Spring 2016
Tue/Thur 3:05-4:20pm Maybank, room 107
LTRS GENDER & SEXUALITY 350: IN RUSSIAN CULTURE
This course surveys roughly a sexual anxieties and popular debates Dr. Irina Erman century of Russian cultural production of the time. – we will be reading novels, plays, Office: poetry, philosophical texts, and We will analyze the ways in which JC Long, 421 watching a number of films – starting our texts and films represent gender, Office Hours: in the late 19th century and finishing sexual identity, and sexual Wed 2pm-5pm with some recently translated short relationships. By taking a historical stories and novellas of the 1990’s. Our perspective, we will be able to see & by appointment focus on gender and sexuality in how these representations change, Russian culture will be served by and the kinds of additional layers of [email protected] studying “mass audience” products significance they take on in different side-by-side with what are considered historical and political contexts. Turn- NOTE: No previous more “high culture” literary works. of-the-century love triangles, for knowledge of Russian Thus, for example, the relatively example, resolve themselves very literature and/or esoteric experiments of the Russian differently from the love triangle we will feminist and gender Symbolists will be juxtaposed with encounter in the 1927 Bed and Sofa, criticism is necessary Artsybashev’s scandalous bestseller since this film must already take into to succeed in this Sanin, a novel which can brag of few account Stalin’s prescriptions for class. literary accomplishments, but which Soviet womanhood. serves to crystallize some of the major 1 Required Work:
4 take-home quizzes • You may use your notes and the texts on the quizzes. You may not Evaluation: use the internet or any other sources. • You will have an hour from the 20% Quizzes time you open the quiz on OAKS to answer the short essay 20% Midterm Paper questions and submit your 25% Class Participation response. 35% Final Paper 5 pg midterm paper • topic of your choice • 12 point Times New Roman font • double spaced, 1in margins GENDER & SEXUALITY IN RUSSIAN CULTURE • Due March 3rd to Dropbox on OAKS Texts to Purchase:
7 pg final paper: Mikhail Artsybashev, Sanin • topic developed in consultation with me (Cornell University Press)
LTRS 350 LTRS • same formatting as midterm paper ISBN 9780801485596 • it must include a bibliography with at least 3 academic sources, which can be Evgeny Zamyatin, We articles or books (Modern Library Classics) • Due April 28th to Dropbox on OAKS ISBN 9780812974621
10 minute presentation Other texts will be available on OAKS of your final paper topic during the last week of classes
Late Work will not be accepted. I will, however, consider brief extensions for written assignments due to extenuating circumstances, such as illness or other unforeseen events. Note that extension requests must be made via email, before the deadline.