Courses of Instruction
RUSSIAN (RUS-Arts and Science;
Department of German, Russian, and East Asian Languages)
101/102 Beginner's Course (4, 4)
Essentials of Russian language including
rudiments of grammar, acquisition of a simple vocabulary, practice in reading
and conversation, and simple written exercises.
105 Everyday Spoken Russian (1)
Introduction to the Russian language and culture
with emphasis primarily on speaking. This sprint course will cover a broad range
of language functions from introducing and describing oneself to making suggestions
and asking for directions and requesting a service. Taught in Russian.
133 Imagining Russia (2)
Survey of Russian history, society, politics, economy,
literature, film, and arts from a variety of intellectual perspectives. Classroom
lectures plus out of class cultural presentations. Cross-listed with POL/GEO/ATH/ HST 133.
MPF, MPT 137 Russian Folklore (3)
Introduction to Russian folklore, including
study of the folk tale, charms and incantations, ceremonial poetry connected with
the calendar, jokes, proverbs, folk ditties, wedding ceremonies, funeral customs,
modern gestures, graffiti. Some discussion devoted to Slavic pre-Christian society
and survivals of pagan customs in the Christian era. Considerable treatment of
comparative folklore worldwide. IIB, IIIB. CAS-B-LIT.
Advanced Courses
Note: RUS 101 and 102 or equivalent are prerequisite for all advanced language
courses.
MPT 201/202 Intermediate Russian (3, 3)
Conversation, vocabulary building, readings,
composition, grammar. RUS 202: CAS-A.
212 Secular Jewish Culture From the Enlightenment to Zionism (3)
Surveys key
aspects of secular Jewish culture, identity, thought, society & politics from
mid 17th to mid 20th century. Significant treatment of Jewish life in Western
Europe (France & Germany) and Eastern Europe; shorter treatment of Jewish
experience in US & Mandate Palestine. Readings in English. Cross-listed with
FRE/ GER 212 and HST 211.
MPT 250 Topics in Russian Literature in English Translation (3; maximum 9)
Treatment
of selected works of Russian literature that suggest particular thematic problems.
For nonspecialist with little or no background in Russian literature. CAS-B-LIT.
251 The Eastern European Vampire Tradition in Folklore, History, and Literature
(3)
Begins with a detailed examination of the folkloric and historical roots of
the Eastern European vampire tradition. This will be followed by reading and discussion
of representative nineteenth and twentieth-century literary works. CAS-B-LIT.
253 Jewish Identity and Russian Literature (3)
This course examines how images
of Jews in mainstream literature helped form conceptions (and misconceptions)
of Jewish identity in modern Russian culture. Taught in English. Cross-listed
with ENG 253. CAS-B-LIT.
254 Introduction to Russian and Eurasian Studies (3)
Examines the major developments
that have shaped Russian and Eurasian culture, society and politics over the last
millennium. The course incorporates perspectives from the social sciences, humanities
and the fine arts. Cross-listed with ATH, POL, HST, REL 254.
MPF, MPT 255 Russian Literature from Pushkin to Dostoevsky in English Translation
(3)
Examines works by Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Turgenev, and Dostoevsky and
a number of critical essays representative of a variety of viewpoints. Uses interdisciplinary
approach that takes into account social, historical, political, religious, as
well as literary factors. Cross-listed with ENG 255. IIB. CAS-B-LIT.
MPT 256 Russian Literature in English Translation: From Tolstoy to Nabokov (3)
Treatment of selected works of Russian literature (realism, modernism, post-modernism)
with special attention to Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bunin, Sologub, Bulgakov, Babel, Solzhenitsyn,
and Nabokov. Cross-listed with ENG 256. CAS-B-LIT.
MPT 257 Russian Literature in English Translation: From Pasternak to the Present
(3)
Treatment of major trends in the development of Russian literature since 1953.
Examines works by Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, Rasputin, Trifonov, and others. CAS-B-LIT.
Offered infrequently.
258 Contemporary Russian Women's Writing (3)
A chronological and thematic
introduction to Russian women's prose after 1953 and how this writing both
critiqued and upheld gender inequalities in Soviet and Russian society. Taught
in English. CAS B.
MPT 263 Soviet & Post-Soviet Russian Cinema (3)
Critical survey of directors,
genres, and movements in Soviet cinema. Screening of films from Eisenstein to
current directors. Lectures, discussion, and readings in English. Cross-listed
with FST 263. CAS-B-LIT.
272 Cultures and Identities of Eastern Europe: An Introduction through Literature
and Film (3)
An introduction to the cultures of Eastern Europe, from Poland to
the former Yugoslavia, through representative twentieth-century literary works
and films, with particular focus on the history of Eastern Europe's Jewish
community and the tragedy of the Holocaust. Cross-listed with FST 272. CAS-B-LIT.
MPT 301/302 Advanced Russian (3, 3)
Conversation, advanced composition, reading
in Russian literature. Prerequisite: RUS 202.
306 Peoples & Cultures of Russia (3)
Description and analysis of the cultures
of Russia and Eurasia with a focus on non-Russian peoples and contemporary survival.
311 Reading in Russian (3)
Enables students to develop fluency in reading Russian
texts. Core readings for all students and supplemental readings according to individual
interests. Prerequisite: RUS 202 or equivalent.
MPC 401 St. Petersburg: History, Literature, Culture (3)
Concentrates on one
city, the "second capital" of Russia, St. Petersburg. In-depth study
of the history, politics, literature, art, and architecture of St. Petersburg.
Taught in English. Appropriate for students who have taken one of the Russian
Thematic Sequences or for those with a concentration in Russian literature, history,
or politics. Offered infrequently.
411/412 Advanced Conversation and Composition (3, 3)
Practice in oral communication
and composition at the advanced level. Prerequisite: RUS 302.
450 Topics in Russian Culture (3; maximum 9)
In-depth study of a selected topic
in Russian culture. Taught in Russian. Prerequisite: RUS 302 or permission of
instructor. Offered infrequently.
451 Golden Age of Russian Culture (3)
Overview of Russian culture, literature,
music, and art in its golden age (nineteenth century). Taught in Russian. Prerequisite:
RUS 412 or permission of instructor. Offered infrequently.
480 Departmental Honors (4-6)
May be taken in senior year. Prerequisite: permission
of instructor and department.
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