Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies 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 Friday 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 Russia from its earliest times to the present. We will explore Russian historical ties to other Slavic cultures, Asia and Europe 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 Magic: 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 fairy 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 week 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 Thursday 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 Russians: 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 Slavs. 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 Russian Culture: 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, rusalka). - Watch Russian animation Adventures of a House-Elf (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGF0tkLVOIQ) - Read Rusalka (The Water-Nymph) by A.Pushkin (https://russian-crafts.com/russian-folk-tales/rusalka-the- water-nymth.html) - Read one tale for Oct. 7 discussion session Baba Yaga (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 Fairy Tale (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 Russian Fairy tale 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 Christianity. Russian Orthodox Church. Religious dualism. - Watch film Prince Vladimir - Start working on your project on Prince Vladimir (due to submit on Monday, 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 Russian language 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.