Contemporary Ukrainian Literature as a Field of Generational Changes

Abstract

This study examines the key processes shaping contemporary Ukrainian literature. It analyses the transformations that have taken place over the thirty years of Ukraine’s independence and identifies the developmental trends that have defined this period. The analysis is grounded in a generational framework, highlighting the contributions of several literary cohorts: (a) the generation of the 1960s; (b) the generation of the 1980s; (c) the millennial generation; and (d) the youngest, emerging generation. Notable representatives of these groups include Valerii Shevchuk and Lina Kostenko, Oksana Zabuzhko and Yurii Andrukhovych, as well as Serhii Zhadan. Their works provide a valuable basis for exploring the distinct conceptual paradigms of each generation. A notable feature of the contemporary literary landscape is the interplay between collaboration and creative rivalry among authors of different generations. While intergenerational cooperation is common, younger writers often approach the works of their predecessors as a challenge rather than a model to emulate. Although creative priorities have shifted over time, the dialogue between generations has never been completely broken. In recent years, Ukrainian literature has seen a renewed focus on patriotic and socially significant themes, reflecting the wider socio-political climate of the past decade, from the Revolution of Dignity (2013–2014) and the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine to the ongoing full-scale Russo Ukrainian war. In this context, the role of the writer is no longer a matter of debate: it has become an inseparable part of the nation’s organised resistance to aggression.