Lesia Vasylivna Pikun, Associate Professor of the Department of Foreign Philology and PhD in Philology, participated in the English-language “Literary Lounge.” This innovative discussion platform operates at the Academy of the Penitentiary Service of Ukraine.
The event brought together cadets and students to discuss a compelling topic: the psychology of human emotions, motives, and relationships viewed through the lens of world literature and cinema. The discussion focused on how works of art and films help us better understand human behavior, subconscious desires, and internal conflicts.
During the meeting, Lesia Vasylivna conducted an open interactive lesson where students applied practical psychoanalytic tools to analyze texts. Specifically, they:
- Developed “reading between the lines” skills: Learning to decode subconscious meanings hidden beneath the obvious plot.
- Explored symbolic settings: Investigating how elements of artistic space, interiors, or even weather (such as the motif of continuous rain) convey emotional deficiency or a character’s need for safety.
- Identified psychological defense mechanisms: Learning to spot signs of repression, projection, or emotional avoidance in character behavior patterns.
- Analyzed complex dynamics: Examining cognitive dissonance, hidden psychological games, and power imbalances in relationships.
The organizers of this collaboration were Olena Vasylieva, Associate Professor of the Department of Pedagogy and Professional Ethics, and Oleksii Borysov, Head of the Department of Linguistics.
This collaboration within the “Literary Lounge” has been an excellent experience for both Chernihiv Polytechnic National University and the Academy of the Penitentiary Service of Ukraine. We look forward to many more joint projects in the future.
