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Symbolic Violence in Cities of Contemporary Ukraine. Preliminary results of research in Simferopol, Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv How the chaotic development of common public space in the cities transforms into the street art.
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Symbolic Violence in Cities of Contemporary Ukraine Preliminary results of research in Simferopol, Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv How the chaotic development of common public space in the cities transforms into the street art. How the individual acts of hooliganism evolve into well planned brutal provocations. Photo from downtown Kharkiv. Nazi swastika is embedded into F-word in Russian. Making the combination really unique so far. http://top.maidanua.org
Research Details The situation in four cities of Ukraine was compared. The expediency for using graffiti and murals as a weak signal of social tensions in urban environment was substantiated. The analysis given for several factors that increase symbolic violence, in particular the mistakes in urban planning and public space usage. The sociological concept of symbolic violence by P. Bourdieu was used as main theoretical background; the practical instruments include the methods of psychology and visual anthropology. Original research methodology was developed. The research used three main instruments: graphic images sample analysis, focus-groups and written survey. http://top.maidanua.org
Hate Speech in Simferopol Crimean Tatars in Simferopol agreed most that graffiti should be totally banned. Photo from Simferopol. Nazi swastika over a portrait of Crimean Tatar WWII hero. We have polled two groups in Simferopol – representative population and Crimean Tatars only. Crimean Tatars were deported from their homeland in 1944 due to alleged cooperation with Nazis. They are returning back home and tensions with other nationalities exist. http://top.maidanua.org
Street… something in Lviv Street in Lviv is named after a famous Ukrainian movie director of Armenian origin (lower right sign). For some reason people decided to add more labels directors’ names. http://maidanua.org
Street Art in Kharkiv People living in Kharkiv are most loyal to graffiti. This city also has lowest number of observed signs of hatred. Decaying street portrait of iconic Ukrainian hero – poet Taras Shevchenko http://maidanua.org
Reaction to Advertising Most surveyed people everywhere but in Crimea consider graffiti better than outdoor advertising; Photo from Lviv http://maidanua.org
Research Summary • Graffiti and street art not approved by the authorities could be considered a weak signal of social tensions, that precedes stronger signals as protests or violence. • Common issues for all 4 cities are: • Underrepresentation of some local groups in local governments. • Non transparent procedure of distribution of land ownership rights. • Chaotic city development, absence of professional development plans. • Chaotic city landscaping, including highly annoying outdoor visual and audio advertising. • Political radicals activity. • Wars of youth subcultures, mostly in symbolic space. • All these common problems should addressed ASAP, otherwise we could expect degradation of city infrastructure, ecological problems and marginalization of large social groups. Local communities should be involved in local governments more to harmonize the city development. http://top.maidanua.org
The Beauty or the Beast? Graffiti wars were detected everywhere. Who will win? Roses or …? Photo from Kharkiv http://maidanua.org
More Info Contact Maidan Viktor Pushkar, Kyiv, Ukraine Email: pushkarua@gmail.com Natalka Zubar, Kharkiv, Ukraine Phone: +380 50 401 23 83 Email: pani@maidan.org.ua Skype: nelliza111 Oleksiy Kuzmenko, Washington, DC Phone: 202 549 20 68 Email: oleksiy.kuzmenko@gmail.com Skype: oleksiykuzmenko Our site in English http://world.maidanua.org • Our site in Ukrainian http://maidanua.org Project was made possible due to generous support of the International Renaissance Foundation with organizational assistance of the Black Sea Partnership Netowork. http://top.maidanua.org