Anthologies as Archive of War: Evolution of War Narratives in Contemporary Ukrainian Literature

Objective

The project Anthologies as Archive of War: Evolution of War Narratives in Contemporary Ukrainian Literature aims to examine the development of war narratives in Ukrainian anthologies in the aftermath of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian literature has responded to this historical rupture with a significant number of publications that bear witness to the trauma of war, while also documenting the profound cultural transformations brought about by Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. Within this literary response, anthologies hold particular significance as they serve as archives of collective memory in times of war. By bringing together the voices of multiple authors, these publications represent a collective narrative of war trauma within Ukrainian society and offer a unique perspective for tracing the evolution of literature and culture under conditions of wartime crisis.The project will explore the representation of war narratives, the development of cultural and societal values, literary genres and topics, and the specific language employed in war-related texts. Drawing on approaches from war literature studies, memory studies, and trauma studies, it will also pay particular attention to gender dimensions of war by analyzing anthologies authored by women writers. This emphasis seeks to amplify the often-underrepresented female perspective and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of contemporary war literature. Ultimately, the project aims to deepen scholarly insight into how literature and culture respond to and evolve during ongoing wars, positioning Ukraine as a critical case study within the broader contexts of East European and European cultural and war studies.