Tetyana Shlikhar

Biography

Professor Shlikhar’s research focuses on the study of film, cultural memory, ideology, and empire/nation relations. She is currently working on her book, Parallel Realities in Russian and Ukrainian Historical Film, in which she examines the ways in which post-Soviet historical film is used by state authorities to construct cultural identities, wherein contemporary films generate discourses that make history a site of contestation. Prof. Shlikhar’s research addresses the contrasting representations of a shared past in Russian and Ukrainian historical films and the ideological agendas suggested by the filmmakers. In her chapter “Russia on the Margins?” (Cinemasaurus 2020) she discusses the imperial implications in Russian cinema, the marginal image of Russia between East and West, as well as issues of shared history and Russian borderlines.

Prof. Shlikhar has many years of experience teaching all levels of Russian, including an immersive language program at the Summer Language Institute (University of Pittsburgh). She also teaches a wide range of courses on Russian literature, culture, and cinema. Before joining Notre Dame, Prof. Shlikhar served as Russian Major Undergraduate Advisor at the University of Pittsburgh and has a research interest in course design, curriculum planning and assessment.

Born in the Soviet Union, Prof. Shlikhar grew up during the difficult transition for Ukraine after it acquired its independence. She witnessed many transformations in the country over the last thirty years, which eventually led to her current research interests. She also defended her first Ph.D. dissertation in Translation Studies with research on translation for the theater.