‘PLACE OF MEMORY’ – CINEMA «UKRAINE»: ARTISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE PROTEST OF THE SIXTIERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17721/folia.philologica/2024/8/3Keywords:
novel, contemporary authors, “place of memory”, Soviet pastAbstract
The article is devoted to the problem of postcolonial memory in the artistic interpretation of contemporary Ukrainian prose. Some aspects are based on the theory of ‘memory sites’, which suggests a close study of the reference points in the experience of the past. It is stated that a certain object becomes a ‘place of memory’ due to the significant events and personalities involved in it. In this regard, the specific features of depicting a place that became memorable for Ukrainians in the context of anti-Soviet confrontation during the totalitarian era are studied. This place is the Ukraine Cinema in Kyiv, where a public protest against repressions in the USSR took place at the premiere of the film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” on 4 September 1965. The literary analysis is based on the novels by S. Dziuba and A. Kirsanov “The Forbidden” and T. and O. Lytovchenko “The Book of Stagnation”. As the writers recreated the event-fact, describing its real chronology and the actions of specific individuals (Ivan Dziuba, Vasyl Stus, Viacheslav Chornovil, Serhii Parajanov, etc.), the study referenced the discourse of fiction documentary. It is noted that the authors of both novels focused on recreating the audience, emphasizing its exceptional condition – living through a protest action rather than watching a film. The concentration of main events in one space allowed the writers to show emotional moments, the behaviour of the main characters, the reaction of the audience, as well as to create symbolism of iconic phrases, and to emphasise visual and sound details. The study points to individual authorial approaches to the depiction of the ‘place of memory’ – the Ukraine Cinema at a very significant moment. S. Dziuba, A. Kirsanov, T. and O. Lytovchenko found their own angles, used the intertext in their own way, and built plots with various amounts of speculation. The issue of artistic interpretation of postcolonial memory in contemporary prose is still relevant. Further research is needed into the writers' coverage of “places of memory”, value signs that connect one with one’s past and encourage the cognition of identity.
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