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The next presentation in the Study of Religions Research Seminar Series on: Woman or Witch? Negotiating Gender Roles and Redefining Witchcraft in Wartime Ukraine
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Taking place 6-7pm on MS Teams on Wednesday 12 March 2025 with Iryna Stavynska
This presentation will explore the portrayal of witches in Ukrainian wartime culture (music video, film, artwork, poetry, and memes) created in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and analyse how the idea of the witch from folklore and medieval trial records as "the enemy within" (a Ukrainian woman bringing harm to other Ukrainians) transforms into an image of a supernatural protector of the Ukrainian people against an external threat (Russian soldiers). It will also examine how these narratives become a place where the role of women in war is negotiated, and how they celebrate strength, wit, and resilience of Ukrainian women in the face of the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Iryna Stavynska is a Ukrainian folklorist currently based in Ireland and an affiliated researcher with UCC Study of Religions Department. She holds an MA in Folklore from the University of Oregon, USA, and a BA in Japanese from Kyiv National Linguistic University, Ukraine. Her research interests include the intersection between folklore, popular culture, and supernatural belief, and the folklore of Ukrainian resistance. She is a recipient of multiple grants and awards, including the Fulbright, the Irish Research Council, and the Japanese government (MEXT) scholarships and awards.
All Welcome To Join Us!
MS Teams
Meeting ID: 382 956 201 12
Passcode: ou3b8nW7