Listed in: Film and Media Studies, as FAMS-313 | Russian, as RUSS-234
Formerly listed as: FAMS-62 | RUSS-26
Boris Wolfson (Section 01)
(Offered as RUSS 234 and FAMS 313.) With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the great utopian experiment of the 20th century–a radical attempt to reorganize society in accordance with rational principles–came to an end. This course explores the dramatic history of that experiment from the perspective of those whose lives were deeply affected by the social upheavals it brought about. We begin by examining the early visions of the new social order and attempts to restructure the living practices of the Soviet citizens by reshaping the concepts of time, space, family, and, ultimately, redefining the meaning of being human. We then look at how “the new human being” of the 1920s is transformed into the “new Soviet person” of the Stalinist society, focusing on the central cultural and ideological myths of Stalinism and their place in everyday life, especially as they relate to the experience of state terror and war. Finally, we investigate the notion of “life after Stalin,” and consider the role of already familiar utopian motifs in the development of post-Stalinist and post-Soviet ways of imagining self, culture, and society. The course uses a variety of materials–from primary documents, public or official (architectural and theatrical designs, political propaganda, transcripts of trials, government meetings, and interrogations) and intimate (diaries and letters), to works of art (novels, films, stage productions, paintings), documentary accounts (on film and in print), and contemporary scholarship (from the fields of literary and cultural studies, history and anthropology). No previous knowledge of Soviet or Russian history or culture is required; course conducted in English, and all readings are in translation. Students who read Russian will be given special assignments.
Limited to 20 students. Fall semester. Professor Wolfson.
If Overenrolled: Preference given to AC Russian majors, then AC students by seniority.
Cost: $25.85 ?
Section 01
M 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM CHAP 204
W 02:00 PM - 03:20 PM CHAP 204
This is preliminary information about books for this course. Please contact your instructor or the Academic Coordinator for the department, before attempting to purchase these books.
| ISBN | Title | Publisher | Author(s) | Comment | Book Store | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Soviet Experiment, 2e | Oxford UP, 2010 | Suny | This (second) edition only | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| Mass Culture in Soviet Russia | Indiana UP, 1995 | von Geldern & Stites | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| In the Shadow of Revolution | Princeton UP, 2000 | Fitzpatrick & Slezkine | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Intimacy and Terror | New Press, 1997 | Garros, Korenevskaya & Lahusen | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| Sofia Petrovna | Northwestern UP, 1994 | Chukovskaya | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich | New American Library, 2009 | Solzhenitsyn | This edition only | Amherst Books | TBD | |
| Moscow to the End of the Line | Northwestern UP, 1992 | Erofeev | Amherst Books | TBD | ||
| The Time: Night | Northwestern UP, 2000 | Petrushevskaya | Amherst Books | TBD |
These books are available locally at Amherst Books.