Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Fantastic Imagination in Russian Culture

Catalog description

This course explores masterpieces of Russian fantastic imagination from folklore and 19th-century classics to 20th and 21st-century dystopia, magic realism and science fiction. Readings include works by Nikolai Gogol, Mikhail Bulgakov, the Strugatsky brothers, and Victor Pelevin. Discussions focus on 1) the philosophical quest of Russian fantastic authors and their ideas about humanity, the meaning of existence, and human relationship with nature; 2) the texture of fantasy, including the absurd and surreal, the grotesque humor, and macabre irony.