![Sample our Area Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5922/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Area-Studies.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This article is devoted to the history of one of the most famous symbols of the Revolution of Dignity – the metal frame of an artificial Christmas tree (iolka, as it was called) erected on the Maidan. The study has two purposes: on one hand, to examine the process of transforming a symbol from a verbal one to a substantive one and from something negative to something positive. This process is linked to the protesters’ creation of a new symbolic space and a new symbolic system. On the other hand, the Christmas tree structure is considered as an artifact of the Maidan, the constituent elements of which, having influenced the process of symbol formation, can be analyzed as a distinctive historical source. These elements include the flags, posters, and banners that participants in the Revolution of Dignity affixed to the frame of the Christmas tree. The study of these artifacts, some of which are stored in the National Museum of the Revolution of Dignity, provides indirect information about the protesters and their views on the socio-political processes occurring in the country.
RÉSUMÉ
Cet article est consacré à l’histoire de l’un des symboles les plus célèbres de la Révolution de la dignité – la structure métallique d’un arbre de Noël artificiel (iolka, comme on l’appelait) érigé sur le Maïdan. L’étude a deux objectifs : d’une part, examiner le processus de transformation d’un symbole verbal en un symbole substantif et de quelque chose de négatif en quelque chose de positif. Ce processus est lié à la création par les manifestants d’un nouvel espace symbolique et d’un nouveau système symbolique. D’autre part, la structure de l’arbre de Noël est considérée comme un artefact du Maïdan, dont les éléments constitutifs, ayant influencé le processus de formation du symbole, peuvent être analysés comme une remarquable source historique. Ces éléments comprennent les drapeaux, les affiches et les bannières que les participants à la révolution ont apposés sur la structure de l’arbre de Noël. L’étude de ces objets, dont certains sont conservés au Musée national de la Révolution de la dignité, fournit des informations indirectes sur les manifestants et leurs points de vue sur les processus sociopolitiques en cours dans le pays.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes
1. Shulga, “Consequences of the Maidan.”
2. Goldstone, “Toward a Fourth Generation.”
3. Balyns′ka, “Semiotyko-pravovyi analiz znakiv”; Demchenko, “Mistse ta znachennia znakovo”; Chebaniuk, “Prostir Maidanu”; Shulga, “Consequences of the Maidan.”
4. Demchenko, “Mistse ta znachennia znakovo.”
5. Semeniuk, “Ianukovych pro rozhon Maidana.”
6. “Ianukovich prishel pod ‘iolku’.”
7. “Kyïvs′ka iolka.”
8. “Ianukovych obitsiaie vytiahty Ukraïnu.” The reference to “Leonid Illich” satirically compares Ianukovych with Brezhnev.
9. “U Kyievi pochynaiut′ vstanovliuvaty.”
10. “Hlavnaia elka strani zarzhavela.”
11. “Na Maidani pochaly vstanovliuvaty.”
12. Savyts′kyi, “Ievroialynka.”
13. Paplauskaite, “Ot iolki k elke.”
14. Velychko, “Odyn namet na Maidani.”
15. “Komunal′nyky zbyraiut′sia znyshchyty kopiiu”; Hromadske, “Olena i ‘iolka’.”
16. Slavins′ka, “Illia Strongovs′kyi.”
17. Paplauskaite, “Ot iolki k elke.”
18. Fondy Natsional′noho muzeiu Revoliutsiï Hidnosti (hereafter NMRH), KN1-126, Tk-196; fondy NMRH, KN1-73, Tk1-70; fondy NMRH, KN1-150, Tk1-146; fondy NMRH, KN1-50, Tk1-47; fondy NMRH, KN1-54, Tk1-51; fondy NMRH, KN1-5, Tk1-2; fondy NMRH, NDF-8; fondy NMRH, KN1-207, Pl1-13; fondy NMRH, KN1-25, Tk1-32; fondy NMRH, KN1-190, Pl1-86; fondy NMRH, KN1-192, Pl1-135; fondy NMRH, KN1-172, Pl1-69; fondy NMRH, KN1-178, Pl1-75. The reference to the “Customs/Murky” union is to the Eurasian Customs Union, an antecedent to today’s Eurasian Economic Union, which reunites post-Soviet states in an alternative to the European Union and is of course dominated by Russia.
19. Fondy NMRH, KN1-30, Tk1-18; fondy NMRH, KN2-468, Tk1-192.
20. Fondy NMRH, KN1-152, Tk1-148; fondy NMRH, KN1-49, Tk1-46; fondy NMRH, KN1-53, Tk1-50.
21. Fondy NMRH, KN1-148, Tk1-144; fondy NMRH, KN1-182, Pl1-79; fondy NMRH, KN1-149, Tk1-145; fondy NMRH, KN1-128, Tk1-124; fondy NMRH, KN1-132, Tk1-128; fondy NMRH, KN1-151, Tk1-147; fondy NMRH, KN1-127, Tk1-123; fondy NMRH, KN1-138, Tk1-134.
22. Fondy NMRH, KN1-204, Pl1-10; fondy NMRH, KN1-68, Tk1-65. The “Road Control” website is https://roadcontrol.org.ua.
23. Fondy NMRH, KN1-28, Tk1-16; fondy NMRH, KN1-78, Tk1-75.
24. Fondy NMRH, KN1-172, Pl1-69; fondy NMRH, KN1-197, Pl1-4.
25. Fondy NMRH, KN1-171, Pl1-68.
26. Fondy NMRH, KN1-167, Pl1-137.
27. Fondy NMRH, KN1-77, Tk1-74. The Donbas city of Ienakiieve is Ianukovych’s birthplace.
28. Fondy NMRH, KN1-194, Pl1-2.
29. Fondy NMRH, KN1-93, Tk1-90; fondy NMRH, KN1-163, Pl1-61.
30. Fondy NMRH, KN1-226, Pl1-31; fondy NMRH, KN1-110, Tk1-107.
31. Fondy NMRH, KN1-158, Tk1-153; fondy NMRH, KN1-160, Tk1-155.
32. Fondy NMRH, KN1-66, Tk1-63.
33. Fondy NMRH, KN1-81, Tk1-78; fondy NMRH, KN1-58, Tk1-55. Nihoian, a Ukrainian of Armenian descent, was fatally wounded during clashes on Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Street on 22 January 2014.
34. Fondy NMRH, KN1-29, Tk1-17.
35. Shchepans′ka, “Movnyi obraz,” 69.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Kateryna Romanova
Kateryna Romanova is the Deputy General Director for Research of the National Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred Heroes and the Revolution of Dignity Museum in Kyiv. Dr. Romanova’s research interests include the Ukrainian revolution of 1917–21, the history of mass protests in late modern Ukraine, and museology.