GRANTEE
Overview
The project “Mediated Testimonies...” investigates how Ukrainian children’s picture books serve as social, cultural, and historical documents, capturing the experiences of the war since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Using a cultural-semiotic approach, the project analyzes these books’ narratives to uncover the ideological messages, social myths, and values they convey. The project aims to introduce these picture books as vital cultural artifacts that both shape and reflect the socio-political landscape.
Project Justification
The project uncovers how children’s literature captures and influences collective memory during an armed conflict. By focusing on themes such as heroism, resistance, and displacement, the project not only maps the evolution of these themes but also highlights how children’s picture books serve as a mirror for changes and challenges of a society in crisis, particularly in the context of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle.
Key outcomes of the project include the creation of a comprehensive database that indexes and analyzes children’s picture books about the war, published in Ukraine between 2022 and 2024, offering a valuable resource for researchers and educators. Furthermore, the development of an elective course syllabus, which will be adapted into a free online course, ensures that these insights are accessible to a broader audience, offering a unique perspective on the socio-cultural landscape and identity formation in Ukraine during a period of intense crisis.
Planned Activities and Outcomes
- Develop a comprehensive database (create a detailed database indexing children’s picture books about the war in Ukraine, published between 2022 and 2024, in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Utilizing data visualization tools, this database will be analyzed through a cultural-semiotic approach).
- Publish and disseminate findings (share research results by publishing in reputable scholarly journals and presenting at regional, national, and international conferences; engage in scientific round tables and similar forums to disseminate insights).
- Design and implement an educational course (develop and offer a study course based on the research findings. Initially, this course will be available as an elective syllabus at the Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, with plans to adapt it into a free online course to reach a wider audience).
Target Audience
The project’s outcomes will benefit students, researchers, educators across various social disciplines, and a broader audience interested in documenting and understanding the realities of the war. These findings will enhance appreciation for how children’s picture books contribute to cultural and historical discourse, offering valuable insights into their significance in representing and interpreting conflict.