ENG 300YDemons, Fools & Madmen

Catalog

Demons, fools and madmen course throughout Russian culture, from folklore to film. Surely their persistence contributes significantly to the long-held notion that, in Virginia Woolf's words, "it is the soul that is the chief character in Russian fiction," and a tormented soul, at that. This course will trace such particularly Russian manifestations as the "holy fool" and "petty demon," the "little man" and "madmen's memoirs," against a background of folkloric, theological, existential and political considerations. Although not a medical course - we will not learn how to diagnose and treat mental illness - our journey will investigate some fundamental questions concerning madness and culture. For instance, is there a discernible boundary between insanity and imagination? Do criteria for madness change as a culture evolves? Is madness a destructive delusion or a frightening reflection of the passions, ambitions and malaise of "normal" society? Finally, who is insane: the incarcerated or those who would lock them up? Our close readings of folklore and classic Russian literature, enhanced by art and film viewing and critical commentary, will inevitably prompt students to probe the theme of madness and culture in the present day and beyond the boundaries of Russia, thus enhancing our understanding of human experience through the study of literature.