On Tuesday 26 August 2025, Mr Viktor Semenov, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Thailand, was warmly welcomed by Associate Professor Pasuree Luesakul, PhD, Associate Dean for International Affairs, who represented the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University. The event took place in the classroom where “Literature in English Translation” course is taught as part of the Department of English curriculum by Associate Professor Verita Sriratana, PhD.
In a rare and memorable occasion for university staff and students, Mr Viktor Semenov delivered an engaging introductory lecture and joined a lively post-screening discussion of Zinema, the 2024 documentary film directed by Mr Kornii Hrytsiuk. Organised by the Faculty of Arts in collaboration with the Embassy of Ukraine, the screening of Zinema and the subsequent discussion drew a wide audience of students, academics and members of the public.
Mr Hrytsiuk’s film prompted students to raise thoughtful questions, analyse selected scenes and exchange views on pressing issues such as language and discourse of power, freedom of expression, censorship and state-controlled media, the role and formation of propaganda, gender and racial/ethnic stereotypes in cinema, and the images as well as experiences of children in wars and totalitarian regimes across time and cultures. Mr Semenov emphasised the importance of thinking critically and of perceiving reality with “one’s own eyes” instead of passively consuming content online. He encouraged students to exercise independent judgement, a principle that reaches far beyond the immediate context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Designed to broaden the cultural and critical horizons of English majors beyond the traditional Anglo-American focus of the curriculum, the “Literature in English Translation” course introduces students to the works of Ukrainian-born Belarusian Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich, renowned for her commitment to documenting microhistories through the diverse voices of those who have lived through, survived, and continue to bear witness to the legacy of the Soviet Union. Alexievich’s pioneering mission to develop “polyphonic writing” enables her to capture the full spectrum of human experience, especially of life and love, amidst war, violence, catastrophe and monumental tragedy, including the Second World War, the Soviet-Afghan War, and the Chornobyl disaster. While highlighting the everyday heroism of ordinary people, Alexievich’s works also reveal how the Soviet Union shaped collective memory through censorship and grand narratives, traces of which can be seen today in the context of war.
The Department of English wishes to express sincere appreciation to Mr Viktor Semenov, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Thailand, for his presence and meaningful academic contribution. On behalf of our students, we wish to extend our gratitude to colleagues, past and present, at the Embassy of Ukraine, especially Dr Olga Rusova, for their unwavering support of teaching and learning at the Faculty of Arts, and for their role in enriching our wider community. With deep appreciation, we acknowledge Mr Kornii Hrytsiuk’s great generosity in granting the rights for his film to be screened in Thailand for the second time, following its premiere at this year’s European Union Film Festival.
