Lawrencían Chronicle 2009 the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas Vol

Lawrencían Chronicle 2009 The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas Vol. XXII Editor: Stephen J. Parker No. 1 Lay-out: Pam LeRow www.ku.edu/~slavic/ Winter, 2009 Professor Maria Carlson Interviewer: Professor Marc L. Greenberg MG: For many years your research has focused on MG: Congratula- the Silver Age in Russian literature. Most recently tions on being in- you have redeveloped your research and teaching in- ducted into the Wom- terest in Slavic folklore by redesigning and teaching en's Hall of Fame in the popular Introduction to Slavic Folklore course. spring 2009. You've Tell us about your engagement with Slavic folklore always preferred to in terms of your research and teaching interests. be a role model for What are you working on? scholars regardless of gender, rather MC: My work on the Silver Age and my interest in than specifically ad- folklore are not two different things — they stem vocating women's is- from the same tvorcheskoe nachalo. I first became sues. Has the award interested in the Symbolists’ use of folklore in made you feel that your approach has been success- literary texts (Andrei Belyi’s use of folklore, for ful? How do you view the Hall of Fame induction? example, in The Silver Dove). That interest segued naturally into the Symbolist’s interest in the magi- MC: I don’t think of this induction as a “gender cal world view and the occult. So my three passions thing” because I have never thought of myself as — Symbolist art and literature, Slavic folklore, and specifically advocating women’s issues, as you put speculative mysticism — are really three facets of a it. I have always sought to be true to my Self (and for single research complex. By focussing on folklore me, that Self is not gendered). I think of the induc- at this point in my career, I have abandoned neither tion into the Women’s Hall of Fame as one of several the Silver Age nor the speculative mysticism; I am ways in which my discipline, my institution, and my simply examining a different part of my research colleagues have recognized my academic work and vision. But each part feeds the other two, and all my professional and administrative contributions. three revolve around a particular, metaphorical view This does not mean I am blind to “women’s issues” of reality. in the academy, in our society, or in the world. I I embraced folklore as a graduate student. I have personally encountered those issues in pleasant worked with Prof. Felix Oinas and other faculty and unpleasant ways, but I have not let them steal from Indiana University’s Folklore Institute. My my “thinking Self” from me. Instead, my personal first published article, as a grad student, was on strategy has always been to model professionalism, vampires in literature. It is natural that my current ethics, collegiality, and commitment to the best of project is a book about the Slavic “walking corpse” my ability, and to assume that if I think my career of folklore, its transformation into a European liter- speaks for itself, then others will think so, too. ary character, and its borrowing back into Russian Positive action changes negative attitudes faster and culture. I am ready to write about that now, after 30 better than words or ideological positions. So I am years of reading and thinking about it. grateful to my colleagues for the recognition, and I don’t feel put in a box. 1 MG: You have seen the university from two perspec- student’s head, but only if they needed it. And I’m tives, both as a most effective administrator, who the queen of pep talks — my forte. raised the national prominence of REES, and as a Many KU graduates who have worked with me most successful academic. What has changed both are now my professional colleagues in the academy administratively and academically in your quarter (I do not think of them as “my former students”). century at KU? But others have gone on to serve the nation, work in libraries (I have a soft spot for libraries and MC: Everything. A revolution has occurred in higher librarians), support higher education in various education, although not everyone has noticed yet. ways, improve their communities, and assume other The computer, technology, the internet, the culture valuable and worthy roles. I am enormously proud wars, the self-esteem movement, American attitudes of each and everyone of them (you know who you towards the perceived elitism of higher education, are!), and I am grateful for the privilege of having the collapse of the Soviet Empire, and a thousand played a role in their lives. They can like me or not other things have reshaped what we do today at the (I’m not here to be liked), but I take pride in their University and how we do it, why we do it. I’m not talent, their independence, their ambition, and their saying that this is good or bad, but that this simply achievements. (And I am smart enough not to name is. I will retire from a completely different institution names in a publication.) than the one that hired me (only the name remains the same). MG: Your Hall Center Lecture Series talk in 2007 “Culture and History Matter: Russia's Search for MG: You have received a number of awards for Identity after the Fall” continues to resonate: after teaching and mentorship. You are much sought-after you gave it you were asked to speak on the topic at as a mentor. What accomplishments are you proud- other universities and the video of the lecture has est of with regard to your mentorship of students? been watched from the U.K. to China to the United Where are some of your students now who have Arab Emirates (according to the KU Scholarworks benefited from your mentorship? usage statistics). Tell us, briefly, why culture matters. MC: I am most proud of the fact that I have created MC: Who would have thought it? I am still getting no personal “disciples.” I have mentored PhDs, e-mails from academics and non-academics about MAs, and undergrads, students in SLL and students that presentation. Most recently I was invited to give in History, Russian & East Euro- pean Studies, Theatre and Film, Political Science, Education, In this issue: English, and other disciplines. Every one of the students with Interview: Alumni News.....................11 whom I have worked closely has Maria Carlson ....................1 grown, evolved, gained confi- Undergraduate dence, cut the tie that binds (that’s Chair’s Corner ...................3 Student News ....................13 important), and gone down his or her own life’s path toward his or To Alumni and Friends ......4 Graduate Student her own goals. My advisees are News ..................................14 not my product, they are their Faculty News .......................4 own product; my job was to fill Friends of Slavic in the gaps, give the occasional Slavic Honors pointer, and provide a few tips Reception ............................7 here and there. This is not to deny that I have occasionally sat on a 2 a version of it at a conference on ARussian Futures: languages. Americans who expect to be engaged in Contexts, Challenges, Trends@ at Duke University the world will have to engage in local and regional in Spring 2010. Clearly, many people feel that un- languages or be left out. Our view has been vindi- derstanding the nature of culture can be useful. So cated not only by seeing more bright student faces why does culture matter? Culture matters because in our classrooms, but by the new streams of support culture gives us an understanding not only of other from the federal government and other sources for people and other cultures, but also of ourselves and the study of critical languages. our own culture. How can you understand your own The increasing globalization of our world is culture until you have an intelligent (that=s the key reflected not just in our classrooms, but in the way word, isn=t it?) understanding of where your culture we and our students now learn. What an eye-opening lies in the context of other cultures, both past and experience our new Slavic Department Friends and present? Understanding and meaning are born out Alumni page on Facebook has been. Our current of that context. and former students are at once all over the world, “Culture” is an enormous and all-encompassing posting from Ashgabat to Moscow to Zadar, yet subject, and daunting as well. Basically, it’s every- are simultaneously interconnected in virtual reality. thing outside genes and reflex actions. It is what It heartens us to know that our students use what humankind has created, the totality of humanity’s they know and keep learning when they leave our legacy. How do you make sense of it? I have tried classrooms. Come join us on Facebook! And our to find or create “tools to think with,” strategies Slavic “Doers’ Profiles” webpage (http://www2. and paradigms to help my students think coherently ku.edu/~slavic/doers/doers.shtml) shows that our (and intelligently) about their culture, the cultures students use their knowledge to do meaningful of others, the cultures of the past, about their place things in their careers. Send us your suggestions for in the world, about how they relate to others (the Doers’ Profiles! “negotiations” among cultures). Culture is about The Slavic Department faculty now reaches identity and negotiation and connections — connec- globally without leaving its offices. An early adopter tions not only with other people in our communities of KU’s new Open Access Policy (the first in a public and on our globe, but connections to the past and university!), the Slavic Department’s faculty have continuities into the future.

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