The Role of Popular Culture in Times of Disaster: A Case Study of the War Morale Songs in the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Abstract The whole-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has produced a massive response in various media and art forms. Memes, cartoons, graphic novels, street art create an interesting war imagery and portray the effect of the war on society and the individual. Our project focuses on the popular songs created during this war, especially those included in music videos. The songs perform various functions; they express emotions ‒ of pain, sorrow, hope; they might be propagandistic calling for action; they might display deeply personal feelings about the lost world of peace; they may help one survive, and they also help one reflect on the impact of the war on the everyday life of the people and the country, in other words, on the current existential crisis. Songs refer to the moral issues and values in human life, and they articulate the pride in national heroes and national culture. In this article, we intend to collect, categorize, and interpret the songs with focus on the war morale songs that are employed in the mobilization efforts and the shaping of public opinion. Although they are of heterogeneous professional quality, our aim is to document the songs brought about by the war as the personal and political response to the events. Our primary interest lies in the hermeneutics of the messages inscribed in the music, lyrics and visuals.