Lecture: “Quiet Joy – Loud Laughter: Life-Affirming Dominants of Ukrainian Literature”
On June 24 at 18:30, as part of the public program accompanying the “Joy” exhibition, we invite you to explore the history of Ukrainian literature through the prism of two emotional impulses: life-affirming laughter and quiet, philosophical joy.
From Kotlyarevsky’s burlesque, Rudansky’s witty spivomovky, and Ostap Vyshnya’s humorous sketches to Poderviansky’s satire and contemporary stand-up comedy — we will talk about laughter as a bold manifesto of vitality that ultimately testifies to the indestructibility of our nation.
The lecture aims to demonstrate that Ukrainian writing is far grander and more diverse than the narrow perception of it as a lore of serfs, unwed mothers, and national grievances. Through the texts of renowned authors, we will discover how Ukrainian literature embraces not only therapeutic laughter but also a space of quiet, philosophical joy, where Shevchenko’s poem “A Cherry Orchard by the House…” serves as the ultimate metaphor for this state of being.
It is highly likely that this lecture will shed an entirely unexpected light on many familiar classics for the audience.
The event will take place on the 3rd floor of the PinchukArtCentre, within the exhibition space. Admission is free with prior registration.
Language of the Event: Ukrainian
About the Speaker:
Rostyslav Semkiv is a literary scholar, publisher, and author of books on literature. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Literary Studies at NaUKMA and the Director of the Smoloskyp Publishing House.
He lectures on literature and creative writing for platforms such as LITOSVITA and Cultural Project, and co-hosts the popular literary video blog “Shaleni Avtorky” (“Wild Authors”) alongside Professor Vira Ageyeva.
He is the author of several bestselling books on literature, including “How the Classics Wrote,” “How to Read the Classics,” “How to Read Ukrainian Classics,” and “Adventures of Ukrainian Literature.”
