Introduction to Russian Civilization
MWF 11:15 - 12:20
Thornton 104
Victoria Sevastianova
Reed 201
Office Hours: MW 12:30 - 1:30, and by appointment
This course examines Russia as a cultural, national and historical entity part of and yet apart from both Europe and Asia. Russia is a continental power of vast proportions with rich traditions, character, and national myths. The course is designed as an introduction to Russian civilization and combines chronological and thematic approaches. Accompanied by a brief survey of Russian history, the course will examine certain determinants of Russian culture, including Christianity, multinationalism, and the status of Russian civilization on the periphery of Europe. The course will then deal with the art, music and popular literature of Russia, and conclude by examining certain contemporary issues, including the complex coexistence of Russian and “Soviet” culture.
| Date | Assignment | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, January 4 | Introduction | |
| Friday, January 6 | Thompson 9-16; Epic 43-51 (Course Reader) | Kievan Rus |
| Monday, January 9 | Thompson 16-23; Epic 65-71 (CR) | The Orthodox Church |
| Wednesday, January 11 | Thompson 25-39; Epic 198-207 (CR) | The Tatar Yoke |
| Friday, January 13 | Thompson 44-49 | Andrei Rublev – movie clips and discussion |
| Monday, January 16 | No class | |
| Tuesday, January 17 (x-hour: 12-12.50) | “Prince Ivan, the Firebird, and the Gray Wolf” (CR) | Russian Folklore and Russian Xenophobia |
| Wednesday, January 18 | Thompson 59-75 | Ivan the Terrible/The Time of Troubles |
| Friday, January 20 | “The Frog Princess,” “The Feather of Finist, The Bright Falcon” (CR) | Russian Folktales – cartoons and discussion |
| Monday, January 23 | Thompson 77-88 | Serfdom and Schism |
| Wednesday, January 25 | Thompson 95-110; Pushkin The Bronze Horseman (CR) | Peter the Great |
| Friday, January 27 | Gogol “Nevsky Prospect” (CR) Discuss your presentation topic with me by today! | St. Petersburg – movie clips and discussion. |
| Monday, January 30 | Thompson 111-130 | Catherine the Great |
| Wednesday, February 1 | Monas “Unreal City: St. Petersburg and Russian Culture” (CR) | Moscow vs. St. Petersburg |
| Friday, February 3 | Midterm examination | |
| Monday, February 6 | Thompson 133-145; Berlin (CR ) | Russian Culture 1800-1850 |
| Tuesday, February 7 (x-hour: 12-12.50) | Pushkin Sampler (CR) | Eugene Onegin – movie clips and discussion |
| Wednesday, February 8 | Karamzin “Poor Liza” (CR), Pushkin “The Squire’s Daughter” (CR) | The Myth of Pushkin |
| Friday, February 10 | No class | |
| Monday, February 13 | Turgenev “Khor and Kalinych,” “Hamlet of the Shchigrovsky District” (CR) | Slavophiles and Westernizers |
| Wednesday, February 15 | Notes from Underground | Dostoevsky |
| Friday, February 17 | Notes from Underground | Notes from Underground - discussion |
| Monday, February 20 | Prepare your presentations and questions | The Silver Age - presentations |
| Wednesday, February 22 | Prepare your presentations and questions | Avant-Garde Art - presentations |
| Friday, February 24 | Thompson 184-186, 229-231 | Russian Music and Ballet – film clips and discussion |
| Monday, February 27 | Thompson 193-215; Shalamov (CR) | Social and Cultural Revolutions |
| Wednesday, March 1 | Thompson 217-229; Salisbury (CR) | Stalinist Culture |
| Friday, March 3 | Thompson 231-238; Glinka (CR) | Circus, Jolly Fellows – movie clips and discussion |
| Monday, March 6 | Thompson 251-257, 271-274, 292-299; Pilkington (CR) | Russia 1953 - 1991 |
| Wednesday, March 8 | Thompson 301-313, 330-331 Pick up final exam |
Contemporary Russian Culture and Society. Conclusion. |
| Saturday, March 11 | Take-home final due by 5pm. |
Attendance 10%; participation 15%; art/poetry presentation (discussed with me by January 27, presented on February 20 or February 22) 20%; midterm exam 25%; take-home final due March 11 30%.
The following texts have been ordered through Wheelock Bookstore:
