Dreads, Battles, and "Steals": Two Centuries of Subcultures in Ukraine

Black clothes and kohl-lined eyes, cemetery strolls and poems about death; baggy pants, rap, and graffiti; metal chains, mohawks, and heavy boots — fierce debates have raged for decades around youth subcultures. For some, they are a manifestation of teenage rebellion; for others, radical movements that pose a threat to society. But what really lies behind these striking images? What values are these seemingly "strange" groups communicating?
In her work, Ukrainian folklorist and anthropologist Daria Antsybor explores how Ukrainian youth have fought for their right to their own cultural identity for centuries. From the first movements of the imperial and Soviet eras to the present day, she traces the connection between the past and the present, revealing why it is so important for some of us to present ourselves to the world in this particular way.