Copernico-Blog

During the Second World War, Ukraine was the largest Soviet republic, with Kharkiv as the second big Ukrainian city to be fully occupied by the Germans. Kharkiv belonged to the so-called military occupation zone under the Wehrmacht’s control. Those who survived this occupation (still not well...

Where can Eastern Europe be placed in the current debates about (post)colonial traditions? What colonial attributes and practices of domination 'from outside', and what colonizing conditions within the greater region of 'Eastern Europe', can be identified? Are there interrelations with Ottoman or...

Data are never objective and free from bias or ideological convictions, just like historical sources. Data convey conflicts, hegemonies, and colonialisms. In his latest article, our author Peter Haslinger argues for bringing the epistemic baggage of data and data structures into the focus of digital...

The exhibition "Borders in Art. Three generations of Czech art" (21 May–15 August 2021) delved into how visible the visual arts make "borders". Its focus was on the Czech art scene from the 1920s up to the present. Three remarkable artistic standpoints – supplied by Toyen, Magdalena Jetelová,...

Since its launch in September 2021, Copernico has had an eventful year. The war in Ukraine has overshadowed all activities since the end of February 2022, and the team is continuously engaging with new portal content and projects. A lot has happened behind the scenes. The institutions in the...

How can ordinary Ukrainians play a role in preserving cultural heritage during wartime? One project that is empowering them is Backup Ukraine which allows volunteers in Ukraine to scan objects in the country, which are then turned into 3D models that are preserved in the digital cloud.

The Museum’s motto is “We study Freedom! We protect Freedom! We create Freedom!”. The institution successfully creates a democratic and creative space that generates social solidarity and activism in wartime conditions. Our guest author Elżbieta Olzacka describes the construction of the...

What is the role of digital humanities during wartime? Since February 24th, 2022, Ukraine is enduring attacks from Russian troops. A broad majority stands by Ukraine with various initiatives – humanitarian as well as cultural. We spoke with Stanford University’s Quinn Dombrowski about an...

The online portal "Copernico. History and Cultural Heritage in Eastern Europe" is calling for submissions for the new topic in focus "Jewish Life in Eastern Europe – Past and Present".