Прояви та специфіка бінарних опозицій “свій – чужий” під час Революції гідності (на матеріалі першої книги збірника “Майдан. Пряма мова”)

• Main Author: Oxana Kovalyova
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instytut Filologii Polskiej, Uniwersytet Zielonogórski 2019-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Slavic Studies
• Subjects: oral history; imagology; the rewolution of dignity; "friend of foe" dichotomy; marker
• Online Access: https://slavpoplit-letters.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/12-Kovalova-1.pdf

The “Friend or Foe” conception is an integral component of formation of each society. This binary archetype is the object of study of several scientific disciplines and sometimes appears in their interface. It gives the opportunity to use different methodology to study its manifestations. This article examines this concept during the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine (November 2013 February 2014), its manifestations in the dichotomy of binaries, erasing of their usual limits, uniting the former opponents under the banner of dignity, creating the new “Friend or Foe” binaries etc. The material for the study is the oral histories of participants and witnesses of the Revolution of Dignity, gathered in the first book of “Maidan. Direct speech”. The respondents are the representatives of different ages, professions, religions, social strata etc., thus giving a retrospective picture for research. There are clear “Friend or Foe” oppositions, represented with the negative opposition of Maidan members to police force, government, titushkas, pro-government press; Maidan to Anti-Maidan etc. The oppositions inside the Maydan (for example, different hundreds or locations) have different connotations: “Friend or Stranger” with neutral or positive context. Special attention is given to markers that allowed to recognize “friends” between the Maidan members. The article text is supplemented by quotes from the aforementioned collection of interviews. The style of speech of the 166 respondents is preserved. This research may be useful for the specialists of different humanitarian scientific disciplines.