Russian 372
Modern Russian Culture through
Casey Sams, Assistant Professor of Theatre.
Goals and policies are at the bottom of the page.
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January
8 Chekhov (Excerpts in class)
13 Chekhov--read The Cherry Orchard (links to an online version) or here
15 Gorky-read first three acts of The Lower Depths (here).
20 Symbolism, mysticism (Blok Puppet-show, Bely and Blok essays [West--Symbolism anthology —on line reserve], read brief Scriabin bio). Site with images and art from Russian plays (Read Seagull, Puppet Show sites); Read Northwestern U Symbolism page--Vrubel New: check out "Commedia dell'arte" on Wikipedia for background on "Puppet Show"'s images.
27 Stanislavsky and Russian theater. Discuss The Puppet Show. Reading: a few poems here by Blok (take your pick; if you read a little Russian--try the Russian side!)
February
3 Soviet Prometheanism, constructivism: Tatlin; Socialist Realism; Paintings and posters; Anthems and opera; Shostakovich; Read Vladimir Mayakovsky, A Tragedy (Online reserve) art (Malevich, Kandinsky, Stepanova, Goncharova, El Lissitsky, etc.—read and view these sites and others from the main list of links. Listen to Scriabin (Prometheus) and Stravinsky (Rite of Spring) via the Naxos music database at the music library site (mouse over databases, audio, and click "Naxos"; browse by composer).
10 Parodies/NEP/underground Soviet writing: continued. Oberiu Manifesto (via email;)Babel (Collected Stories, through "Salt") and Zoshchenko (1st eight stories) at Russian 222 online reserves
12 Daniil Kharms, Incidences: 40-101; (Availalable in UT bookstore)Socialist Realism links: Art, 1934 Writers' Congress--Introduction, Zhdanov speech .
17 Kharms Incidences, 101-184, and "Postscript", 226-238.
19 Bulgakov, Zoya's Apartment (on-line reserve); Socialist Realism: Von Geldern and Stites, on-line reserve (Mass Culture in Soviet Russia) Toward a World Commune from Mass Culture.
24 Émigré literature; Post SR; Selections on-line: Evreinov, The Main Thing (on-line reserve); Nabokov, The Waltz Invention (on-line).
26 Anna
March
3 Film (Patriotism & Propaganda); Stalinism (Mass Culture in Soviet Russia)
5 Thaw and Stagnation: Selections on-line: Aksyonov, Bitov, Erofeyev; Post-Soviet lit/art (Sots-art: Kumar&Melamid)
10 Brodsky TBA
12 Brodsky TBA
17 Spring Break
19 Spring Break
24 Script-making :
26 Script-making
31 Rehearsing begins in Carousel; First Papers Due :
April
2 Rehearsing :
7 Rehearsing
9 Rehearsing
Extra rehearsals as follows:
Monday, April 13th 6:00 – 11:00 tech rehearsal
Sunday, April 19th 5:00 – 10:00 Tech/Dress
Monday, April 20th 6:00 – 11:00 Dress
Tuesday, April 21st 7:30 Performance
Thursday, April 23 (Nabokov's Birthday): in-class discussion of paperse
Monday, May 4: 2nd papers due, 12:30PM
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Goals:
In this course we will explore Russian and Soviet culture during the 20th century. During the first 7-8 weeks, we will read literary works and other texts, listen to music, and examine visual artworks. In the middle of the course, we will collectively design and produce a play, and the students will present this play on the stage to the general public in the last week of classes. By bringing these materials to life on the stage, we will achieve a more direct experience of the context and struggles of 20th century Russian culture.
Requirements:
Each student will participate in the production.
Also, this is a writing-intensive course. There will be two 1,250-word papers, one due before spring break and one during finals week. These papers will involve some research into background sources, primary sources, letters or personal materials concerning some work we have studied during the semester. If it focuses on the produced text, it will relate this text to other works we have studied and make use of five or more non-internet sources beyond the assigned readings (these may be letters by the writers, artists, etc., articles about them or about the time, theoretical works about art, theater, or literature, etc. See me if you have questions). Paper topics should be chosen in March and worked on in parallel with the play’s production.
Regular attendance and participation in discussions and (later) rehearsals.
Some extra hours rehearsing and setting up stage during the last week before the performance. PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR WORK SCHEDULES, WORK FOR OTHER COURSES, ETC. Your evenings (7-9pm) should be available April 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, and 20; and afternoons of April 18 and 19. You must be available for a 7pm performance on April 21st or 22nd. The performance will last about an hour or 90 minutes; call will be at 6:00pm.
Grade Breakdown:
Attendance: 20% (including ALL rehearsals)
Participation: 20% (this means contributing thoughtful questions or responses relating to reading/viewing material) You must demonstrate active engagement with the course material throughout the semester.
Papers: 20% each
Commitment to performance: 20% (learning lines, timeliness at rehearsals, cooperativeness with instructions, contributions to design, sound, set-up, and clean-up)
Texts:
At Bookstore:
Daniil Kharms, Incidences
Joseph Brodsky, Marbles
On-line reserves (various)