Contemporary Russian Literature
RUSS 276
Spring 2023
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01
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The course offers a survey of contemporary Russian literature, with a focus on the post-Soviet period. We will discuss how Russian literature relates, aesthetically and anthropologically, to the dynamic historical period roughly starting in 1985. We will read the literary works that respond to the following major historical periods: perestroika, an attempt at reforming the USSR that ultimately led to its collapse; the so-called "wild 90s" when tumultuous transition from state socialism to oligarchic capitalism took place; the era of Putinism, with reemergent authoritarianism. We will explore most prominent authors who write in Russian and work in different aesthetic modes, including documentary, (post)modern, and realist. We will read the works of Svetlana Alexievich, a winner of Nobel Prize in literature from Belarus; the novels of Viktor Pelevin, Russia's most famous postmodern writer; the novels of Vladimir Sorokin who predicted the rise of new authoritarian regime in his antiutopian novels. The course is taught in English. No knowledge of Russian is required. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA REES |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Major Requirement for: (REES-MN)(REES-Lang/Lit/C)(REES-Social Sci) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Prose will include:
Svetlana Alexievich, SECONDHAND TIME.
Victor Pelevin, OMON RA.
Victor Pelevin, GENERATION "P"
Tatyana Tolstaya, THE SLYNX
Vladimir Sorokin, DAY OF THE OPRICHNIK
German Sadulaev, I AM A CHECHEN!
Films will include:
BROTHER, dir. Aleksei Balabanov
THE GEOGRAPHER DRANK HIS GLOBE AWAY, dir. Aleksandr Veledinskiy
LEVIATHAN, dir. Andrey Zvyagintsev
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Examinations and Assignments:
Two papers, in-class presentation, reading responses |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
None |
| Instructor(s): Karageorgos,Natasha Times: .M.W... 02:50PM-04:10PM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 20 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 20 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 4 | FR: 4 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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