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Russian Literature in Cultural Context: Spring 2012 Course at University of Copenhagen & D, Study notes of American literature

Information about a russian literature course offered by the university of copenhagen in collaboration with dis - danish institute of study abroad during the spring 2012 semester. The course aims to provide students with a general understanding of russian culture and history through the lens of literature, with a focus on works by authors such as pushkin, gogol, dostoevsky, nabokov, bulgakov, and brodsky. Students will engage in textual analysis, participate in discussions, and write analytical papers. The course includes lectures on russian cultural, political, and economic history, as well as film screenings and study tours.

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2010/2011

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www.dis.dk
Russian Literature in a Cultural Context
Spring 2012
University of Copenhagen & DIS Danish Institute of Study Abroad
The course provides a general understanding of Russian culture and history through the lens of literature.
Russian cinema and art will be studied alongside Russian literary masterpieces by authors such as
Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Nabokov, Bulgakov and Brodsky, among others.
Classroom: F24-203 (Vestergade 23)
Time: Mondays and Thursdays, 11:40 13:00 and field studies/film screenings some Wednesdays (daytime)
Tuesday and Thursday nights
Instructor: Jon Kyst - email kyst@hum.ku.dk
B.A. (Russian Language and Literature, University of Copenhagen, 1993)
M.A. (Russian Language and Literature, University of Copenhagen, 1996)
Ph.D. (English and Russian, University of Copenhagen, 2004).
Exchange student, St. Petersburg State University 1993. Visiting Scholar, Columbia University, 2000-2004.
Part-time lecturer, University of Copenhagen. Free-lance translator and interpreter. Director and partner,
Akademisk Rejsebureau, Copenhagen.
With DIS since 2003.
DIS Russia study tour leader.
DIS contacts
Jakob Lorentzen, ECH Program Director, jlo@dis.dk
Emily Smith, ECH Assistant, esm@dis.dk
Objectives
The aim of the course is to demonstrate how Russia is culturally different from the rest of Europe and the
world.
This aim is achieved by reading and discussing Russian works of Russian literature and by learning about the
cultural and historical context in which the works appeared.
By the end of the course the participants will have developed their skills in textual analysis and they will be
able to provide informed answers to the question „What is Russia?‟, drawing on their knowledge of some of
the most central works in Russia‟s literary and cultural heritage within the following four topic areas: Russia
between East and West; Dostoevsky’s spiritual novel; What went wrong? Russia’s 20th century totalitarian
heritage and What went well in Russia’s 20th century ?
Content, readings and the class as a learning environment
The course is divided into four different topic areas central to the history of Russian literature and Russia‟s
cultural history. Each topic area has its major focus on readings of literary texts. As the students discuss the
texts in class, they are provided with theoretical and critical tools instrumental to understanding the literary
works. To promote an understanding of the historical and cultural context specific to the Russian works
studied, the course includes lectures on a series of topics in Russian cultural, as well as political and
economic history. Apart from the Russian prose fiction and poetry, visual art, music and cinema are studied
and discussed; both to support the literature read in class, but also as examples of Russia n culture studied on
a par with literature.
Students write four analytical papers that demonstrate the students‟ ability to incorporate theoretical and
critical tools as well as knowledge of Russian culture and history in an analysis of literary texts, fil ms and
works of art studied in the class.
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Russian Literature in a Cultural Context

Spring 2012

University of Copenhagen & DIS – Danish Institute of Study Abroad

The course provides a general understanding of Russian culture and history through the lens of literature. Russian cinema and art will be studied alongside Russian literary masterpieces by authors such as Pushkin, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Nabokov, Bulgakov and Brodsky, among others.

Classroom: F24-203 (Vestergade 23)

Time: Mondays and Thursdays, 11:40 – 13:00 and field studies/film screenings some Wednesdays (daytime) Tuesday and Thursday nights

Instructor: Jon Kyst - email kyst@hum.ku.dk

B.A. (Russian Language and Literature, University of Copenhagen, 1993) M.A. (Russian Language and Literature, University of Copenhagen, 1996) Ph.D. (English and Russian, University of Copenhagen, 2004). Exchange student, St. Petersburg State University 1993. Visiting Scholar, Columbia University, 2000-2004. Part-time lecturer, University of Copenhagen. Free-lance translator and interpreter. Director and partner, Akademisk Rejsebureau, Copenhagen. With DIS since 2003. DIS Russia study tour leader.

DIS contacts

Jakob Lorentzen, ECH Program Director, jlo@dis.dk Emily Smith, ECH Assistant, esm@dis.dk

Objectives

The aim of the course is to demonstrate how Russia is culturally different from the rest of Europe and the world.

This aim is achieved by reading and discussing Russian works of Russian literature and by learning about the cultural and historical context in which the works appeared.

By the end of the course the participants will have developed their skills in textual analysis and they will be able to provide informed answers to the question „What is Russia?‟, drawing on their knowledge of some of the most central works in Russia‟s literary and cultural heritage within the following four topic areas: Russia between East and West ; Dostoevsky’s spiritual novel ; What went wrong? Russia’s 20th^ century totalitarian heritage and What went well in Russia’s 20th^ century?

Content, readings and the class as a learning environment

The course is divided into four different topic areas central to the history of Russian literature and Russia‟s cultural history. Each topic area has its major focus on readings of literary texts. As the students discuss the texts in class, they are provided with theoretical and critical tools instrumental to understanding the literary works. To promote an understanding of the historical and cultural context specific to the Russian works studied, the course includes lectures on a series of topics in Russian cultural, as well as political and economic history. Apart from the Russian prose fiction and poetry, visual art, music and cinema are studied and discussed; both to support the literature read in class, but also as examples of Russian culture studied on a par with literature.

Students write four analytical papers that demonstrate the students‟ ability to incorporate theoretical and critical tools as well as knowledge of Russian culture and history in an analysis of literary texts, films and works of art studied in the class.

Course requirements

  1. 4 analytical papers (1,800-2,000 words each) 80 % (20 % each)

  2. Participation 20 %

Grading, papers, plagiarism and students’ rights and obligations.

Grading follows the American ABCDF standard. A+ is not given. Grading does not follow a “curve.” This means that in theory, all students in the class can get an A for the class. All grades are used, including C‟s and D‟s. Consider “B” the grade given for an average performance.

Essays must be submitted on time printed, double-spaced, with word count and a list of works cited. Use MLA, Chicago or other standard formats. The professor is not obliged to read late papers and reserves the right to give an “F” grade for late papers. The professor is skilled and experienced in detecting plagiarism. If students are caught plagiarizing, they will fail the entire course. Please keep in mind that submitting papers already submitted in your home school or in Copenhagen, or parts thereof, is considered plagiarism on a par with copy/pasting from others‟ work. If you are in doubt whether you are plagiarizing or not, ask the professor before you hand in your paper.

The participation grade reflects the fact that the class is designed to be discussion-based. This means that students are expected to take a very active part in all discussions. The participation grade also reflects the student‟s preparation for class, and punctuality (not being late for class). Absence from the class not due to illness will affect the participation grade and can ultimately result in an “F” grade for participation.

The students have the right to receive timely and substantial feedback on their work in written form, especially work in progress. The students have the right to organize individual meetings with the professor to discuss any issue relevant for the learning process. The students have the right to meet with the professor prior to or during the process of writing papers. Finally, the students have the right to be informed about their expected participation grade during the semester and how it can be improved.

Study tour

Students are very much encouraged to participate in the optional study tour to Russia which is led by the professor and includes sights and discussion topics of very direct relevance for the course.

Readings:

Akhmatova, Anna. Poems (Binder)

Brodsky, Joseph. “A Guide to a Renamed City” (In Less Than One )

Brodsky, Joseph. “In a Room and a Half” (In Less Than One )

Brodsky, Joseph. Less Than One.

Brodsky, Joseph. Poems (Binder)

Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Master and Margarita.

Bulgakov, Mikhail. The Heart of a Dog.

Chaadaev, Petr. Philosophical Letters (Binder)

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment.

Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Notes from the Underground

Gogol, Nikolai. “Diary of a Madman” (In Plays and Petersburg Tales )

Gogol, Nikolai. “Nevsky Prospect” (In Plays and Petersburg Tales )

Course plan:

Topic area I: Russia between East and West

1. Thursday, 20 January

Pushkin, “Queen of Spades”

Screening of Tchaikovsky’s opera Pique Dame (excerpts)

Lecture: Pushkin: Russia‟s national poet

2. Monday, 24 January

Pushkin, ”The Bronze Horseman”

Lecture: Pre-Petrine and Petrine Russia

Wednesday, 26 January 13:00-17:

Film Screening: Brother

Room: Library Cinema

3. Thursday, 27 January

Brodsky, “A Guide to a Renamed City”

Lecture: Sight-seeing in St. Petersburg

4. Monday, 31 January

Lotman, “The Symbolism of St. Petersburg” (Binder)

Lecture: The St. Petersburg problem in Russian cultural history

5. Monday, 7 February

Gogol, “The Overcoat”

Lecture: Nikolai Gogol‟s life and time

6. Thursday, 10 February

Tiutchev, “Russia is a Thing of Which” (Binder)

Chaadaev, from “Philosophical Letters” (Binder)

Lecture: Russia’s national debates in the 19th^ century

7. Monday, 14 February

Gogol, “Nevsky Prospekt”

Lecture: Gogol‟s St. Petersburg

8. Thursday, 17 February

Gogol, “The Nose” and “Diary of a Madman”

1 st^ analytical paper due in class

Topic area II: Dostoevsky’s spiritual novel

9. Monday, 21 February

Dostoevsky, Notes From the Underground , Part I

Lecture: Dostoevsky‟s life and time

10. Thursday, 24 February

Dostoevsky, Notes From the Underground , Part II

Dostoevsky, “Winter Notes on Summer Impressions” (in Notes from the Underground )

Lecture: Dostoevsky and the West

11. Monday, 28 February

Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment , Parts I-II

Lecture: Dostoevsky‟s St. Petersburg

12. Thursday, 3 March

Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment , Parts III-IV

Frank, “The World of Raskolnikov” (567-77 in Crime and Punishment )

“Background and Sources” (467-82 in Crime and Punishment )

Lecture: Dostoevsky‟s gospel

13. Monday, 14 March

Dostoevsky, Crime and Punishment , Part V-VI, “Epilogue”

Mikhail Bakhtin, “From Problems of Dostoevsky’s Poetics ” (643-55 in Crime and Punishment )

2 nd^ analytical paper due in class

Topic area III: What went wrong? Russia’s 20th^ century totalitarian heritage

14. Thursday, 17 March

Bulgakov, Heart of a Dog

Lecture: Culture I and II the cultural consequences of the the 1917 Revolution

Thursday, 17 March 18:00 – 21:

Film screening: Heart of a Dog

Room: Library Cinema

15. Monday, 21 March

Bulgakov, Master and Margarita, Part I

Lecture: Bulgakov‟s life and time

21. Monday, 28 April

Nabokov, Speak, Memory

Shklovsky, “Art as Technique”

Lecture: Russia‟s contribution to 20th^ century writing and literary theory

22. Thursday, 2 May

Nabokov, Speak, Memory

Lecture: Nabokov‟s cross-linguistic writing

23. Monday, 5 May

Brodsky, In a Room and a Half

Lecture: Life and culture under late Soviet socialism

4th analytical paper due on Monday , 9 May at 15:00 at the ECH office, Vestergade 5- 35