Therefore, only the first session of the conference entitled Contexts will cover traditional themes, namely: military action in Galicia, the issue of demographic and migratory changes during the war, the policy of the empires (Austria-Hungary and Russia), national issues of the Poles and the Ukrainians including political ambitions of the minorities.
Other sessions are expected to focus on the human aspect of these four years. The Great War left many traces in human memory and in the landscape of the former Galicia. The impact of the war on the human psyche and on the material conditions was overwhelming because Galicia became the scene of the battles and hostilities. This fact has been obscured by the trauma of World War Two and this is precisely why it is worth recalling on World War One Centenary. Discussion will focus on the following subjects: efforts to maintain everyday life in abnormal conditions, providing the basic necessities of life, the functioning of social institutions, the defence of legal and moral norms as well as signs of anarchy and deprivation. We want to focus on the trauma caused by massive repressions, suffering and escapes. Finally, the memory of the war in the broadest sense of the word, memory of the Poles, Jews, Ukrainians, Germans, soldiers and civilians, the war reflected in literature, landscape, religion, myths and commemorates. Papers on those topics will be divided into four thematic sessions:
Death, laughter and prayer (destruction, repressions, anarchy, customs, entertainment and religion at the time of the war)
Soldiers and civilians (soldiers' psyche, post-war depression, relations between soldiers and civilians, soldiers' families)
Daily life in the times of danger (the impact of the war on everyday life)
Human memory - collective memory (literature, myths, cults).
Conferences languages: Polish, English, Ukrainian, Russian, German. We provide accommodation and board for lecturers and will refund travel costs (partially from North America). Please send your submissions to: andrzejzieba1@wp.pl
On behalf of the organizing committee
Andrzej A. Zięba, PhD Hab.
Secretary of the East European Commission
Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences