Ukraine Baroque: Beautiful Art Form

We've discussed many aspects of Ukrainian culture (and cultures within Ukraine). The many art forms are also very important to describing Ukrainian Culture. Baroque style is one of those art forms.

According to the Encyclopedia of Ukraine, it emerged during the Cossak period. Certain features are unique to baroque style. The terms Ukraine baroque or Cossak baroque are the given names because of these features. Specifically, Ukraine baroque is a moderate, simple style in comparison to the tradional style Western Europe which is more decorative.

I've posted an example of the baroque style. It is the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv.




I think Ukraine baroque is a beautiful art form. This is not an architecture that I am used to seeing on buildings here in the United States. These buildings are great for photography and seem as if they exist a world away.

Another amazing point I'd like to discuss is the longevity of these structures. This art form came about in the 17th and 18th century. The St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery was built in the middle ages, but parts of it was reconstructed in the 18th century to accomodate baroque style.

It would be interesting to see baroque structures in the United States.

Maidan - Independence Square

Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) is the main square in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. The square was named after Ukraine received its independence in 1991.

The two biggest political protests that have occurred in Ukraine since 1991 have been centrally located in Maidan. In December 2000, the "Ukraine without Kuchma" campaign began rallying in Independence Square. Protesters set up tents on Khreshchatyk Street, the street that runs through Maidan. Oleksandr Omelchenko, the mayor of Kyiv at the time, ordered a major construction project to begin soon after in an attempt to dissolve the protest. This sort of practice is commonly used by local authorities in Ukraine in an attempt to non-violently end protests. In March 2001, the protest took a violent turn when riots began between the police and protesters. Dozens were injured in what some call the most violent riots in Ukraine's history. Soon after the protest ended.

From 2004 to 2005, a series of protests occurred in Maidan that came to be known as the Orange Revolution. Thousands of Ukrainians gathered in the streets near to Maidan to protest the corrupt political system and electoral fraud that prevailed in the 2004 presidential election. The protests, all of which were non-violent, led to an additional round of elections and the opposing candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, won. Unlike the "Ukraine without Kuchma" campaign, the Orange Revolution ended just as peacefully as it began.

Political protests continue to occur in Maidan, but none have reached the level that the "Ukraine without Kuchma" and Orange Revolution did. Maidan is a popular meeting place for Ukrainians and attracts thousands of visitors with its beautiful buildings and scenic landscape, but the true importance of this area lies within the political protests that have occurred here that have shaped Ukraine's political future.

Popular Culture of the Orange Revolution

"Razom nas bahato! Nas ne podolaty!" The rhythmic chant spread through the crowd of hundreds of thousands that filled Kiev's Independence Square on the evening of November 22. "Together, we are many! We cannot be defeated!" Emerging from a sea of orange, the mantra signaled the rise of a powerful civic movement, a skilled political opposition group, and a determined middle class that had come together to stop the ruling elite from falsifying an election and hijacking Ukraine's presidency.

Razom Nas Bahato, Nas Ne Podolaty is a hip-hop song by Green Jolly, which became the unofficial anthem of the Ukrainian Orange Revolution in 2004. The literal translation of the song title is "Together we are many! We cannot be defeated!". The lyrics of the song follow below:

Together we are many
We cannot be defeated.

Falsifications. No!
Machinations. No!'
Little Understandings'. No!No to lies!
Yushchenko, Yushchenko!is our President.
Yes! Yes! Yes!

Together we are many
We cannot be defeated.
We aren't beasts of burden.. We aren't goats.
We are of Ukrainesons and daughters
It's now or never
enough of waiting

Prior to the Orange Revolution, the people of Ukraine did not have much to rally together around. Overall, it is fair to generalize that national-democrat Yushchenko articulated a largely civic nationalism program which encouraged people to act collectively against the abuse of rights and freedoms and to the imperial influence of external forces. The civic nationalism motive of the protesters was symbolically represented by the most popular revolutionary song “Together we are many”, which encouraged people to imagine their larger community context and not to be afraid of supporting the democratic movement. Nationalism of Yushchenko supporters should largely be viewed in the sense of the imagined community.

With the help of the popular culture of the Orange Revolution, Ukraine was able to unite for one of the first times ever. GreenJolly helped the people unite through the chant “Together we are many. We cannot be defeated.” Besides helping the people of Ukraine tonight, the song brought attention to the situation from people abroad and which helped gain support for their cause. When else has popular culture been able to unite a country such as this has? Do you guys think that the revolution would have been as successful without the musicians and writers that helped make a little gathering into an international phenomenon? I am interested in your opinions…

http://orangeukraine.squarespace.com/journal/2004/11/29/razom-nas-bahato.html

http://www.wumag.kiev.ua/index2.php?param=pgs20052/98

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