on developing oral and written communication skills. Specific attention to acquisition of high-frequency vocabulary and its optimal use in real-life settings.

Dr. Shevchuk can be reached at: sy2165@columbia.edu

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INTERMEDIATE UKRAINIAN II

Slavic

UN2102

Points: 4

Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:10AM-11:25AM

Method of Instruction: Online only

Instructor: Yuri Shevchuk

Prerequisites: UKRN W1102 or the equivalent. Reviews and reinforces the fundamentals of grammar and a core vocabulary from daily life. Principal emphasis is placed on further development of communicative skills (oral and written). Verbal aspect and verbs of motion receive special attention.

Dr. Shevchuk can be reached at: sy2165@columbia.edu

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ADVANCED UKRAINIAN THROUGH LITERATURE, MEDIA, AND POLITICS II

Slavic

GU4007

Points: 3

Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:40pm-3:55pm

Method of Instruction: Online only

Instructor: Yuri Shevchuk

This content-based modular course is designed to develop students’ capacity to use the Ukrainian language as a research and communication tool in a variety of specialized functional and stylistic areas that include literary fiction, scholarly prose, printed and broadcast journalism. It is designed for students with interest in the history, politics, literature, culture and other aspects of contemporary Ukraine, as well as those who plan to do their research, business or reporting about Ukraine. The course is taught in Ukrainian. Being equivalent to an advanced language course, the proposed course will further develop students’ proficiency in grammar to enable them to narrate and describe in major time frames with adequate command of aspect. The study of grammar includes patterns of word formation, participle, gerund, an in-depth study of such difficult subjects as verbal aspect, verbs of motion, stylistic and functional stratification of language, communicative sentence perspective.

Dr. Shevchuk can be reached at: sy2165@columbia.edu

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