Communism and Soviet Literature

Catalog description

The purpose of the course is to objectively study Marxist thought and its implementation by Soviet Literary practitioners. Clichés of the Cold War – presenting Soviet artistic experience as either a Big Truth or Big Lie -- will be stripped in favor of a fresh evaluation. We will consider salient writings of the Marxist canon, then examine Soviet creative output as it strove to embody Marxist ideals within artistic idiom. While the empty slogans, downright lies, and delusions of Soviet Communism are by now obvious, its aspirations and genuine feelings need to be re-examined. Enrollment limited to 20.