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This course introduces students to the major works of Russophone literature and examines the major literary trends, philosophies, and high culture of the Russian-speaking literary world. Texts studied range from the early written fairy tales to lyric poetry of the "Silver Age" to the socialist realist novel, dissident and émigré literature of the Soviet era, and 20th century satire. In addition, new directions and works in Russophone postmodern literature since the fall of the Communist regime are studied.RUS 324 Tolstoyevsky & Beyond: Russophone Literature: This course introduces students to the major works of Russophone literature and examines the major literary trends, philosophies, and high culture of the Russian-speaking literary world. Texts studied range from the early written fairy tales to lyric poetry of the "Silver Age" to the socialist realist novel, dissident and émigré literature of the Soviet era, and 20th century satire. In addition, new directions and works in Russophone postmodern literature since the fall of the Communist regime are studied.

This course focuses on Russia and the Soviet Union since the Russian Revolution in 1917. For most of the twentieth century, the world was profoundly affected by communism and its center in Russia. Why was there a revolution in Russia in 1917? What happened there that produced such a dark figure as Stalin? What characterized the Soviet Union and its culture? Why did it collapse at the beginning of the 1990s and what are the prospects for Russia in the future? These questions will provide the backdrop for a close examination of Russian society and Soviet film since 1917.

This course provide students with advanced practice in speaking and comprehending spoken Russian. Emphasis is placed on refining difficult grammar and syntax through conversation and exploration of themes.

This course is an introduction to Russian society from 1700 and the time of Peter the Great until the eve of the Russian Revolution in 1917. It begins with a consideration of Russia's pre-Imperial history, when it grew increasingly isolated from Western Europe. The Renaissance, Reformation, and the Age of Science and Discovery largely passed it by. The drama of the Imperial period begins with Russia's attempt to open its doors to the West. The two centuries of Russian history before the Russian Revolution are characterized by the essential conflict between Western ideas and Russian culture. Political, social, and economic developments provide some of the backdrop as well as the creative genius of artists like Gogol, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, and Tchaikovsky.