September 2, 2008

Dr. Hlynka and I are both busy with classes beginning and personal engagements. Editing process postponed until further notice:

• draft ready
• title submitted to CUCS for St. Andrew's Award Ceremony

DAY 95 August 29, 2008

Report draft ready to submit for editing.

DAY 82 August 12, 2008

Met with Dr. Hlynka to discuss the mock-up of the report:

• Lay out agreed upon
• Content discussed
• Title and purpose decided

DAY 81 August 11th, 2008

• Procured biographical information for Pavlo Macenko wiki:
  
• Typed it up
• Posted on Macenko divine liturgy sheet music wiki

+ Read an interesting article on magic and the Ukrainian wedding in Ukraine and Canada              by Svitlana Kukharenko. It turns out Ukrainian Canadians and Ukrainians are quite different creatures after all!

Looking forward to the meeting on Tuesday.

DAY 68 July 28, 2008

Today I completed the Macenko divine liturgy sheet music scanning and began to experiment with the formatting of the photo albums on the Macenko wiki. 

One frustration so far is that it seems impossible to control the order of the sheets in the Wetpaint Wiki photo albums. Previously when moving selection-by-selection I was able to keep the pages in order by working in reverse. Now however, there seems to be some new formatting on the web site that aims to keep photos in order, but there is some kind of glitch in the way from making that a reality. Pages 36-18 go in reverse order, but then it switches to the correct order from 17-1, so it goes from 19 to 17, then 18, and the rest come in almost randomly. Perhaps if I upload the photos again in a specific order I can fix this problem.

Meeting with Dr. Hlynka August 12th, from 12-4pm. 

By this time the Macenko wiki will be posted and the contents of my session-end report can be discussed.

DAY 66 July 24, 2008

Still scanning Divine Liturgy sheet music and working, scanning and working. I will provide an update when it is ready to be posted on the Macenko wiki in full.

DAY 60 July 16, 2008

• Began reading articles from Dr. Klymasz.
• Examined features of Microsoft Office online - no student copy yet.

DAY 59 July 15, 2008

• Received Ukrainian Canadian articles in the mail from Dr. Klymasz

DAY 58 July 14, 2008

• Posted Selection#2 of divine liturgy sheet music onto Macenko wiki.

DAY 57 July 10, 2008

• Second piece of Macenko divine liturgy sheet music ready for wiki. I'll put it up sheet-by-sheet on Monday.
  

DAY 56 July 9, 2008

• Spoke with Dr. Klymasz about the project and had some new thoughts about format and the difference between Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian Canadian culture.
  

DAY 55 July 8, 2008

The Macenko sheet music did not scan any better with the adjustments that I made. The quality is still less than desirable. I am experimenting with the second selection before posting it on the Macenko wiki.

DAY 54 July 7, 2008

Today: busy work.

• Scanning Macenko sheet music selection.
  
• Thinking about the Ukrainian Festivals of Canada wiki potential.

DAY 53 July 4, 2008

Ukrainian Canadian Identity & the Mohyla Lecture Series

As promised, more details about my findings in the reading I have been doing related to Ukrainian Canadian identity via the Heritage Press Mohyla lecture series publications. Yesterday I read Janice Julyk-Keefer (No.2 in series), and today I read Myrna Kostash's All of Baba's Great Grandchildren: Ethnic Identity in the Next Canada (No. 1 in the series). Both of these women have interesting things to say about the nature of the Ukrainian Canadian hyphen, the Ukrainian Canadian woman, and the nature of addressing oneself as an "ethnic" other in Canadian society. I will focus on Kostash for the moment, while it is fresh.

Kostash argues that the hyphen is ambivalent, confrontational, and restlessly exploratory. The possibility that Ukrainian Canadians aim to find belonging in a place which is in the process of being redefined is highly theoretical, and at times very abstract. Kostash also discusses the mission of the Ukrainian diaspora: to remember. The "captured" Ukraine is uprooted and transformed by the diaspora, and Kostash weighs the importance of this ancestral link with the reality of its inability to contribute to the creation of national life... if "ethnic" self-expression can ever be integrated into a national life. Kostash posits that the hyphen is potentially a hinge between two equally compelling identities, and weighs the value of articulating cultural difference.

Kostash quotes Mary Anne Charney, who spoke in relation to a piece about pysanka and the compartmentalization and stereotypification of Ukrainian culture in Canada:

" Far from the urban reality of the aboriginal, multi-racial and multiethnic populations of Canadian cities where most of us live and work, the festival space is a temporary space [...] it is a suspended reality where we indulge in the fantasy of a coherent Ukrainian place."

Which brings me to the next development in my task list: The Ukrainian Canadian Festivals Wiki. Check it out. It's a pilot, very basic, but it's a start. 

DAY 52 July 3, 2008

I had a chance to do some interesting reading on Ukrainian Canadian identity today, as well as explore some "Ukrainian Canadian" blogs. 

Reading

The reading I did was an essay published by St. Thomas More College's Heritage Press at the University of Saskatchewan. The article is one of the more recent publications of the Prairie Centre for Ukrainian Heritage (PCUH) Heritage Press lecture series by Janice Kulyk-Keefer, entitled Dark Ghost in the Corner: Imagining Ukrainian-Canadian Identity (2005). Kulyk-Keefer moved me in a lot of ways with the intensity and insights within her work, and I very much appreciated her perspective on the Ukrainian Canadian as the upholder of cultural myths about contemporary Ukraine. More on this when I have the publication in front of me. There are a few sentiments conveyed that I would like to extract and examine in my blog within the context of direct quotations, and I will do this tomorrow.

Blogging

Onto the Ukrainian Canadian blogs, here is a list of the blogs easily searchable under "Ukrainian Canadian" on Google, hyphenated and unhyphenated:

• Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies Blog - University of Manitoba, Winnipeg
• Nash Holos blog - Vancouver
• Ukrainian Canadian Rare Books blog - Ebay
• Ukrainian Canadian School Board Forum blog - Toronto
• Ukrainian Canadians blog section - International
• Ukrainian Community Websites (some are blogs, some are not) - Quebec

Nothing strong stands out in purpose or supervision outside of the CUCS blog, and I'm not just saying that! There is overall a lack of purpose, focus, and academic or objective perspective in many of these projects. I will refer my readership (!) to our discussions in the past about the shortcomings of blogs in this way, and to their ephemeral nature if no one participates. 

DAY 51 July 2, 2008

My goal for July is to attend to the objectives introduced by Dr. Yereniuk at our meeting by the end of the month. In August the longer projects - projects in progress until the end of my internship as advised by Dr. Hlynka - will take me until the end of my term at the end of August.

Here is an outline of my activities and research for July:

1. Explore Ukrainian Canadian blogs.
2. Make sure all sources used to date have been cited properly.
3. Read top 50 Canadians list - Stephen Juba and Leo Mol.
4. Get Dr. Yereniuk's piece on President Yushchenko's visit on the CUCS blog.
5. Create a Ukrainian Canadian Festivals Blog (Dauphin, Toronto, etc.)
6. Research this year's Canadian Heritage Fair winners/finalists.
7. Get CUCS course outlines and a new bibliography on the CUCS blog.

Long term, I will also be:

1. Purchasing a student copy of Microsoft Office from the bookstore to experiment with 'Notebook' and student reading level evaluations.
2. Scanning Macenko Divine Liturgy sheet music.
3. Working with Googlepages and WebQuests.

DAY 50 June 30, 2008

On Friday there was  a meeting held in the board room at St. Andrew's College. Dr. Hlynka, myself, Dr. Yereniuk, and Ms. Kachor were in attendance. I now have a new list of tasks to complete and/or initiate in the following month with plenty of assistance and motivation.

DAY 49 June 27, 2008

• Printed and bound hard copy of PIP blog for Dr. Yereniuk.

DAy 48 June 26, 2008

What's in a WebQuest?

What is a WebQuest? According to the WebQuest site:

"A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. The model was developed by Bernie Dodge at San Diego State University in February, 1995 with early input from SDSU/Pacific Bell Fellow Tom March, the Educational Technology staff at San Diego Unified School District, and waves of participants each summer at the Teach the Teachers Consortium.

Since those beginning days, tens of thousands of teachers have embraced WebQuests as a way to make good use of the internet while engaging their students in the kinds of thinking that the 21st century requires. The model has spread around the world, with special enthusiasm in Brazil, Spain, China, Australia and Holland."

Sounds interesting, right? Here are some samples of WebQuest pages featured on the site:

• Welcome to Canada
  
• Snapshots of Confederation
• A Nation of Immigrants (American)
• What does it mean to be Australian? (Australian)
• The Light in the Forest (Native American)
• A Chip off the Old Bloc (This is the only entry under "Ukraine")

Meeting with Dr. Hlynka and Dr. Yereniuk tomorrow afternoon at 1pm and 2pm, respectively.

DAY 47 June 25, 2008

YouTube & Ukrainian Canadiana

There are many video-based websites online that are easily searched according to basic names and subject matter, but one of the most widely used is YouTube.

Here is what a basic search came up with, though there are variations in order:

• Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum Project
• Internment Camp Plaque Unveiling
• Beverly Dobrinsky (musician)
  
• Pachelbel's Canon in D Major - The Canadian Bandurist Capella
  
• Pid Oblachkom at the Ukrainian Festival in Toronto (2007)

Points to consider:

1. The majority of the videos in the first few pages of the basic search are related to music and musicianship.
2. Which Canadian locations are featured? What is the cultural context of those locations?
   

DAY 46 June 24, 2008

Sensibilities in the Age of the Internet: Nash Reading

In an article about "Freethought Culture and the Historical Context of Communication Media", David Nash compares how religion is inserted into technological innovations historically, and at present, the time of the so-called Information Revolution. From now on I will refer to "cultre" instead of religion, for the purpose of this article, for three reasons: it is the focus of my internship, religion is a cultural construct, and religion is a facet of "culture".

Nash discusses the Internet's role in how opinion is formed by studying how identity is shaped online, and what effect that has in the real "offline" world. The internet is used to build intellectually constructed houses to provide mental support and shelter which can shape and affirm an individual's identity. Nash argues that the ability of the internet to provide cheap, uncensored publishing affects how people construct who they are and how they interact with information. Compelling stuff.

The term "cyberspace" was coined by William Gibson in 1981, but it was then was completely different from what it is now. Cyberspace represents unlimited space, time, and distance; encompasses all forms of computer-mediated communications, and denotes a permanent virtual space. Computer-mediated Communication (CMC), as Nash posits, can contribute to community and individual identity and is linked to changing ideas about the community and how it will evolve over time. CMC is limited by who has access to a computer and internet connection, which makes it primarily the domain of people of the West, and wealthier stratas of the rest of the world which exclude the 80% of the world that does not have time for anything but work or sleep throughout the day. CMC has the power to challenge the legitimacy of authority and makes it impossible for institutions to control what is being said about them. CMCs can create a world of particular beliefs and values, and participation in that cyberspace denotes shares experiences, beliefs, and ideas about the world. 

Academics such as Brenda Brasher have made arguments that the replacement of tradtional culture by popular culture is mediated by the internet, and that it hosts a plethora of previously unrepresented - or underrepresented - communities. As Nash argues, the Internet is organic, uncensored, and in a state of constant change to suit the needs of its users.

I am ending this hastily with a list of benefits and consequences to the internet in identity and community-shaping:

The benefits of Internet-based identity shaping and participation: 

• Transcends space and time
• Allows individuals without access to a institution access to an institution
• Old ideas can be preserved
• New ideas can be developed quickly
• "Information Revolution" creates a global village
• One can choose his or her level of participation
• Denotes plurality and diversity
• Information more easily spread (because it is less controlled than other forms of media)
• Links development issues in communities which can quickly be acknowledged and discussed (the "Knowledge is power" idea)
• It provides means for contacting others and gaining support
• It is more sustainable (no paper, less pollution)

The consequences of Internet-based community shaping:

• There are issues related to unequal access
• Security risks (to computers, individuals, families, digital warfare, surveillance, etc.)
•  Social vulnerability based on notions of technological dependency
• Privacy is traded for the use of this technology
• Increased levels of consumption result (with online "supermarket" and the updating of the technology and planned obsolescence)

Many of these points are found in my lecture notes from RLGN 1450 with Nicole Goulet, and are not my original thoughts.

DAY 45 June 23, 2008

1. Emailed Chornobyl online CD shelf to Dr. Hlynka, via librarything.com.
2. Arranged meeting at CUCS with Dr. Yereniuk and Dr. Hlynka for this Friday, June 27th.
3. Reading articles pertaining to the internet and how shifts in media relate to changes in the way people interact with traditional culture, and the popular culture which replaces it. Details to follow in tomorrow's blog. 

Day 44 June 20, 2008

Today Dr. Hlynka and I went over the objectives for the remainder of the Summer months, namely:

1. Meet with Dr. Yereniuk as soon as possible with a hard copy of the blog and an update.
2. Scan Macenko's entire divine liturgy sheet music up onto the wiki (adjust quality if possible). Label in original Ukrainian and link to the St. Andrew's College blog.
3. Explore and create Webquest online "courses" for different grade levels of Ukrainian Canadian history - something that could be linked to the CUCS blog.
4. Send the online bookshelf of the Chornobyl music collection to Dr. Hlynka
5. See what can be found on Macenko at the Oseredok archives.

DAY 43 June 19, 2008

• Uploaded divine liturgy sheet music to Macenko wiki - just the first selection. My copy of the sheet music was xeroxed a little off-center, so the scans are a little crooked.
• So far the only annoyance regarding the Wetpaint wiki albums are the order in which the photos are placed - to put the sheets in order and have them stay that way I would have had to do it backwards - good to know for the next piece.
• The sheet music is large, clear, and looks good. We can discuss labelling (in English or Ukrainian, by song title or page number, etc.)

Meeting with Dr. Hlynka tomorrow at 3:30pm.

DAY 42 June 18, 2008

• Prepared divine liturgy sheet music for scanning (not to mention read the manual for my HP All-in-one!)
• First attempt to upload to Macenko wiki will be tomorrow.

Arranging meeting with Dr. Hlynka for this Friday, June 20th.

DAY 41 June 17, 2008

• PIP blog hard copy formulated for submission to Dr. Yereniuk.
• Left sidebar not printing out on all pages... I am unsure about the cause of the disparity.
  

DAY 40 June 16, 2008

Paul Macenko Research

My online search was a success. I discovered that there is a repository of information about Macenko at the Ukrainian Cultural and Education Centre archives in downtown Winnipeg. There is a summary of the collection there listed on line which I has pasted below, it reads:

36. Paul Macenko (Pavlo Matsenko) fonds. 1901-1984.

Paul Macenko (1897-1991) was a musicologist, composed and author who completed his doctoral studies in Prague. He emigrated to Canada in 1936 and worked as a choir conductor and music teacher. He served as cultural and educational director of the Ukrainian National Federation and secretary of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre.

I will contact the executive curator at the centre, Sofia Kachor, next week in order to arrange for access to the collection, if it is possible.

 

DAY 39 June 13, 2008

Today:

• Accepted administrator invite to the Macenko wiki. 
• Clicked around, explored features. 
• Changed template.
  

DAY 38 June 12, 2008

Some interesting Ukrainian Canadian related Wikipedia entries, feel free to add what you will!

1. Ukrainian Canadian
2. Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies
3. Joseph Oleskiw
4. Edna-Star Settlement
5. Ukrainian Canadian Internment
6. Anthony Hlynka
7. Daria Werbowy
8. Ukrainian Cultural & Educational Centre
9. Association of United Ukrainian Canadians (AUUC)
10. Multiculturalism

DAY 37 June 11, 2008

Today I created a Wikipedia account so that the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies can start new pages, as well as edit existing pages. The login name is "CUCS" with the typical password, and it is not attached to any email address. This may raise some questions for new readers, namely:

What is Wikipedia?

First and most clearly, it is a wiki, which means it is a web site that operates like a bulletin board, or like an electronic report with various threads and chapters that can serve to display "concrete" information to the universe, or interject more malleable topics into a common thread for discussion from readers and subscribers. Wikipedia is a wiki encyclopedia, hence the name. This is a very simple definition working within the confines of online media I have been experimenting with so far, see the following links for more information about Wikipedia, what it says about itself, and what the Wikipedia project is and where it's going.

Why should we be interested in Wikipedia?

Well it's an incredibly useful tool, any student will tell you, and part of the reason that the internet is such an innovative tool for communication and educational purposes. In the religion department elective I am taking this session called Religion and Media (RLGN 1450) I am learning about how accessible media gives power to the masses - in ways that religious and cultural authorities may not approve of, even in a way that compromises the content of the institution or doctrine that it represents. Wikipedia is a body of our knowledge - much of it is unreliable, not cited, or created by people who are hardly qualified in the academic or professional sense to be educating others on the topic. That's kind of what's great about it. We get to see what people understand, and what they think, how they order the universe and put things together.

This is why the internet is a trap for false information, it's freedom for anyone to put anything in a public body of knowledge, but so is every other type of media - books, newspapers, pamphlets, visual art, music, and anything else can be full of contradiction, misinformation, aesthetic or moral relativism, or just plain idiocy - to be frank - but that doesn't mean that it is void of meaning, nor that it is useless information. There are contributors who take great care to show the quality of their information, and I would encourage any professional or layman alike to contribute to their "area of expertise" in the free space run by Wikipedia - it's so widely used that it is a fantastic way to disseminate quality information quickly - the audience base is unimaginable.

Also, don't forget to check out some Wikipedia's sister projects:

• Wikimedia Commons
  
• Wikiquote
• Wikispecies
• Wikinews
• Wikibooks
• Wikiversity
• Wiktionary
• Wikisource
• Meta Wiki

Wikipedia and all Wikipedia sister projects are hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation.

DAY 36 June 10, 2008

Today Dr.Hlynka and I were able to get together after school, and we have put together a task list for the rest of the month, as well as set up the first Paul Macenko Chair of Church Music wiki.
The task list is as follows:

1. Present electronic and hard copies of this blog to Dr.Yereniuk.
   
2. Scan divine liturgy sheet music and add it to the Macenko wiki.
3. Experiment with Google Labs Page Creator.
4. Create an account on Wikipedia to make entries.
5. Research Macenko and add information and photo albums to the wiki.

Days in June without entries are research days, with quick notes if applicable.

DAY 35 June 9, 2008

For anyone who reads the Winnipeg Free Press on Saturdays - "Ukrainian" was the CanWest CanSpell Canada Post-sponsored Word of the Day. It reads:

ukrainian

yoo CRAINY 'n

Definition: of or relating to Ukraine or its people or language.

The first Ukrainian immigrants to Canada came from western Ukraine.

It's nice to see "the" being pushed out of common usage finally. My meeting with Dr. Hlynka has been moved back - I'm enrolled in two courses in June and our schedules have not clicked for a few days running now. Wish me luck with my midterms on Wednesday!

DAY 34 June 6, 2008

Oh, Canada!
Lyrics in Ukrainian, brought to you by the CUCS

Click HERE

DAY 33, June 5, 2008

Meeting scheduled with Dr. Hlynka for Monday at 9AM.

DAY 32 June 4, 2008

Free Online Course:
Ukrainian Canadian Folklore

One of the best resources for Ukrainian Canadiana online is the Ukrainian Canadian Online Resource Centre accessible through the CUCS main site. During July and August while I am working on a scanning and posting project for St. Andrew's College I will also be partaking in this course and continuing with daily blogs in relation to my progress and thoughts.

Here is the course description and subsequent sections. The course was compiled by Dr. Robert B. Klymasz, and is it's free.

DAY 31, June 3, 2008

Today I began reading some of Dr. Gerus' work on the Ukrainian Canadian Online Resource Centre on the CUCS website. I am trying to decide which piece holds the most potential for an audio clip, or podcast of sorts, but that is yet to be determined. Update coming tomorrow.

DAY 30, June 2, 2008

Today I explored OttoBib.com, which is not the most useful tool for someone who is using a consistent style they are familiar with. The reason for this is because the information has to be added manually in any case. The benefit of the auto-generating bibliography-maker is that if one is unfamiliar with the formatting for a particular citation style that needs to be utilized, one can simply enter the information and will be given the citation in the correct format.

DAY 29 May 30, 2008

Item #3 - Part III of III

The Fine Arts by Robert B. Klymasz

In this article Dr. Klymasz examines trends in Ukrainian Canadian music, dance, theatre, cinema, and architecture, as well as the fine and exhibiting arts. Klymasz pays attention to the tensions between folk and non-folk creations, the relevance or irrelevance of "Ukrainian" in "Ukrainian Canadian" arts, and the "high" and "low" forms of expression and the nature of their difference.

Klymasz moves systematically through each category systematically - the Music section and first subheading of which there is the most writing - and concludes:

"Although the Ukrainian arts in Canada are experiencing a modest renaissance, not all are of equal social relevance and only a small portion will survive. Still, ethnic loyalties can generate valid artistic forms; the ethnic factor - whether rooted in Ukraine, the Ukrainian-Canadian experience, or in both - can inspire an artist's work. The result may not constitute a national art, but it can be vibrant and relevant - as meaningful as any other form of artistic expression. But needless to say, ethnicity alone does not immunize against mediocre or second-rate work, and the understanding critic, now scarce, must become more commonplace. Established and traditional materials must be reinterpreted and updated to meet new demands and requirements, and those presently committed to particular canons of Ukrainian-Canadian art must learn to judge innovation and divergence if the regenerative ability of Ukrainian fine arts is to continue and if the arts themselves are to function in the future as a viable source of cultural enrichment and pride."

Powerful and insightful words.

DAY 28 May 29,2008

Item #3 - Part II of III

The Fine Arts by Robert B. Klymasz

Finished reading, summary and commentary will be included in tomorrow's blog.

DAY 27 May 28,2008

Item #3 - Part I of III

The Fine Arts by Robert B. Klymasz

Today I began my reading of The Fine Arts article on the CUCS online resource centre, the third item on the site published by Dr. Klymasz of the University of Manitoba.

I am reading this article in two installments. Part III, to be posted on Friday May 30, will include my summary and comments on this piece of Dr. Klymasz's work.

Painting by Ukrainian Canadian artist Ivan Ostafiychuk

DAY 26 May 27, 2008

Dr. Robert B. Klymasz Item #2 at the CUCS Online Resource Centre:
Crucial Problems in Ukrainian Canadian Studies Today

In this article Dr. Klymasz celebrates the 1991 liberation of Ukraine from Soviet Russian control and emphasizes the crucial importance of the liberation of Ukrainian studies from under the iron curtain and amongst the diaspora. Dr. Klymasz names important institutions which fostered support to this end, and some of the largest innovations in Ukrainian Canadian studies that followed, such as C.H. Andrusyshen's Ukrainian-English dictionary in 1955 and Savella Stechishin's best selling publication, Traditional Ukrainian Cookery. Dr. Klymasz questions the importance of these innovations and their scope with regards to the field of Ukrainian Canadiana as a whole. However, as Dr. Klymasz states, the main focus of his paper is to draw attention to the 3 main models utilized by academics to grapple with Ukrainian Canadian studies, and they are as follows:

1. Exclusionist - a more conservative/narrow approach
   
2. Inclusionist - a and more liberal/open approach
3. Pluralist - appreciates the diversity, autonomy, and independence of both models and whatever may live outside of them.

Dr. Klymasz continues with some questions about the nature of "Ukrainianess", as well as a "wish list" of Ukrainian Canadian topics in need of attention. This talk was delivered by Dr. Klymasz in April of 2004, and I believe that his wish list is conservative, yet indicative of the problems in Ukrainian Canadian studies today, namely: How do you sell Ukrainian Canadian studies today? This is an issue I have been thinking about when considering my future job options, to be sure, and is something I would very much like to ask Dr. Klymasz about when I have an opportunity to speak with him.

(NB) I have found more information linked to Dr. Klymasz in his capacity as a published author and Curator Emeritus at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. I can't believe Dr. Klymasz's office is just down the hall... I am keen to take advantage of my geographical position, to say the least.

DAY 25 May 26, 2008

Item #1 of the CUCS online resource centre works prepared by Dr. Robert B. Klymasz,
Landmarks: A Beginner's Guide to the Ukrainian Canadian Experience

In this eight-page report Dr. Klymasz provides a chronological guide to Ukrainian Canadian history in a way that is concise and accessible to all kinds of readers. The timeline begins in 1843 with the "first Ukrainian immigrant to Canada", Red Fife (early-maturing Spring Wheat from Ukraine), and ends in 2006 with the election of third-generation Ukrainian Canadian Ed Stelmach as the Premier of Alberta.

This is a great work to consult if one is questioning the relevance of Ukrainian Canadian studies, or looking for a skeleton of events and achievements from which to begin a more in depth study of Ukrainian Canadian history in general, or even to provide inspiration for a less general topic.

Setting the links up for this page reminds me: we need to make a profile which suits Dr. Klymasz's level of professionalization that will serve as a proper link to his name and links him with the CUCS. There is currently no profile page for Dr. Klymasz as a sessional instuctor and Ukrainian Canadian folklore authority that I could locate on the home website.

DAY 24 May 23, 2008

CUCS Ukrainian Canadian Online Resource Centre
Featuring: Robert B. Klymasz

Today I began a series of readings that I will be discussing here over the next few days. On the CUCS website there is a fantastic resource called the Ukrainian Canadian Online Resource Centre, accessible through the University of Manitoba website. The readings I am focusing on this week are by Dr. Robert B. Klymasz, spanning in scope from the Ukrainian Canadian experience to the fine arts and problems in Ukrainian Canadian studies today. Dr. Klymasz also offers an online course in Ukrainian Canadian Folklore through the website.

These academic articles are lengthy, and I will begin with the shorter introductory article on the Ukrainian Canadian experience, and branch out into the fine arts. This resource online is one of the highlights of the CUCS website for me, and I can't imagine a better way to reach, communicate, and educate new audiences.

DAY 23 May 22, 2008

CUCS Site vs. CUCS Blog

This morning Victoria and I examined the CUCS site and blog, and had the opportunity to nail down some thoughts about how the two are related, and what the future - and not to mention usefulness - of the blog will be. Here are my conclusions based on our conversation:

1. Purpose: The site and blog ultimately serve the same function - to communicate information - but are very different animals. The site is formal and primarily informative, the blog is casual, and is primarily interactive (or should be, in any case, if no one is reading it what use is it?). Of course there is a cross section of utility but there is no reason to use valuable time that could be spent doing something else making the two match.
   
2. Value: The value of the site is obvious - it serves as an introduction to the mission and values of the CUCS, while providing an exceptional cross section of cultural material and academia ranging from music to academic essays, to photographs of past events. The value of the blog is more dependent upon publicity and community participation (student, Ukrainian Canadian, Canadian, etc.)
3. Responsibility: My primary concern is for the fate of blogs - who will be responsible for them in the Fall? Ultimately it would take some kind of commitment from administrative staff at the CUCS to add "administrator to the blogs" to his or her job description. This raises more questions, namely 1) Does anyone want to commit to this responsibility?, and 2) Is it worthwhile to dedicate time to this responsibility? I think the answer is yes. If the blog remains casual in tone and is only updated after specific events, or to advertise before events (provided there is some publicity about it at St. Andrew's College and amongst Ukrainian Canadian students and staff on campus). This can be a place for photos, discussions, and advertising in a more interactive capacity than a website allows.

So my conclusion is a gray one - the site and blog are different, but recognizing their roles and the difference between them is important if we want to keep them relevant and separate. Who will care about this is a top consideration, but I don't think it is too difficult to navigate. Perhaps to infiltrate the student body a CUCS MySpace page or Facebook page should be set up? That, I think, is seriously worth considering. Everyone loves Facebook, and it is already an important way that Ukrainian Canadian students are connecting with each other outside of classes and off campus, why not try to get in on that, and see if the blog as an appendage will work better than as a main event? All of this will need to be discussed at my next meeting with Dr. Hlynka.

Day 22 May 21, 2008

To Shelf, or Not to Shelf?

Today I was able to finish the Chernobyl music catalog at librarything.com (note that I am spelling Chornobyl the way the dictionary does in order to get more multinational hits with a search engine). It is a collection of 20 audio CDs procured by Dr. Hlynka, as previously posted.
I was able to add album cover images for all but a few selections, and the virtual shelf definitely looks a lot better this way. I am not sure that there is a way to link the shelf to this blog. I will spend some more time on this tomorrow. In the meantime, if you are CUCS staff, you can access the shelf at librarything.com with the user name ChernobylMusic (no space between words) and the usual password.

Issues? Well, the site was intended for books, not CDs, as we know, and I can't help but feel that it is a move in the wrong direction to start using the site for something other than its own intended purpose. A site I did find that specializes in music and not books, is lastfm.com. This site is specifically for CD collectors and sharers, with similar features to librarything and Shelfari, with the focus being on music. Lastfm.com is also a site that caters to a seemingly more broad audience, with more popular music and videos than older or classical publications. I had a hard time finding any of the albums on this site at all, but that doesn't mean that they can not be added manually. I will explore the ins and outs of this site and determine if it can be of benefit to our project.

Victoria and I have a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning to attend to the CUCS site and blog.

DAY 21 May 20, 2008

Live from the CUCS

Today Katie's work space at the CUCS was usurped for the duration of her time in Ukraine. We all hope her journey is safe and that she returns with many photographs.

I have begun to catalog Dr. Hlynka's collection of Chernobyl-inspired tracks on twenty CDs. The catalog format is a virtual bookshelf, utilizing the librarything.com website. These CDs are pertinent to Ukrainian cultural studies in Canada and all over the world because they are examples of what other nations and non-Ukrainians (or non-descendants thereof) make of Ukraine and aspects of Ukrainian culture and its history.

I am currently experimenting with the best way to link my password-protected bookshelf to my blog for easy access. In the next week I will also be creating virtual Mazeppa and Ukrainian Canadian bookshelves to link to the site, as mentioned in a previous post. These "shelves" will be a useful tool to connect related literature and music to my blog and others - should St. Andrew's College or the CUCS decide they would like to adopt such a feature on their blogs, I will have some experience and will be able to catalog whatever selections are made.

DAY 20 May 16, 2008

Today Dr. Hlynka and I experimented with citing engines and source-networking sites, such as:

• Library Thing
• Shelfari
• Good Reads
• Ottobib.com

We were able to create cyber "bookshelves", ie. a published online database of different collections of books and CDs, separated by subject, author, etc. My task for Tuesday is to create Mazeppa, Chernobyl, and CUCS bookshelves that I can add to the blog. This is an incredibly useful tool for collecting and sharing source material. Dr. Hlynka and I also discussed the value of Ukrainian artistic and cultural contributions supported by the Ukrainian Canadian community, versus the value of the patronage of Ukrainian artists by others. For example, the Burliuk exhibit featured currently at the Winnipeg Art Gallery is sponsored by the Shevchenko Foundation, and it's wonderful that this kind of thing can exist in the venue that it does, but music artists like Valentin Silvestrov are commissioned by orchestras all over Western Europe - as he was in Munich and Vienna - or the cultural phenomenon of Mazeppa existing as a cultural icon in France for much of the nineteenth-century. This was a conversation about what the world does with Ukrainian culture, and what we think about it, what we enjoy about it and how it provokes us.

Victoria and I discussed the direction of the CUCS blog and established that the priority is to make it match the web site, so I will attend to next week as well. As far as new posts are concered, the CUCS blog will be a sister site for the CUCS website, so it will not be a daily blog like this one. 

Next week I will have office space at the CUCS and will be spending time cataloging a collection of CDs featuring Chernobyl tracks - created by artists outside the Ukrainian and Ukrainian Canadian communities - on my librarythings.com bookshelf.

DAY 19 May 15, 2008

This morning I touched base with Dr. Gerus at St. Paul's College, handed in my progress report, and discussed the nature of the project. Dr. Gerus was supportive and expressed the distinctive quality of this type of research and inquiry. Should the podcasting go through, Dr. Gerus is someone who would be willing to lend his voice and expertise.

Tomorrow I will meet with Dr. Hlynka in the morning, and with Victoria at the CUCS in the afternon to discuss the CUCS blog.

DAY 18 May 14, 2008

My progress blog has been titled and bound so that it can be handed in to Dr. Gerus tomorrow morning at 9:30.  The report is current as of May 12, 2008.

DAY 17 May 13, 2008

The week has been interesting thus far. 

I ventured into the Architecture Building to peruse the journals in the Fine Arts library. I found the Mainardi article in Word & Thought Dr. Hlynka was looking for and was able to make a copy at St. Andrew's College, with the kind assistance of the administrative staff.

I have been in contact with Dr. Gerus and the CUCS administration. Meetings are being set up for Thursday morning.

DAY 16 May 12, 2008

Today:

• I emailed Dr. Gerus to arrange a meeting to discuss the project so far and any improvements that could be made.
• I emailed Victoria at the CUCS to arrange a meeting time when we can examine the CUCS blog and re-evaluate its purpose and formatting.
• I edited the April 30th entry of the St. Andrew's College Blog.
• I adjusted the template of the PIP Blog to faciliate optimal printing conditions for hard copies.
• I printed out one hard copy of the PIP Blog, page by page, in preparation for my meeting with Dr. Gerus.

DAY 15 May 9, 2008

Work assigned in live meeting:

1. Find Mazeppa article by Patricia Mainardi in a journal from the Architecture Building library entitled Word & Image (Vol.16, No.4, pp. 335-351). Make two copies at the CUCS.
2. Make an appointment with Victoria to update the CUCS blog.
3. Adjust colour and template of this (PIP) blog for printing. Print one copy on Safari, and bind.
4. Make an appointment with Dr. Gerus to examine the hardcopy of the blog, explain what it's like and the updates so far.
5. Edit sample blog of April 30, 2008 on the St. Andrew's College Blog.

DAY 14 May 8, 2008

Ukrainian Canadiana & Blogging

When discussing the concept of my internship project with family, I was pushed to describe the relevance of technology in culture-sharing, more specifically, of blogging. If one is grappling with this question, I recommend the Introduction to this blog, accessible via the Blog Archives in the right hand sidebar, followed by visits to each of the following links.

These are links to blogs created by individuals interested in aspects of Ukrainian Canadian culture and Ukrainian Canadiana. These sites represent specific examples of how blogging allows information sharing on a large scale, with a global audience. The point to underline here is that Ukrainian Canadian culture is interesting for its own sake, but it is no longer necessary for the Ukrainian Canadian community in Winnipeg to speak only to itself. Blogging presents a unique and previously unimagined opportunity to share and listen, to find out who is interested, what they know, what they would be interested in learning, and where they come from. In the multicultural Canada in which we live, the value of this tool is immeasurable in building bridges within and outside the cultural realm of Ukrainian Canadiana.

1. Worldwide Ukrainian Community
2. Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, University of Manitoba
   
3. Ukrainian Canadian Student's Union

There are strengths and weaknesses in blogs, as they are unregulated. It is important to keep in mind that a critical eye is useful when perusing personal blogs, especially. Another interesting point to consider is the potential benefit and consequence of individually-created blogs versus institutionally-sponsored blogs, which may or may not be monitored by the organization.

DAY 13 May 7, 2008

Podcasting & the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies

Understanding how podcasting works was covered in yesterday's blog. Today I want to discuss its relevance to Ukrainian Canadian culture, specifically in relation to the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies (CUCS). For the CUCS podcasting presents an opportunity to share even more material with an even wider audience. Technically, anyone in the world with access to a computer and an internet connection can log on to the CUCS web site, it is completely accessible. This is a fantastic stage to dispel myths and stereotypes about Ukrainian Canadians; to investigate specific subject areas of Ukrainian Canadian history and culture; and to create an online discourse about the CUCS and its aims. 

Here at the University of Manitoba we have the privilege of being home to many influential and esteemed professional academics involved in the field of Ukrainian Canadiana. In the department of history alone the U of M is home to Ukrainian Canadian professors such as Dr. Oleh W. Gerus, Dr. Stella Hryniuk, and Dr. Olexandr Shevchenko. In the Education Faculty there is Dr. Denis Hlynka. At St. Andrew's College is Canada's leading Ukrainian Canadian folklorist, Dr. Robert Klymasz. These professionals are valuable and unique resources that can be captured and communicated to a much wider audience, should the technology available be put to use. Podcasting is just one of these new technologies that could potentially bring voices like these to a new generation, and more importantly, to new audiences.

DAY 12 May 6, 2008

Communicating Culture: 

Seven Things You Should Know About Podcasting

1. What is it? 

"Podcasting" is a term derived from the Apple iPod digital audio player. The term refers to any software or hardware which permits automatic downloading of audio files for listening at the users convenience.

2. Who is doing it?

Anyone and everyone. The benefits of this medium of information delivery were recognized most  immediately by professional broadcasters, amateurs, and university professors. Programming, lectures, and virtually anything else that one can listen to can be shared online this way.

3. How does it work?

The user connects his or her audio device to the computer, the user logs onto a podcasting subscription service, then subscribes to that site's feeds. It is incredibly simple and user-friendly.

4. Why is it significant?

Podcasting allows education to become more mobile and portable than ever before. Barriers and adoption costs are minimal, and the tools to implement podcasts are simple and affordable.

5. What are the downsides of podcasting?

Quality, formatting, and sufficient bandwith to download are the issues that come with podcasting. 

6. Where is this going?

There is no limit to the potential uses of this technology, particularly in education. New features such as categorizing, navigating, and indexing are on the horizon and designers and producers of podcasters are looking for new ways to enrich the quality of the podcast as an audio experience.

7. What are the implications for teaching and learning?

Podcasting allows students to us their technology-based entertainment systems - their iPods and MP3 players - for educational purposes, and teachers can deliver information in a new way. Missed lectures, extra content, expert interviews, and music can all be made available to students in a way that is easily accessible to everyone.

This is a summary of a more detailed article published online by the Educause Learning Initiative.

The more people know about podcasting, the sooner we can put this technology to work in an educational and cultural context for Ukrainian Canadian studies. Dr. Hlynka and I will be experimenting with podcasts later in the Summer. 

The following sites are just a small sample of what is available for listening right now.

1. CBC Podcasts
   
2. CBC radio 1
   
3. CBC Radio 3
   
4. The Canadian Podcast Buffet
   
5. Canada Today (Ukrainian)
   

Day 11 May 5, 2008

Today alternate arrangements were made for my work space outside of the Education Building. 

Since my classes have started I will be blogging exclusively from home instead of the computer lab, and reading on campus instead of in Dr. Capp's office. "Field trips", interviews, research, and any other outings I need to do will be arranged by myself and Dr. Hlynka.

DAY 10 May 2, 2008

Ancient Ukraine Features in Twenty-first Century Popular Western Film

Today, as suggested by Dr. Hlynka, I watched the film 'King Arthur'. In this film the Celtic story of the Knights of the Round Table is based in Sarmatia, or what is now contemporary Ukraine. 

The film is important because it is an example of Western culture borrowing from Ukrainian culture to create something unique, or to add another facet to the story. Sarmatia, the native land of one of the knights and main characters, fights for the Roman Army for fifteen years under contract with the promise of returning to his homeland at the end of his service, should he survive. Ukraine exists in this tale as one of the last outposts of freedom; from the Roman army, from Christianity, and from foreign rule. This is a fascinating example of how European myths intermingle, and how romantic ideas about ancient origins contribute to Western culture.

The importance of reaching out to see what other countries and other minds do with Ukrainian culture was the main focus of our presentation at St. Andrew's College on Wednesday. In our presentation on Mazeppa the cultural works created by varying perceptions of the historical figure Mazeppa, and those of the Mazeppa myth were examined in respect to how they create cultural artifacts in Western European and North American music, art, writing, and performance. 'King Arthur' is a good example of how Ukrainian myth and history were used to create visual art and a story for ancient Ukraine in 2004. It is a valuable item to add to our survey of Ukrainian contributions to Western art and media.

DAY 9 May 1, 2008

Today:

1. The blogs were printed to be viewed at a meeting this week.
2. Work done on the Mazeppa bibliography for May 9th. This is an experiment, but we will see what happens.
3. Summer session finalized and class schedule made.

Dr. Hlynka and I will be in contact over the weekend to discuss our meeting schedule for next week.

DAY 8 April 30, 2008

Sixth-Grade Presentation at St. Andrew's College

Today I spent the morning in my office space in the Education Building reading and planning my part of the sixth-grade Mazeppa presentation to be given at St. Andrew's College in the afternoon.

Just after 1:30pm Dr. Hlynka and I began our presentations to the two groups. My contribution was an explanation of the difference between history and mythology, and how they work together  - and sometimes separately - to create culture. The importance of bringing Mazeppa to the attention of Ukrainian Canadian students was underlined when both groups were asked who Mazeppa was, and no one raised there hand or ventured a guess. 

Dr. Hlynka illustrated how a prominent historical figure from Ukrainian history was turned into a legend, and how that legend travelled all over Europe and North America - even before Ukrainians did - by marking the appearance of Mazeppa over a broad and varied range of media and cultural artifacts from different countries. Dr. Hlynka's focussed upon high culture in some areas (paintings, poetry, novels, plays, opera, classical music) and popular culture in others (dime novels, matchboxes, a Volkswagon colour, a locamotive, a fire engine).  The children payed attention for the entire half hour in each group, and Dr. Hlynka and I were able to digest the strengths and weaknesses of our presentation afterward. We also had a brief discussion with Genia Bozyk about potentially presenting to another group in the last two weeks of July. This is something I would really enjoy the opportunity to do again in the not-so-distant future.

Other achievements for today:

• Experimented with the photo album on our Mazeppa wiki
• Began work on a bibliography of English/Western Mazeppa texts to pass on to Dr. Hlynka for May 9th.
• Edited the St. Andrew's College Blog in a manner which in no way alters the original content lifted from the official St. Andrew's College site, adding a sample post about the presentations and events of today.

Dr. Hlynka and I will be in contact to determine the nature of our meeting now that Summer classes will begin for me this Monday, May 5th. 

DAY 7 29 April, 2008

GRAND OPENING of THE UNIVERSITY of MANITOBA ARCHIVES & SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

Shelley Sweeney pictured, head of the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections.

Today I had the privilege of accompanying Dr. Hlynka to the official grand opening of the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections on the third floor of the Elizabeth Dafoe Library. The crowd was large, notably outnumbering the chairs, and making the tours proposed in the invitation impossible due to the turnout.

The event was marked by a keynote address by Dr. John English of the University of Waterloo, who lectured on the importance of archives and libraries, of archivists and librarians, and Canada's unique approach to preserving the past in a way that is notably rich and complex in comparison to many of the other archives he has visited (namely in the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States, Israel, and France). English has contributed to Canada as both an academic and as a former MP.

What stood out to me in English's talk were the facts he provided about the nature of Canadian archives and the benefit of online access in assisting their availability. English said that approximately 60% of archives users were genealogists, and that the highest category after that was probably senior high school students. Interesting. Also, as a contributor to the Dictionary of Canadian Biography, English said that before going online with the dictionary, a typical sale would be around 11,000 copies. Now that the resource is online the website gets 90,000 hits per month. This is a serious leap in the amount of Canadians accessing this information, and it proves to me the importance of online access to cultural bodies of knowledge.

After messages from the library, the university president, and representatives of government; the planting of the University of Manitoba flag, and the closing remarks, the guests were invited to explore the various exhibits set up for the purpose of the function. I fled to the "Ukrainian/Canadian Experience" exhibit displayed in the Archives Media Room. I had to stop for a moment in the doorway and remember an incredible person I had the opportunity to meet last year when I saw the dedication plaque upon the wall. The room was dedicated to Dr. Anne Smigel, someone who has been a patron to me, and many others, and who is no longer with us. As the first female principal of Ukrainian ancestry in Canada Smigel has inspired many, and I felt it was fitting that she be remembered in that room, where generations of Canadians will learn and grow.

This event taught me a lot about the importance of organization, inclusion, and communication in planning an event for a community. The audience was full of unfamiliar faces, with a few history professors and archivists I recognized here and there. The refreshments were exceptional and based on an archived cook book from the turn of the century. There was light jazz, and many places to have a good conversation. I would say that this event was a fantastic success, that it recognized the contribution the Archives & Special Collections makes and its potential now that it has appropriate space for staff and researchers.

Tomorrow Dr. Hlynka and I will meet at 10AM, to prepare for our presentation for the sixth-graders at St. Andrew's College about the Mazeppa Legend.

DAY 6 28 April, 2008

Today I met with Victoria, Katie, and Dr. Yereniuk at the CUCS. I was formally introduced to Dr. Yereniuk for the first time and enjoyed the company of the entire CUCS staff over a free catered lunch at University Centre from 11:30 until 1:00.

Achievements for today:

• I was added as a contributing author to the CUCS blog. This enables me to add material to the centre's official blog throughout the Summer.
  
• I linked my progress blog, the St. Andrew's College blog, and the CUCS blog together, making them easily accessible to each other from each site.
• I touched based with Dr. Yereniuk, explaining the basic abilities of the different blogs in publicizing events and information in a way that makes them accessible online to everyone.
• I added material to the Mazeppa wiki created by Denis.

Tomorrow I will meet with Denis at 2:30PM to attend the official opening of the new Archives & Special Collections space at Dafoe.

DAY 5 April 25, 2008

A TALK BY THE AMBASSDOR TO CANADA FROM UKRAINE


Today Dr. Hlynka and I were a part of the audience that attended a talk in the Engineering Building by Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Ostash. Ostash was in Winnipeg last night for the Winnipeg Art Gallery opening of an exhibit dedicated to Ukrainian artist David Builiuk (1882-1967) who is known as the "father of Russian and Ukrainian futurism".

Ostash discussed the priorities of contemporary foreign policy in Ukraine, and stressed its reflective nature of recent history and "European" values. Ostash described the goals of Ukrainian policy as Canadian in character, and are based on Ukrainians' shared love of freedom, democracy, and rule of law. The Ambassador offered warm words to Canada, commenting on the likeness of the Winnipeg municipal flag to the Ukrainian flag (both are half blue and half gold), and on the ties between Canada and Ukraine built by their history of friendly relations and the high number of Ukrainian immigrants (and their descendants) in Canada.

The underlying sentiment behind the Ambassador's visit was that Ukraine and Canada are friends, and that Ukraine is in need of Canada's continued support in its efforts to become a part of the Eurpean Union and NATO. Ostash pointed out that Ukraine is one of the only countries that takes part in all NATO peacekeeping missions - as in Bosnia, Sudan, Iraq, etc. - yet remains outside of NATO membership. Many questions were asked by the audience, and the Ambassador responded diplomatically to each of them.

Achievements for the day:

• Dr. Hlynka and I set up the Mazeppa Myth wetpaint wiki.
  
• The works of Isydore and Anthony Hlynka were discussed.
• Wikipedia navigation and participation were explored.
• A connection was made between the importance of preserving and communicating cultural information within the Ukrainian Canadian community, and more importantly, outside of it. As Dr. Hlynka said, "we speak to ourselves all the time". A community that is part of a bigger picture must gage its success by how many people outside of an exclusive community it can touch. That is real communication and real innovation, and in essence, the true spirit of Canadian multiculturalism.
  

On Monday I will meet with Victoria at the CUCS.

DAY 4 April 24, 2008

Today two important texts relating to Ukrainian Canadian history and to multiculturalism in Canada were examined:

• The Other Canadians by Isydore Hlynka, an important modern text comprised of over one hundred articles originally published in the Ukrainian Voice from 1971-1980.
• The Honourable Member for Vegreville: The Memoirs and diary of Anthony Hlynka, MP by Oleh W. Gerus, Denis Hlynka, and Gerald A. Friesen.
  

Works to be discussed at tomorrow morning's meeting.

DAY 3 April 23, 2008

Discussions for today:

• The importance of identifying the blogger
• The importance of identifying the institutions represented by the blog and quality control
• The importance of contextualization and quality control
• The new St. Andrew's College Blog
• The fluidity of the Mazepa mythos and imagery
  

Achievements of today:

• Created the new St. Andrew's Blog and presented it to administrative staff (Thanks to Genia and Melissa)
  
• Examined the wiki format of information creation
• Created the Mazepa Mythos wiki and experimented with formatting (currently set to private)
• Discovered the problems with adding images of Mazepa to the entry for Day 2. The problem should be fixed in the next couple of days by blogspot.
  
• Listened to Balfe's Mazeppa Waltz by the Olexander Koshetz Choir and the University of Manitoba's Women's Choir, as re-discovered by Dr. Hlynka.
• Secured copies of The Other Canadians by Isydore Hlynka and The Honourable Member for Vegreville: The Memoirs and diary of Anthony Hlynka, MP by Hlynka, Gerus, and Friesen from the St. Andrew's College library.

Mazepa Mythos wiki to be examined this Friday, April 25th, 2008. My task for tomorrow is to familiarize myself with the two Hlynka texts.

DAY 2 April 22, 2008

The Mazeppa Legend

In my readings related to the presentation of the Mazeppa legend to the sixth-grade class next week, I have read three versions of the tale and Byron's epic poem. They are:

• Mazeppa, The Chief of the Cossacks by Lawton B. Evans
• Mazeppa, The Cossack Chief by Charles Morris
• Mazeppa, The Hetman of the Cossacks, Russia - 1709 by M.B. Synge
• Mazeppa by Lord Byron

I found the Morris version to be the least useful, as it is a version of the tale which preserves many elements of the archaic narrative of which it is a part, and because it is generally vague and difficult to follow despite being the lengthier version of the three. The Synge version is more useful, providing vivid and captivating description, though it is laden with many historical anachronisms. My version of the Mazeppa legend will be most heavily based on the Evans selection. Evans' narrative achieves a balance between detail and clarity, and will be the most useful template to follow for the purposes of the sixth-grade presentation next week.

Karolya's "Storytime Mazeppa" to be submitted tomorrow morning as scheduled.

List of tasks for the internship/project

Karolya:

We will add to the list as things move on.

For now, two items are important:

1. Whatever you add, it is important by the end of the project that you meet with Victoria and Dr. Yereniuk to keep them appraised of what you are doing. Especially important are written notes so that Victoria or others can access and add to what you start. In other words, your project should be able to continue on without you at the close of the project.

2. These sites, all blogs, are ideas as to how others have done similar things. We shall talk about these "live" on Wednesday morning (tomorrow.)

Ukrainian Canadian - http://www.ukrcdn.com/

Mesopotamia West - http://mesopotamiawest.blogspot.com/

Zabava Program - Winnipeg - http://zabavawinnipeg.wordpress.com


Additional Activities as of May 9, 2008

3. Find a Mazeppa article by Mainardi, Patricia. In the Architecture Library journal Word & Image. Vol. 16 No.4 pp. 335-351. Copy it at CUCS, carefully. Special attention to the modern American Mazeppa. 2 copies.

4. Work with Victoria to update the CUCS blog.

5. Make a hardcopy of the blog - adjust colour/templates to avoid background waste.

6. Make an appointment to visit Dr. Gerus, bring him a hard copy of the blog. Show him what the project is like. An update on how things are going.


16 May, 2008: Task List for week of May 20th

1. Read Dr. Robert Klymasz material in CUCS online resource section. Make a list of 5-10 questions.
2. Use articles by Dr. Oleh Gerus on CUCS to make a 5 minute audio clip of the 3 waves of Ukrainian emigration described. **Note** A second installment of "recent trends" or immigration since 1947 would be useful to think about when reading material.
3. Explore Shelfari. Make bookshelves to link to blogs (one for Ukrainian Canadian books, one for U of M authors, Mazeppa, etc.)
4. Experiment with OttoBib.com - what are the benefits and weaknesses of this tool?
   

Citing CDs/sound: http://www.fairfield.k12.ct.us/tomlinson/ctomlinson02/cite_those_sources!.htm

APA:
http://lib.trinity.edu/research/citing/APAnontrad.shtml

DAY 1 April 21, 2008

Activities for Day 1 include the following:

• Orientation to the Education Building and introduction to staff
  
• Setting up of personal blog and work space
• Introduction to blogspot and podcasting
  
• Project outline for the following days
  

My research for the next day and a half will be related to Dr. Hlynka's work on the Mazepa legend, and to the presentation we will give to a group of schoolchildren next Wednesday, April the 30th, at St. Andrew's College.

My task is to read several adaptations of the Mazepa legend, as found at the site for The Baldwin Project - a site which delivers "yesterday's classics to today's children" - and to create an appropriate and informative version to present to the school group. This undertaking illustrates well how Ukrainian history and culture has permeated both popular and high Western culture to a significant degree. My version of Mazepa's story will be examined this Wednesday, April 23rd.