Russia and Eurasia: Empires and Enduring Legacies
Fall, Winter, Spring, 2006-2007
Faculty:
Patricia Krafcik (coordinator), Sem. II, A 2110 (867-6491 ); krafcikp@evergreen.edu
Robert Smurr, Sem. II, C 3112 (867-5056 ); smurrr@evergreen.edu
Thomas Rainey, Sem II, C 2110 (867-6750); raincart@comcast.net
Classes will be held at the following locations and times:
Tuesday:
Lecture/Film 9:00-11:00; Sem II, B1105
Seminar 2:00-3:30; Pat - LIB 2204; Rob/Tom - LIB 2219Wednesday:
Film/Lecture 9:30-1:00; Sem II, B1105Friday:
Lecture/Film 9:00-11:00; Sem II, D1105
Seminar 2:00-3:30; Pat – Sem II, D2107; Rob/Tom - Sem II, D2109
Program Description:
This 12-credit program offers an interdisciplinary approach to Russian history, literature, culture, geography, and film. Students may also choose to enroll in a separate 4-credit course to study the Russian language (see below) or in a 4-credit workshop on former Soviet nationalities and peoples (see below). Our extraordinary journey will take us across all of the vast territories that once comprised the Russian and Soviet empires – territories that today make up more than fifteen independent states. We will travel from the cobblestone streets of medieval Baltic cities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to the windswept grasslands of Mongolia; from the frigid Arctic Ocean to the sweltering marketplaces of Central Asia; from the soaring peaks of the Caucasus Mountains to the arid deserts of Uzbekistan. We will focus on the development of the Russians and the Russian nation through history, but we shall also examine the diverse groups that had cultural, political, social, economic, and religious contact with the Russians – the Vikings, Mongols, Tatars, and Turkic peoples, among others. By its very nature, any study of Russia and Eurasia must be multicultural.
We began the fall term by investigating Slavic, Scandinavian, Turkic, and Mongol contributions to early Russian and Eurasian societies. We explored approximately one thousand years of fascinating historical development, from the earliest foundations of East Slavic society in the 9th century up to Russia’s 18th century emergence as a colossal empire. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and several other world historical figures added particular color to our studies.
In winter quarter we emphasized world-famous historical, literary, and artistic developments that shook the empire during 19th century. We explored timeless readings from Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, and others. We also encountered some of the world’s most provocative social and revolutionary thinkers (Radishchev, Herzen, Kropotkin, Lenin). Students also began formulating their spring research projects in the second half of the winter quarter.
Spring term takes us from the revolutionary turmoil of the early 20th century up to the present state of post-imperial flux that best characterizes the disparate territories of the Former Soviet Union. We investigate the origins and consequences of the Bolshevik Revolution, the Stalin terror, WWII, and the unanticipated collapse of the Soviet Union. Readings from Lenin, Zamiatin, Bulgakov, Akhmatova, Solzhenitsyn, Rasputin, Aitmatov, Yevtushenko, Pelevin, and others will give us a window into the extraordinary turmoil and suffering that characterizes much of the Soviet Union’s history in that century.
Program Structure:
Lectures: Students will normally have two faculty lectures per week, usually given by Pat, Rob, an dTom on a rotating basis. Lectures cover Russian history, literature, culture (music, art, etc.).
Seminars: Two per week based on the particular week’s reading(s).
Films: One or two per week, depending on length and content. Students will preview and lead discussions on feature films.
Film Groups (27K Word Doc)
Workshops: One optional quarter-long 4-credit workshop (see below).
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Beginning Russian Language (III):
The language segment of our program (4 credits) has already completed two quarter's worth of work. New students may join us if they have had an equivalent amount of college-level Russian language. Please see the faculty about this. Otherwise, the language segment is open only to those who began with us in fall term.
RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SCHEDULE:
Krafcik: Tuesday & Friday, 11:30-1:30; Sem II, D2107.
Text: Nachalo, Book Two (packaged with Workbook Two and audio CD.) Ervin, McLellan, Lubensky, Jarvis (The McGraw-Hill Co., 2002/03)
Russian Language CDs :
https://academic.evergreen.edu/curricular/Russia/audio/
When going to this URL you will be prompted to enter a username and password.
To access the files you will need to:
- Be registered in either the program Russia or the 4 credit Russian language course.
- Enter your Evergreen logon and password at the prompt.
Instructions for figuring our your login and password are located at
http://www.evergreen.edu/netservices/Accounts/studentuserpass.htm
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SPECIAL WORKSHOP:
The Peoples, Nations, and Nationalities of the FSU (Former Soviet Union) – 4 credits---in Sem II, B3109, Fridays 11:30-1:30.
This workshop investigates the ethnic, cultural, religious, and political diversity of the former Russian and later Soviet empires. We will examine the histories of the fifteen “republics” that emerged as internationally recognized nation states upon the collapse of the USSR in 1991 as well as the dozens of smaller ethnic identities that continue to exist within these newly legitimized borders. Books, articles, films, and student research will provide us with a strong overview of the complexity of this enormous geographic region. Individual students will be responsible for investigating one particular nationality (or ethnicity) in greater depth than will the class as a whole, and they will then share their findings with the entire workshop. See Workshop handout for mini-syllabus and booklist.
Nationalities Workshop (35K Word Doc)
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Campus Disability Policy:
If you have a health condition or disability that may require accommodations in order to effectively participate in this class, please do one of the following:
- Contact the faculty after class
- Contact Access Services in Library 1407-D; 867-6348, or pickeril@evergreen.edu
Information about a disability or health condition will be regarded as confidential.
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Campus Smoking Policy:
Evergreen is a smoke free campus, excluding the several designated smoking areas. If you do smoke, consider quitting. If you can’t or choose not to, please use the designated areas only. Students willfully disregarding this campus policy will be asked to leave the program.
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Classroom Personal Technology Policy:
In an attempt to keep distractions to a minimum, your faculty do not permit the use of the following items during any of the scheduled class meetings (lecture, seminar, film, or workshop) without their prior written approval:
- laptop computers
- music listening devices (i-pods, etc.)
- email devices
- cell phones
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Last updated: April 11, 2007 The Evergreen State College © 2006-07 Robert Smurr. All Rights Reserved.