The University of Texas at Austin Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/slavic/ Spring Semester 2013

UNDERGRADUATE SIGNATURE COURSE “A World Apart: Russian Sci-Fi in Literature and Film” UGS 303 (#64810-64885)

COURSE SYLLABUS

Instructor: Prof. Thomas. J. Garza Offices: Calhoun CAL 406 (mailbox in CAL 415) and Rainey HRH 4.190 Phone: 471-3607 or 475-9649 Email: [email protected] Office hours: T 11-12:30 (CAL 406), M 2-3:30 (HRH 4.190) and any other time by appointment

Class time: MW 1:00-2:00 pm in FAC 21 Friday meeting time according to section

Required texts: [available at the UT Co-op or from online sellers] • Worlds Apart: An Anthology of Russian Science Fiction and Fantasy. Alexander Levitsky, New York, NY: Overlook Press, 2008.

• We, Evgeny Zamyatin, [Natasha Randall, trans.] New York: Modern Library, 2006.

• A Dog’s Heart, Mikhail Bulgakov, [, trans.] New York: Penguin Books, 1998.

• Prisoners of Power (The Inhabited Island), Strugatsky Brothers, Moscow. [available on Blackboard]

• Course Packet (CP) [available at Speedway Printers at 715 W. 23rd Street]

Films: [excerpted in class, most available in full versions online or on Netflix] • Aelita Queen of Mars, «Аэлита», Jakov Protozanov, dir. (1924). • Space Flight, «Космический рейс», Vasily Zhuravlev, dir. (1935). • Planet of Storms, «Планета бурь», Pavel Klushantsev, dir. (1961). • His Name Was Robert, «Его звали Роберт», Ilya Olshvanger, dir. (1967). • Soliaris, «Солярис», Andrei Tarkovsky, dir. (1972). • Stalker, «Сталкер», Andrei Tarkovsky, dir. (1979).

Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 2

• The Heart of a Dog, «Собачье сердце», Vladimir Bortko, dir. (1988). • The Fatal Eggs, «Роковые яйца», Sergei Lomkin, dir. (1995). • Night Watch, «Ночной дозор», Timur Bekmambetov, dir. (2004). • , «Дневной дозор», Timur Bekmambetov, dir. (2006). • The Inhabited Island, «Обитаемый остров», Fyodor Bondarchuk, dir. (2009).

Music: [played in class, available online] • Various artists. • Signal from Space «Сигнал из космоса», Splеаn, Moscow: Mir muzyki, 2009.

I. GENERAL

The country that brought us Sputnik and reinvented the robot also created some of the world's best creations of science fiction and fantasy. From the works of classic Russian writers (such as Pushkin, Lermontov and Gogol), to the harsh images of Soviet-era utopias (such as Zamyatin’s We and Bulgakov’s Fatal Eggs and The Heart of a Dog), to the films of the 20th century (such as Tarkovsky’s Soliaris and Stalker), and current post-Soviet works (such as the apocalyptic vampire thrillers Night Watch and Day Watch, and the post-colonial Inhabited Island), we'll explore the remarkable world of Russian sci-fi through a variety of media. Whether you're already a sci-fi fan, or a newcomer to the genre, prepare to discover a brave new world!

Course Requirements

Writing: This course carries the Writing Flag . Writing Flag courses are designed to give students experience and training in writing in an academic context. In this class, you can expect to write throughout the semester, complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructors to help you improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments, and to read and discuss your peers' work. You should therefore expect a substantial portion of your grade to come from your written work.

You are strongly encouraged to use the Undergraduate Writing Center, FAC 211, 471-6222: http://www.uwc.utexas.edu/. The Undergraduate Writing Center offers free, individualized, expert help with writing for any UT undergraduate, by appointment or on a drop-in basis. Any undergraduate enrolled in a course at UT can visit the UWC for assistance with any writing project. Their services are not just for writing that has "problems." Getting feedback from an informed audience is a normal part of a successful writing project. Consultants help students develop strategies to improve their writing. The assistance they provide is intended to foster independence. Each student determines how to use the consultant's advice. The consultants are trained to help you work on your writing in ways that preserve the integrity of your work.

Remember: you MUST appropriately attribute and cite any words, thoughts, or ideas that are not you own, no matter how obtained (hard copy, lecture, website, etc.). Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism, and will result in failure of the assignment and possible failure in the course. Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 3

Attendance and Participation: You are expected to attend all class meetings regularly [both MW lecture sessions, plus one additional Friday discussion section], do all assigned readings and film viewings in advance of the relevant class meeting, and prepare all written and oral assignments. Because the readings and films covered in this course are chronological and cumulative in design, your regular attendance is required. Missing more than five (5) class sessions – excused or otherwise – will lose a letter of the final grade. Participants who do not complete all five of the required components of the syllabus cannot pass the course. In extreme and extenuating circumstances, the instructor may excuse certain absences. Observance of religious holidays is excused.

ECHO 360º: This class is taking part in a lecture capturing experiment. As part of this experiment, audio and video material presented in class will be recorded and made available to you for review via Bb. Links for the recordings will appear in the EchoCenter section on the Bb page for this class. Although every effort will be taken to keep the system running, UT and I cannot guarantee the availability of these recordings. Attending class is the only way to insure your viewing and understanding of the professor's presentations.

Reaction Paper: A brief (4-5 pages) reaction paper to one of the readings or media presentations covered in class is due by Wednesday, February 20. While this essay is not research based, it may contain references or support from external sources, if needed.

Essay: Each student will is required to hand in on Monday, April 15, a more formal paper (8-10 pages), treating any of the material covered during the semester. Sample paper topics and treatments will be given out in class and on Blackboard in advance of the due date.

Reading/Film Reviews: Three (3) two-page critical reviews of any of the readings or films treated in the syllabus will be due during the course of the semester. The first of these reviews will be the basis for your in-class presentation during your section (See below).

Reading/Film Review Panel: Your TA will group you into “Review Panels” of two or three students to present your critical commentaries to your Friday group. Each of you will be responsible for answering any of your questions or respond to any comments in class. The review may then be revised and rewritten before submitting for grading.

Final Exam: A written exam (50 minutes) covering readings, films, slides, lectures from the entire course -- will be given during the last class session on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.

Special Accommodations: Any student with disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities at 471-6259. Any necessary accommodations should be presented to the instructor in written form from the SSD at the beginning of the course.

II. GRADING

There are five components of the final course grade totaling 100 points. These components and their relative point values are: Reaction Paper (4-5 pp.) 15 Essay (8-10 pp.) 30 Reading/Film Reviews (3 @ 2pp.) 15 (5 ea.) Final exam 25 Review Panel 15

The 100-point final score will be converted to a letter grade based on the UT Registrar’s scale: Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 4

94 – 100 = A 74 – 76 = C 90 – 93 = A- 70 – 73 = C- 87 – 89 = B+ 67 – 69 = D+ 84 – 86 = B 64 – 66 = D 80 – 83 = B- 60 – 63 = D- 77 – 79 = C+ 59 and below = F

III. UT HONOR CODE

The University of Texas Honor Codes reads:

“The core values of The University of Texas at Austin are learning, discovery, freedom, leadership, individual opportunity and responsibility. Each member of the university is expected to uphold these values through integrity, honesty, trust, fairness and respect toward peers and community.”

Each class participant is expected to adhere to these principles throughout the course, in dealing with the instructors, fellow students, and in completing all written assignments for the course. Your instructors will do the same.

COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSIGNMENTS

Monday, January 14 Introduction to UGS 303 Overview of syllabus and requirements for UGS 303 • Establishment of scene: and Science Fiction and Fantasy

For next meeting, read “Why Science Fiction is the Wrong and Only Name for It” in the CP.

Wednesday, January 16 Toward a Definition of Science Fiction • The need and place of science fiction in Western literature and culture

For next session, read “Worlds of Russian Fantasy” (pp. 9-38) in Levitsky, and “The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve” in the CP.

Wednesday, January 23 Science Fiction vs. Science Fantasy

• Understanding Fantastic Worlds: Fact and Fiction • University Treasure: HRC Currey Science Fiction Collection

For the next session, read “From Folk Myth to the Fantastic in Poetry and Prose” (pp. 39-56) in Levitsky.

Russian Fantasy vs. Fiction

Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 5

Monday, January 28 The Origins of Russian Sci-Fi: Fantasy • The Age of Enlightenment in Russia and Literature • The creation of the “phantasmagoric”

For next meeting, read Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman” and “The Queen of Spades,” and Lermontov’s “Demon” (pp. 73-106) in Levitsky.

Wednesday, January 30 19th Century Texts • The Supernatural and Fantasy in Russian society • Depicting the “Other” in literature

For next meeting, read Gogol’s “The Diary of a Madman” and “The Nose” (pp. 183-219) in Levitsky.

Monday, February 4 19th Century, Continued • When is the Supernatural “Natural”? • The Place of “Place” in

For next meeting, read “Early Modern Utopias” (pp. 220-226), and “Vera Pavlovna’s Fourth Dream” (pp. 248-258) in Levitsky.

Wednesday, February 6 Russian Utopias • Russia on the Eve of Revolution • Who Needed a Utopian Society?

For next meeting, read “Three Responses to Utopian Thought” in Levitsky (pp. 259-290).

Poster for Aelita (1924)

Monday, February 11 The Russian Revolution and New Literature • Beginnings of Socialist Realism • View scenes from Aelita, Queen of Mars

For next meeting, read “Modern Russian Fantasy” (pp. 291-297) and selection from A.N. Tolstoy’s “Aelita” (pp. 555-583) in Levitsky, and “Aelita” by O’Mahoney in CP.

Wednesday, February 13 Aelita (1924) • Soviet Utopias • The place of the space race in Soviet nationalism For next meeting, read “Russia’s Modernist and Post-Symbolist Prose” (pp. 345-347) and “The Cave” (pp. 408-416) in Levitsky, and begin reading Zamyatin’s We.

Monday, February 18 Zamyatin’s Worlds • Revisiting “Place” in Soviet times • Identity in Utopia and Dystopia

For the next meeting, finish reading We. Reaction Paper due Wednesday! Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 6

Wednesday, February 20 We (1921) • The creation of Dystopia • Reaction Paper due today

For the next meeting, read “The Waning of Modernism” (pp. 447-452) and Olesha’s “On the Fantasy of H.G. Wells” (pp. 466-470) in Levitsky.

Evgeny Zamyatin

Monday, February 25 We and Its Successors • The Rise of Stalin and Literary Reactions • The World of Olesha

For next meeting, read 2003 Foreword to The Fatal Eggs in CP.

Wednesday, February 27 Bulgakov’s World • The Soviet Union in the 1920s and ‘30s • Writer as Rebel

For next meeting, read the first half of Bulgakov’s The Fatal Eggs.

Monday, March 4 The Fatal Eggs (1924)

• Literary views of the Soviet Union • The Re-emergence of Soviet Space Worlds

For next meeting, finish reading Bulgakov’s The Fatal Eggs. Mikhail Bulgakov

Wednesday, March 6 The Fatal Eggs (1924), pt. 2 • Return to worlds of the past as the future? • Deus ex machina

For next meeting, read Bulgakov’s The Heart of a Dog.

HAVE a UTOPIAN Spring Break!

Monday, March 18 The Heart of a Dog (1925) • Literary Creations of Homo Sovieticus • The Place of Medicine in Sci-Fi For next meeting, read the Strugatsky Brothers’ “The Visitors” in the CP. Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 7

Wednesday, March 20 Socialist Realism after the War: The Strugatsky Brothers • The Cold War comes to Russian Sci-Fi • View scenes from Man-Amphibian (1961)

For next meeting read the Strugatsky Brothers’ “Roadside Picnic” in CP. Strugatsky Brothers

Monday, March 25 Period of Stagnation and Sci-Fi: Strugatsky Brothers • View scenes from Cold War Soviet films Days of Darkness, Planet of Storms (1962) and His Name Was Robert (1967)

For next meeting, read “Autobiography, Memory and Identity: The Films of Andrei Tarkovskii” in CP.

Wednesday, March 27 Tarkovsky: Soliaris (1972) • Space as New Soviet utopia • View scenes from Tarkovsky’s Soliaris

For next meeting watch film Soliaris.

Monday, April 1 Soliaris, cont. • View scenes from American production of Solaris (2002)

For next meeting watch film Stalker.

Wednesday, April 3 Stalker (1979) • From literature to film: Process and Product • Period of Stagnation

For next meeting, catch up on your film viewing(!).

Monday, April 8 Stalker, cont. • The connection between death in 19th c.

For next meeting, read Galichenko’s “The Age of Perestroika” in CP and “On Contemporary Russian Fantasy” (pp. 647-650) in Levitsky. Still from Tarkovsky’s Stalker

Wednesday, April 10 Post-Soviet genres • The collapse of the Soviet Union 1991 • The response in literature and film

For next meeting, read selection from Lukyanenko’s Night Watch and Day Watch in CP. NB: Essays are due on Monday! Spring 2013 UGS 303 Syllabus page 8

Monday, April 15 Sci-Fi turns to Horror? • Russian politics and fantasy worlds at home • Sci-Fi vampires as the Post-Soviet “Other” • View scenes from Night Watch (2004) and Day Watch (2006) • Essays are due today!

For next meeting, read selection from Lukyanenko’s in CP.

. Night Watch (2004)

Wednesday, April 17 Bekmambetov’s Legacy • Film and Literature of the 2000s • A Return to Science Fantasy? • View scenes from Aziris Nuna (2006).

For next meeting, catch up on reading and prepare prognosis for Russian sci-fi.

Monday, April 22 The New Russian Empire? • Post-Colonial Russia and Sci-Fi • View scenes from The Inhabited Island I (2008).

For next meeting, prepare for final review of 2000s films

Wednesday, April 24 What’s Next for Russian Sci-Fi? • The Future of Russian Sci-Fi • View scenes from Inhabited Island II (2009). Day Watch (2006)

For next meeting, prepare any questions for final review.

Monday, April 29 What’s Next for Russian Sci-Fi? • Closing Comments • Final Exam Format and Review • Course Instructor Survey

For next meeting, prepare for final exam.

Inhabited Island (2009) Wednesday, May 1 Final Exam: In-Class

Have a happy, safe and very FANTASTICAL summer!