The Positive Aspect of De-Sovietization: the Compatibility of Narrative and Visuality

In 2022 the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the East-Central European region encouraged a new debate wave concerning Soviet heritage. These discussions were often accompanied by the demolition of Soviet monuments. 2014 events (Crimea) and especially 2022 war in Ukraine marked the processes related to changes in memory politics and rethinking of Soviet heritage in the Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine and other former Soviet bloc states. It has also given an impetus to the study of scientific research related to de-Sovietization 30 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The process of de-Sovietization in Lithuania has been analyzed fragmentarily, mostly by lawyers, and (cultural) historians. Research on monumental practices are dominated by attention dedicated entirely to the negative aspect of de-Sovietization, i.e., the removal of monuments is exclusively examined. The tendency of paying attenton to the negative aspect of de-Sovietization is reflected in other countries of East-Central Europe. Existing research focuses on the removal of monuments, but this symbolic gesture is always accompanied by new monumental practices, emphasizing positive aspect of de-Sovietization.

This generates the main question of the research which includes the analysis of the compatibility of narrative and visuality of the positive aspect of de-Sovietization (construction of new monuments): what are the principles of narrative and visuality of Lithuanian identity formed and represented through monuments after 1990.

The relevance of the research includes filling in the missing gaps in academic literature going beyond the limits of the Lithuanian case as well as developing a methodology applicable to research in other East-Central European countries. In conclusion, the practical-empirical case study of Lithuania will be applied to the development of theoretical (the positive aspect of de-Sovietization) and methodological (synthesis of narrative and visual levels) models, which could be applied to broader research on the countries of the former Soviet bloc.

So, the project will create added value in: 1) the conceptualisation and analysis of the positive dimension of de-Sovietization (introduction of the theoretical concept of positive de-Sovietization); 2) predicting trends in Lithuania and in other states of the Eastern-Central European region; 3) refining the methodology covering the narrative and visual level of monuments applicable in case studies of the Baltic States, Poland, Ukraine and other Central-Eastern European countries.

This project has received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No. S-PD-24-47.