I think one of the things I'm taking away from this is the imagine of Ukraine as modern, fresh, innovative and creative. Its light years from the Russian very offensive idea of being little more than peasants working the land.
Yes clearly the farmers (and tractors!) are really important to Ukraine, but I think it utterly shatters the stereotypes that many had. Not just the Russians but also us in Western Europe and North America.
Its a massive generational shift that has been a long time coming, but has hit Ukraine (its still to fully happen in the UK by the way) largely led by political leadership moving to Gen X and beyond.
The music stuff is particularly significant and important to me on a personal level. (Not just Eurovision but beyond that). Its really good to see.
I also note that Zelensky, really has such an amazing understanding of this, in terms of propaganda. Stuff like inviting U2. It might make people laugh and joke about Ukrainians suffering enough already, but there's an important point here. I'm pretty much the same age as Zelensky. U2 were there and were this important international cultural reference point about the Wall falling and the Bosnia war when we were children. We were on separate sides of the wall. You keep seeing this reference point within the messaging to the 1990s and this change. Its the resonnance point. How can we better identify and break down those differences? What do we have in common?
Its globalisation and global community. And one slightly separate from the Anglo-sphere. Its European identity to a point, but does encompass the wider western world. Culture, culture, culture. Shared culture.
All these shared PR messages. Apparently the Ukrainians spent considerable time focusing on national identity points just before addressing individual parliaments to stress and hit on those shared identity points.
Its reoccurant theme in a digital world.
Then Putin stands up and starts talking about traditional values as if he and Russia have this cultural relevance and importance to the West. The Christendom stuff doesn't really cut through too much in Europe - it does more in the US, but even then its competing with the imagery and significance of the iconic cultural status of U2 as well. It doesn't hit the mark, particularly with a younger generation. Putin can try and drive the culture gap wedge, but he's up against powerful stuff that marks our personal historical understanding of the world and development of national identity.
I think its a really revelant point to make this week in terms of Eurovision. Russia always threw the kitchen sink at it. They really thought of it as important. They've had some really good entries in recent years but just missed out for various reasons on winning it. I personally loved Sergey Lazarev - he did two songs: "You Are the Only One" 2016 which came third and "Scream" 2019 which also came third topping the public vote. His staging was brilliant. "A Million Voices" came second in 2015 but got booed in the arena. Their best shot might have been Big Little in 2020 till the contest got pulled due to covid - it was between them and Iceland that year. (FWIW I believe Lazarev posted anti-war stuff at the start of the conflict then pulled or had his social media accounts shut). This stuff MATTERS.
It's in line with how the sports stuff mattered to Russia too. Why drug up to the eye balls if it doesn't? They wanted the cultural influence.
In terms of historical cultural influence, I think I've also had my eyes opened to that too. Stuff that we'd see as 'soviet' or 'russian' but was actually Ukrainian.
It puts Ukraine on the map BEYOND the war. Thats SOOOOO important.
It was already on mine and DH's bucket list of places to go, but its amazing to see how many other people, who perhaps aren't as minded to do strange trips as us, are now keen to visit.
All these refugees across Europe, possibly don't realise their ambassador roles they now unwittingly are creating too. Connections that, even when the war is over, and they may return to Ukraine will continue. And will draw people into Ukraine. Its become somewhere important. In this sense, I think it differs from Bosnia which didn't have this Eurovision style postcard from the Ukrainian Tourist Board to accompany its conflict.
Anyway, enough rambling from me. I have shitloads to do so I can make sure I can fully sit on my arse at 8pm tonight.