Portraits of Tsarist Russia: Intrigue, Innovation, Institution

Catalog description

This course covers the history, literature, and culture of Russia from the accession of Ivan IV "the Terrible" in 1547 to the death of Catherine II "the Great" in 1796, representing the monumental period of transition whereby the Tsardom of Russia became the Russian Empire. It is organized chronologically in week-long units that each explore an aspect of social and cultural history through a primary focus on a single literary text, film, or historical document. Main texts will be supplemented with additional materials, including paintings, icons, historical readings, cultural-analytical readings, excerpts from other literary works, &c. Our aim is not only to understand the social codes and rituals that informed early modern Russian life as such, but also to investigate the symbolic value later taken on by the monarchs, historical events, and social conflicts of this era, employing a dual focus on literary interpretation and social history throughout.