Russian Culture: the Classics and the Avant Garde

This course explores diverse aspects of Russian culture, grappling with key aspects of Russian national identity and cultural interests both historically and in terms of their relevance to understanding contemporary Russia. During the course students will examine a broad range of the facets that make up the various canons of both “Russian” and “Soviet” culture, including works from literature, poetry, visual arts, folklore, music, performance, and film.

Students will be able to critically approach and analyze both established “classics” of Russian high culture and “avant-garde” challenges to the status quo as they relate to Russian conceptions of both tradition and modernity, but also as these are influenced by and influence non-Russian cultures.