Russian Studies Topics

Catalog description

(A1)Literary Culture of the 19th Century Russia (6 Units) The purpose of the course is to give students an introduction to the cultural environment of the Imperial Russia through the works of major 19th century Russian writers. We will read and analyze some masterpieces of Russian fiction, including works of Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. Emphasis will be made on how these brilliant classics reflected turbulent history of the 19th century Russia. (A2) Literary Culture of the 20th Century Russia (6 Units) This mini-course focuses on Russian prose and poetry of the early 20th century. Readings will include the "proletarian" writings of Maxim Gorky, "symbolism" of Alexander Blok, "futurism" and "modernism" of Vladimir Mayakovsky as well as works of some other authors. We will discuss such important issues for 20th century Russian Cultural History as the role of intelligentsia in the Russian Revolution, the content and method of Russian decadence, symbolism, and modernism, as well as imprisonment, liberation, and exile that became so important for many writers and poets.