Soviet Film: Art vs. Power

Catalog description

This course introduces students to Soviet cinema from its origins through the era of perestroika, focusing on the complex relationship between artistic expression and state ideology. We will examine cinema’s role as an ideological tool used to promote Soviet values and aesthetic norms-while also serving, at times, as a space for personal conscience, memory, resistance, and the expression of minority perspectives and cultural identities. Students will explore works by prominent Soviet writers, directors, and actors, analyzing their contributions to world cinematography and how they navigated ideological pressures while pursuing artistic integrity. Screenings span comedy, war films, sci-fi, and melodrama, including classics such as Battleship Potemkin, Stalker, Mimino, Office Romance, and others. Offered spring only.