“Resilience in the Literary Canon of Ukraine”: Works That Provide Tools to Strengthen Your Foundations
How can one find time to read all the significant books written over more than 2000 years? One should turn to the literary canon, which serves as a guidepost. The canon reflects the challenges of today, the ideas that withstand the test of time, and helps expand the boundaries of one’s worldview.
As mentioned earlier, the Aspen Institute Kyiv conducted a panel discussion, “Resilience in the Literary Canon of Ukraine,” as a part of the XII Book Arsenal.
Yuliya Tychkivska, Executive Director of The Aspen Institute Kyiv and moderator of the panel discussion, highlighted the importance of the topic:
“There are many studies on what is inherent in the literary canon, how flexible it is and capable of transforming under the influence of circumstances and historical events. One of the key traits that Ukrainians need to demonstrate now is resilience. Literature and the experiences it describes are one way to nurture this resilience. Therefore, it is extremely important to consider the literature that can inspire reflections on endurance.”
Speakers discussed the topic of resilience in literature, the influence of the ideological aspect on the formation of the canon and their opposition, writers who can be considered canonical, and examples in literature that inspire perseverance.
“The canon changes, but it gives stability to the culture and, hence, to the nation,” — Vira Ageyeva
Vira Ageyeva, a Ukrainian literary scholar, literary critic, and gender researcher, believes society cannot exist without canons and pantheons. However, these canons transform according to current historical circumstances:
“The canon is a framework, a list of the best texts. This list changes over time, emphasizing the names and texts that are most important in our current problems and needs. The canon changes, but it stabilizes the culture and, hence, the nation.”
To become a canonical writer, one must not only gain recognition from the academic community and literary critics but also influence younger authors, says Ms. Vira:
“Young authors always, metaphorically speaking, ‘kill their literary mothers and fathers,’ trying to surpass them. Therefore, one can enter the canon only by becoming such a symbolic ‘killer,’ overcoming the influence of the classics and, in the process of overcoming, joining the ranks of the masters.”
Vira Ageyeva also spoke about the importance of reviving cultural memory:
“If our novels and poems led to executions and torture, it means they were a great threat to our enemies. We must reclaim our cultural memory.”
“The Resilience of an Individual Breeds the Resilience of a Nation,” — Taras Lyuty
Taras Lyuty, Ukrainian philosopher and writer, emphasized that the resilience of the canon depends on what we invest in this word:
“In socialist realism, there are contrived and artificial calls for courage, but the individual is not considered. It is risky to do the same. Because we can distort the artistic power of literature, which addresses the individual rather than the homogenized masses. Literature is not a set of prescriptions that tell us how to live. Artistic factors always play a greater role, revealing personal freedom.”
Mr. Taras named Hryhorii Skovoroda, Kassian Sakovych, Mykhail Semenko, and Geo Shkurupii as embodiments of resilience in literature.
“For example, Skovoroda opens up a wider space of freedom for greater choice related to the development of individuality. If you see threats to the society of your country, you must nurture resilience, becoming a redoubt, a fortress. And the aggregate of such fortresses will create society’s resilience.”
“The Fact That We Still Have Ukrainian Literature Testifies to Its Resilience,” — Oleksandr Khomenko
Oleksandr Khomenko, cofounder of the MUR art group and the author of the first historical musical “You are Romantica” (“Ty [Romantyka]” — Ukr.), said that Ukrainian culture has gone through a difficult path of formation:
“If we talk about Ukrainian literature, as Lina Kostenko said, ‘all the rollers of history have passed over us.’ The fact that we have Ukrainian classics, popular young authors, and our libraries are filled with Ukrainian books testifies to our resilience.”
According to him, this is evidence of the high level of Ukrainian literature:
“According to the laws of evolution, the strongest survive, and therefore, there is something so qualitative in Ukrainian literature that despite all attempts to destroy it, it lives.”
Mr Oleksandr spoke about his classification of books:
“In the context of resilience, I distinguish between destructive books, which leave an emptiness inside, and constructive ones — which inspire with their example. It seems that if a character has gone through difficult life circumstances, then I can, too. For example, as in Pidmohylny’s novel “The City.”
We thank the speakers for their inspiring and meaningful thoughts on resilience. We hope the Book Arsenal visitors have gleaned ideas on strengthening their foundations in literature.
