sign in sign up
<<
Home , Rusalka, Russian culture, The Irony of Fate, Wednesday

Department of Germanic and SLST 100 Introduction to Russian Society and Culture September 2020

Instructor: Dr. Julia Rochtchina Contact email: [email protected] Taught online: the course will integrate both asynchronous and synchronous methods.

 Zoom sessions for group discussion: W 4:30-6:00 pm (You have an option of submitting your individual answers if you cannot attend these sessions. Please contact me in advance by email if you choose that option.)  Online Office Hours: Wednesday 2:00-3:00 pm and 10:30-11:30 am (please let me know 24 hours in advance by email if you want to meet with me during my office hours and I’ll send you a Zoom invitation).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This is a foundation course for our Russian and Slavic Studies program. It is also a great elective for everyone interested in from its earliest times to the present. We will explore Russian historical ties to other Slavic cultures, and and discuss the Russian national character as a cultural phenomenon by examining its geographical, historical and political sources.

The class format will include pre-recorded video lectures by your instructor, guest lectures, online project presentations, discussion sessions, film clips and literary readings. In English. No prerequisites.

READING LIST

• Hosking, Geoffrey. Russian History: A Very Short Introduction. Kindle Edition (Free access through UVic library). This is our short overview of Russian history, we’ll read the entire book.

• Gilchrist, Cherry. Russian : Living Folk Traditions of an Enchanted Landscape. Lume Books. Kindle Edition. (Access to be purchased from Amazon for 3.99 CAD). We’ll read selected chapters.

• Fedina, Olga. What Every Russian Knows (And You Don't). Kindle Edition (Access to be purchased from Amazon for 6.00 CAD). We’ll read selected chapters.

• In addition, I’ll ask you to read selected Russian tales online. The links will be posted on Brightspaces.

Note: The above books are available as Kindle e-books. You can download Kindle app for any of your electronic device (free download) to purchase and read the required texts. COURSE EVALUATION

Tests – 45% 3 online tests total, multiple choice questions and open end questions on lectures and readings, 15% each.*

Participation – 15% Participation in group discussion (summaries posted on Brightspace) or individual forum postings, graded.**

Film reflections project – 15% Creative film project assigned on 6 and due to submit on Nov. 2.***

Final research project – 25% Final project on a selected topic; assigned at the end of the course and due to submit on December 14. ****

*Each test will be offered on a Wednesday at 4:30 (this is the time for our Zoom sessions). The dates of the tests are listed below in the Course Calendar. Please make yourself available for all three scheduled tests at the time indicated. If a students faces technical difficulties during the test (Internet connection fails, computer crashes, etc.), a different testing option will be arranged (one-on-one test with the instructor or a TA via Zoom).

** Evaluation criteria for participation will be posted on Brigthspace.

*** Project requirements, format options and grading rubric will be posted on Brightspace.

**** Different format options (essay, video presentation, etc.) will be given. Project requirements and grading Rubric will be posted on Brightspace.

TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR Module 1: Welcome and Introduction to the Course

Week 1. Wednesday, September 9

 This Wednesday we’ll meet for a brief welcome by the instructor and do a practice run of our future discussion sessions. You’ll have a chance to ask questions about the course, virtually meet other students and participate in a practice round of a group discussion.

Assignments for the week

- Post your practice group discussion summary on Brightspace Forum by Sep. 10, 11:30 pm. Those who could not attend the Zoom session are responsible for posting their individual answers by the same date. Note: this is a practice round to help you familiarize yourself with how the group discussion works and will not be included in your final grade calculations!

- Watch Introductory Lecture 1 by Julia Rochtchina: The : a look from inside and outside. - Watch Guest Lecture by Veta Chitnev (Russian Professor from UBC): The Russian Etiquette. - Watch Youtube video: Russia. Interesting Facts About Russia: geography, climate, resources, major cities.

Module 2: Russia and the Russians, Early History, Folk Stories Week 2. Wednesday, September 16

 Discussion 1 on Russian and the Russians. Interesting facts about Russia (based on two lectures and a video assigned for week 1; questions will be posted on Brightspace)

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 1 must be posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday Sep. 17, 11:30 pm. Those who could not attend the Zoom session are responsible for posting their individual answers by the same date. This and all further postings are graded and included in your Group discussion component of the course (up to 15% total for 9 discussion sessions).

- Watch Lecture 2 by Julia Rochtchina: The . The Rus. Origin of the State. - Conduct independent Internet research on Russian cities: find most interesting – amazing – provocative – cool facts about a Russian city of your choice to share with your class mates (find out what the “Golden Ring” cities are and what their cultural and historical significance is; bring this to group discussion on Wed., Sep. 23.)

Week 3. Wednesday, September 23

 Discussion 2 on The Slavs. The Rus. Origin of the State. The Russians cities: Kiev, Novgorod, the Golden Ring Cities, interesting facts about Russian cities.

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 2 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Sep. 24, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 3 by Julia Rochtchina. Old Beliefs. Slavic ancient gods. - Watch Guest Lecture on «Death in : Beliefs, Rituals, and Representations» by Emmanuelle Guenette (PhD student in the Germanic and Slavic Studies Program, UVic). - Read Chapter 1. The Russian Magical World and Chapter 2. Mother Russia and Her Heroes in Gilchrist, Cherry. Russian Magic: Living Folk Traditions of an Enchanted Landscape. Lume Books. Kindle Edition.

Week 4. Wednesday, September 30

 Discussion 3 on Old Beliefs. Slavic ancient gods. Death in Russian Culture (based on lectures and readings for week 3)

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 3 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Oct. 1, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 4 by Julia Rochtchina. Nature spirits (domovoi, leshii, vodianoi, ). - Watch Russian animation Adventures of a House-Elf (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGF0tkLVOIQ) - Read Rusalka (The Water-) by A.Pushkin (https://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/rusalka-the- water-nymth.html)

- Read one tale for Oct. 7 discussion session  (required) http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/baba-yaga-en.html - Read following tales for Oct. 14 discussion session:

 Ivan Tsarevitch and the Grey Wolf (required) http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/the- death-of-koshchei-the-deathless.html  The Death of Koshchei the Deathless (required) http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/the- death-of-koshchei-the-deathless.html  The Apples of Youth and the Water of Life: A Russian (optional) https://bytheonionsea.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/the-apples-of-youth-and-the-water-of-life- a-russian-fairy-tale.pdf

Week 5. Wednesday, October 7

 Test 1. Wednesday, October 7 at 4:30 pm (on discussions 1-3, Lectures 1-4 by J.Rochtchina, Guest lecture by V.Chitnev; Russian Magic: Chapters 1 and 2, poem Rusalka and the tale Baba Yaga)  Discussion 4 (begins after the test at 5:00 pm) on Nature spirts: lecture, animation Adventures of a House-Elf, Pushkin’s poem Rusalka and the tale Baba Yaga (Note: other fairy tales will be discussed next week).

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 4 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Oct. 8, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 5 by Julia Rochtchina. Russian Folktales. The Fool, Firebird, Baba Yaga, Koshchei the Deathless. - Read two more tales:  Ivanushka the Simpleton http://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/ivanushka-simpleton.html  Emelya and Magic Pike https://www.russianamericancompany.com/emelya-and-magic-pike/

- Read the chapters:  The Secrets of Life and Death in Gilchrist, Cherry. Russian Magic: Living Folk Traditions of an Enchanted Landscape. Lume Books. Kindle Edition. (Может быть, как групповой спец проект?)  Chapter on Yemelya the Simpleton in Fedina, Olga. What Every Russian Knows (And You Don't) (p. 51). Kindle Edition.

Module 3: Pivotal Events in Russian History Week 6. Wednesday, October 14

 Discussion 5 on characters (based on stories assigned on week 4 and 5); The Secrets of Life and Death in Gilchrist; Yemelya the Simpleton in Fedina, What Every Russian Knows).

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 5 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Oct. 15, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 6 by Julia Rochtchina. Adopting . Russian Orthodox . Religious dualism. - Watch film Prince Vladimir - Start working on your project on Prince Vladimir (due to submit on , Nov. 2): read project requirements and grading rubric; select topic and format (see Brightspace for details). - Read the Introduction and Chapter 1. Kievan Rus and the Mongols in Hosking, Russian History: A Very Short Introduction.

Week 7. Wednesday, October 21

 No discussion session this week, the time is set aside for you to focus on your film project, make an appointment with me or my TA if you have questions regarding this project. - Watch Lecture 7 by Julia Rochtchina. Mongol-Tatar occupation and its mark on the Russian political and administrative system. Mongol traces in and folk customs.

Week 8. Wednesday, October 28

 Discussion 6 on Adopting Christianity, film Prince Vladimir, Mongol-Tatar occupation; readings Hosking Chapter 1  Submit your Film Project on Prince Vladimir by Monday, November 2, 11:30 pm.

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 6 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Oct. 29, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 8 by Julia Rochtchina. - Watch Video (PARTS 1-5) - to Revolution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0Wmc8C0Eq0 (Watch the first 30 minutes up to the reign of Alexander II, (get with the basic facts on Kievan Rus, Mongol invasion, Ivan the Terrible, The Time of Troubles and the beginning of the Romanov Dynasty. Peter the Great. . The War with Napoleon, Decembrist uprising)

- Read Chapter 2. The formation on the Muscovite state, Chapter 3. The and Europe - Recommended (not required): watch History Chanel documentary Russia: the Land of the Tsars (Part 2 Peter the Great): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzhzFgbGL04 (37 min, interesting to watch!)

Week 9. Wednesday, November 4

 Test 2 Wednesday, November 4 at 4:30 pm on video lectures (lectures 5-8 by J. Rochtchina, Russian folk tales, and readings in Hosking (chapters 1-3).  Discussion 7 (begins after the test at 5:00 pm) on Rise of Muscovy; Old Russian nobility, Ivan the Terrible; Russia and the West. The Russian Empire: lecture, video, and readings for week 8.

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 7 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Oct. 29, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 9 by Julia Rochtchina. Russian peasants: habitation, diet, art and crafts - Watch Lecture 10 by Julia Rochtchina. 19th century Russia: the age of ideas. - Watch Guest Lecture by Veta Chitnev (Russian Professor from UBC) on . - Read Chapter 4. The responsibilities and dangers of the empire in Hosking, Russian History: A Very Short Introduction. Chapter 5. Reform and revolution in Hosking, Russian History: A Very Short Introduction.

Week 10 READING BREAK. No classes on Nov. 10th and 11th.

- Read chapters The Irony of Fate (or, Enjoy your Bath!) (p. 1), Does Not Believe in Tears (p. 41) and (p. 74) in Fedina, Olga. What Every Russian Knows (And You Don't) Kindle Edition. We will discuss these topics on November 25. - Recommended (not required): watch the films The Irony of Fate (or, Enjoy your Bath!) and/or Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears. - You may consider choosing one of the above films or Bulgakov’s literary works for your final research project.

Module 4: Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia Week 11. Wednesday, November 18

 Discussion 8 on Russian peasants; 19th century Russia (lectures 9 and 10); guest lecture on Pushkin, and chapter 5 in Hosking’s Russian History

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 8 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Nov. 19, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 11 by Julia Rochtchina: Soviet Russia. - Read Chapter 6. The ’s turbulent rise and Chapter 7. The Soviet Union: triumph, decline and fall in Hosking, Russian History: A Very Short Introduction

Week 12. Wednesday, November 25

 Discussion 9 on Soviet Russia: lecture 12, readings: chapters 6 and 7 in Hosking and chapters about The Irony of Fate (or, Enjoy your Bath!) (p. 1), Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears (p. 41) and Mikhail Bulgakov (p. 74) in Fedina.

Assignments for the week

- Group discussion summary 9 posted on Brightspace Forum by Thursday, Nov. 26, 11.30 pm - Watch Lecture 12 by Julia Rochtchina: Modern Russia. - Guest lecture by Veta Chitnev (Russian Professor from UBC): What Russians Value - Select your topic and format for the final research project. Prepare 1-2 paragraph project description to share with your group at the next discussion session. The guidelines one what should be in your project description will be posted on Brightspace.

Week 13. Wednesday, December 2

Assignments for the week

 Test 3 Wednesday, December 2 at 4:30 pm (on video lectures (lectures 10-12 by J. Rochtchina), guest lecture, readings in Hosking (chapters 5-7) and Fedina (The Irony of Fate, Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears, Mikhail Bulgakov).  Discussion 10 of your final research project (begins after the test at 5:00 pm).

Final research project. Develop your proposed topic in a form of an essay or a video presentation. Submit by Dec. 14th.

COURSE POLICIES

Accessibility Statement Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) as soon as possible. CAL staff members are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations. The sooner you let us know your needs the quicker we can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course.

Concessions and Documentation Students may ask for an academic concession, such as the rescheduling of a quiz or test or an extension for an assignment, upon providing proper documentation of a personal or medical affliction or of a time conflict. Proper documentation would include a doctor’s note or a memo from Counseling Services, or a memo from a coach, employer or faculty member. It must be dated before or close to the time of the missed work or classes.

Withdrawals and Deferrals Students who miss substantial amounts of class and assignments without documentation will be asked to withdraw, or will receive an ‘N’ at the end of the semester. Even when the reasons for failing to meet course requirements are valid, it is not academically sound to allow students missing significant amounts of work to continue in the course. Students are to familiarize themselves with the withdrawal dates in the current academic calendar.

A Note on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Actions such as plagiarism, multiple submissions, falsifying materials used in academic evaluations, cheating or aiding others to cheat violate University policies on academic integrity and are considered serious offence. You must inform yourself about the university regulations (see UVic Policy on Academic Integrity). Please note: I reserve the right to use plagiarism detection software or other platforms to assess the integrity of student work and I am required to submit all cases of suspected plagiarism and any other form of cheating to the Chair of Germanic and Slavic Studies for further investigation without exception.

Unauthorized Use of an Editor An editor is an individual or service, other than the instructor or supervisory committee, who manipulates, revises, corrects or alters a student’s written or non-written work. The use of an editor, whether paid or unpaid, is prohibited unless the instructor grants explicit written authorization. The instructor should specify the extent of editing that is being authorized. Review by fellow students and tutoring that do not include editing are normally permitted. In addition to consulting with their instructors, students are encouraged to seek review of and feedback on their work that prompts them to evaluate the work and make changes themselves.

Brightspace/Zoom Conduct Since the quality of the learning environment is paramount, every student has the right to learn and your instructor has the duty to perform his or her teaching duties in a cooperative, distraction-free and effective manner. Students engaging in misconduct or failing to meet their course responsibilities can expect a communication from the instructor which outlines the concerning behaviour, explains how such behaviour is disrupting the learning environment, and requests that the student refrain from further disruptive behaviour. Should such instances of misconduct continue, the student will receive a formal request to meet with the Department Chair in order to seek remediation between the parties. If necessary, further procedures to resolve the situation can be found in the Policy on Resolution of Non- Academic Misconduct Allegations. Please keep in mind the overlapping policy on Online Student Conduct specifies standards of behaviour in the online environment.

Add/Drop Deadlines It is the student’s responsibility to attend to ADD/DROP dates as published in the Calendar and the Undergraduate Registration Guide and Timetable. You will not be dropped automatically from a class that you do not attend.

Undergraduate Grading Scale

Grade Percentage for Passing Point Instructor Use Description Grades Value Only * A+ 9 90 – 100 An A+, A, or A- is earned by work which is technically superior, shows mastery of the A 8 85 – 89 subject matter, and in the case of an A+ offers original insight and/or goes beyond A- 7 80 – 84 course expectations. Normally achieved by a minority of students. A B+, B, or B- is earned by work that indicates a good comprehension of the course B+ 6 77 – 79 material, a good command of the skills needed to work with the course material, and B 5 73 – 76 the student’s full engagement with the course requirements and activities. A B+ B- 4 70 – 72 represents a more complex understanding and/or application of the course material. Normally achieved by the largest number of students. A C+ or C is earned by work that indicates an adequate comprehension of the course C+ 3 65 – 69 material and the skills needed to work with the course material and that indicates C 2 60 – 64 the student has met the basic requirements for completing assigned work and/or participating in class activities. A D is earned by work that indicates minimal command of the course materials D 1 50 – 59 and/or minimal participation in class activities that is worthy of course credit toward the degree. Grade Percentage for Failing Point Instructor Use Description Grades Value Only * E 0 TBD Conditional supplemental. F is earned by work, which after the completion of course requirements, is F 0 0 – 49 inadequate and unworthy of course credit towards the degree. Did not write examination or complete course requirements by the end of term or N 0 0 – 49 session; no supplemental. For more detailed scale and other important undergraduate academic regulations refer to UVic website: Undergraduate Calendar – September 2020.

Course Experience Surveys

I value your feedback on this course. Towards the end of term, you will have the opportunity to complete a confidential course experience survey (CES) regarding your learning experience. The survey is vital to providing feedback to me regarding the course and my teaching, as well as to help the department improve the overall program for students in the future. When it is time for you to complete the survey, you will receive an email inviting you to do so. If you do not receive an email invitation, you can go directly to http://ces.uvic.ca. You will need to use your UVic NetLink ID to access the survey, which can be done on your laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

Territory Acknowledgement

We acknowledge with respect the Lkwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this .