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.

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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.

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Written Survey Results

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.

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Written Survey Results

Written Survey Results

Written Survey Results

Written Survey Results

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.

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Written Survey Results

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

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Written Survey Results

Reaction to Advertising

Most surveyed people everywhere but in Crimea consider graffiti better than outdoor advertising;

Photo from Lviv http://maidanua.org

Written Survey Results

Written Survey Results

Written Survey Results

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.

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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: [email protected]

Natalka Zubar, Kharkiv, Ukraine Phone: +380 50 401 23 83 Email: [email protected]

Skype: nelliza111 Oleksiy Kuzmenko, Washington, DC Phone: 202 549 20 68 Email: [email protected]

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.

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