Russian Pop Culture: Protest and Propaganda

Catalog description

How does Russian culture reflect recent history? How does official culture and various counter movements frame Russia's political present, the country's relationship with its neighbors and multiethnic communities at home? From mainstream entertainment to independent alternatives, Russian artists are addressing changes happening in a country rocked by authoritarianism, corruption and militarism. Under the guise of strengthening the nation's 'spiritual bonds,' Russian authorities are promoting nationalism, religious dogmatism and uncritical nostalgia for the Soviet past. Protesting these trends are independent artistic initiatives, proposing counter-narratives, social critiques and calls for action. Students learn about the politics of Russian culture today by engaging with texts, films, music and media projects. All course materials and instruction are in English. Students with sufficient language proficiency have an option to analyze sources in Russian.