The History of Ukraine

This is educational and entertainment propaganda that tells the story of the nation of Ukraine. It was created by Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and it is a music video unpithily titled “The History of Ukraine—Complete and Uncompromising, Unadorned and Pop.” With rap from the venerable Ukrainian hip-hop group TNMK, lyrics by the activist poet Artem Polezhaka, and nostalgic hand-drawn animation by Sashko Danylenko, the video is post-Soviet “Schoolhouse Rock!” for digital natives. But every national story has a political slant. This is political propaganda designed for nation-building.