Russian Studies
Term:  

Spring Quarter

Dept Course No and Title Instructor
RUSSIAN (S18)50  DEMONS AND PROPHETS IN RUSSIAN LITERATUREMJOLSNESS, L.
A famous Russian writer said, "all Russian literature is, to a certain degree, a struggle with the temptation of demonism." In this course, we will grapple with this claim. We'll examine the main shaping contexts of literary demonism: the Russian Orthodox and folk tradition, the demonization of historical figures, and views of art as intrinsically demonic, and trace the development of a literary tradition of demonism in the works of classical Russian authors ranging from Pushkin and Lermontov, Gogol and Dostoevsky, through to the poets and prose writers of modernism (including Blok, Akhmatova, Bely, Sologub, Rozanov, Zamiatin), through to the end of the 20th century.
RUSSIAN (S18)1C  FUNDAMENTALSMJOLSNESS, L.
Focuses on reading, comprehension, basic composition, and conversation skills, and gives the student an initial exposure to the Russian cultural scene.
RUSSIAN (S18)2C  INTERMEDIATEMJOLSNESS, L.
Students read simple passages from contemporary Russian literary texts and newspapers. Development of oral skills and exposure to Russian culture continue.
RUSSIAN (S18)190  MOSCOW DOES NOT BELIEVE IN TEARSMJOLSNESS, L.
This new course uses Russian films of the late 20th century to enhance students’ language skills and deepen their cultural knowledge. Course work will involve intensive conversation, and listening comprehension and the acquisition of written skills and grammatical accuracy. The course will be conducted primarily in Russian. This quarter will focus on Menshov’s Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (1979), which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1980.