Clemson faculty present Ukraine film and conversation series to illuminate country’s history

Faculty across Clemson University’s College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities will present, “Invasion of Ukraine: An Interdisciplinary Colloquium” March 30–April 14.

The series of seven conversations and film teach-ins with international faculty members in English, languages, world cinema, history, geography and architecture will offer cultural and historical insight into the current conflict in Ukraine.

“This urgent conversation has been happening in the CAAH hallways for a few weeks now,” said Associate Professor Aga Skrodzka, a member of Clemson’s world cinema and English faculty, who spearheaded the series. “We’ve created the colloquium as a way to include everyone in the dialogue about what is happening and has been happening in Ukraine. The situation is changing very fast, has expanding global ramifications, and we want to keep up with it in ways that are constructive for our students and members of our increasingly international community.”

This series is not only an opportunity to educate ourselves about Ukraine and surrounding issues but also a demonstration of the unique contributions the arts and humanities make.

Nicholas Vazsonyi, Dean, College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities

The event is sponsored by Clemson’s World Cinema program, the Humanities Hub, the School of Architecture, the Department of Languages, the Department of English and the Department of History and Geography. Each event will be held either in-person at 100 Hardin Hall or virtually on Zoom. All of the events will be free and open to the public.

“This series is not only an opportunity to educate ourselves about Ukraine and surrounding issues but also a demonstration of the unique contributions the arts and humanities make,” said Nicholas Vazsonyi, Dean of the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities. “In a world where information is flattened by propaganda wars, 15-second video bites, social media pontification, and sensationalist news media, art has the potential to convey layers, contour, perspectives­—in other words, complexity. It also connects us with the individual human impact of historic moments.”

When and Where

March 30 (Wednesday): “Donbass”(2018, Dir. Sergei Loznitsa)

Film Teach-in with Steven Marks (History) and Luca Barattoni (Languages/ World Cinema)

100 Hardin Hall, 4:00 – 6:30 PM

April 1 (Friday): “This Rain Will Never Stop” (2020, Dir. Alina Gorlova)

Film Teach-in with Maziyar Faridi (English/ World Cinema) and Aga Skrodzka (English/ World Cinema)

100 Hardin Hall, 4:00 – 6:30 PM

April 6 (Wednesday): “Becoming Zelenskyy: Media, Politics, and Resistance.”

In Conversation with Lucian Ghita (English) and Johannes Schmidt (Languages)

100 Hardin Hall, 4:00 – 5:30 PM

April 7 (Thursday): “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”(1965, Dir. Sergei Parajanov)

Film Teach-in with Olga Volkova (Languages/ World Cinema) and Aga Skrodzka (English/ World Cinema)

100 Hardin Hall, 5:00 – 7:30 PM

April 12 (Tuesday): “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange” (2020, Dir. Iryna Tsilyk)

Film Teach-in with Jamie Rogers (English) and Gabriela Stoicea (Languages/ World Cinema)

100 Hardin Hall, 5:00 – 7:00 PM

April 13 (Wednesday): “Geopolitical Mapping and Ukraine: Using Virtual Reality to Shape Reality”

In Conversation with William Terry (Geography/ World Cinema)

Virtual Event (Zoom registration here), 5:30 – 6:30 PM

April 14 (Thursday): “Stolen History, Stolen Heritage: Ukraine, Eastern Europe, and Russian Colonialism.”

In Conversation with Kate Malaia (Architecture, Mississippi State) and Andreea Mihalache (Architecture)

Virtual Event (Zoom registration here), 4:00 – 5:30 PM

About CAAH

Established in 1996, the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities celebrates a broad and unique combination of disciplines—Architecture; Landscape Architecture; City Planning; Construction Science and Management; Real Estate Development; Visual Arts; Performing Arts; English; History; Languages; Philosophy; Religion; and interdisciplinary studies—that enable Clemson University students to imagine, create and connect. With its expanding network of campuses around the globe, CAAH strives to unite the pursuit of knowledge with the practical application of that knowledge to build a better and more beautiful world.