RUSS2901

Russian Culture II: From 1900 to the Present Fall 2012 MWF 2-2:50 Instructor: Alec Brookes Office hours: WF 3-4, SN-3052

An interdisciplenary exploration of Russian culture from 1900 to the present. Each week we examine one work of art from a broad survey of prose, poetry, music, theatre, visual art, cinema and performance art. Each topic will be introduced in its broader cultural context as well the political, social, philosophical and economic forces that influenced their creation.

SCHEDULE: September 5 & 7: Introduction: Themes and Issues September 10, 12 & 14: Turn of the Century: Anton Chekhov, Three Sisters (play) September 17, 19 & 21: Modernism in Music: Skriabin, Profokiev et al. Reading: Alexander Blok, Twelve (poem) September 24, 26 & 28: Revolution and Everyday Life: Dziga Vertov, Enthusiasm (film) Suggested: Lost Province of Film (screening TBA) Man with a Movie Camera October 1, 3 & 5: Modernism and the Avant-Garde: Khlebnikov (selected poetry), Mayakovsky (Bedbug - play), Kharms (selected short stories), Kandinsky (painting) October 10 & 12: NEP economic reforms and Parody: Ilf & Petrov, 12 Chairs (novel) October 15, 17 & 22: Russia Abroad: Vladimir Nabokov, Pnin (novel)

OCTOBER 19TH: Midterm Exam

Octover 22, 24 & 26: A Brighter, Happier Future (Socialist Realism): Grigory Alexandrov, Circus (film) October 29, 31 & November 2: Thaw I: Great Patriotic War re-interpreted: Grigory Chukhrai, Ballad of a Solider (film) November 5, 7 & 9: Thaw 2: Gulag remembered: Solzhenitsyn, One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (novella); Varlam Shalamov, Kolyma Tales (short stories) November 14 & 16: Samizdat (Underground Self-Publishing): Venedikt Erofeev, Moscow to the End of the Line (novella) November 19, 21 & 23: Decay of the Soviet Union: Vladimir Soloviev, ASSA (film) November 26, 28 & 30: Conclusion: Where we are now?: Voina and Pussy Riot (performance)

NOVEMBER 30th: Final Papers Due (10 pages)

REQUIREMENTS: Participation: 20% Presentation (approx. 15 minutes): 25% Midterm Exam: 20% Final Paper (approx. 10 pages): 35%