Courses in Slavic Linguistics, Literary Theory, Film, and Surveys (Division 474)

Slavic 150. First Year Seminar.

Only first-year students, including those with sophomore standing, may pre-register for First-Year Seminars. All others need permission of instructor. (3). (HU). May be repeated for a total of six credits.

Designed to introduce entering students to aspects of culture in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Eurasia. Topics vary according to the interests of the instructors. Whatever their subject matter, first-year seminars emphasize critical thinking through class discussion and regular practice in writing.

Slavic 151. First Year Seminar.

Only first-year students, including those with sophomore standing, may pre-register for First-Year Seminars. All others need permission of instructor. (4). (Introductory Composition).

Designed to introduce entering students to aspects of culture in Eastern Europe, Russia and Eurasia by analyzing the complex processes which define "culture" and "ethnicity" in the areas where "West meets East." Topics vary according to the interests of the instructors. Whatever their subject matter, first-year seminars emphasize critical thinking through class discussions and thorough practice in introductory composition.

Slavic 225. Arts and Cultures of Central Europe.

(3). (HU).

Orientation to the culture of Central Europe from WWI to the present: ethnic and national emancipation, WWII and Nazism, the communist period and the struggle for democracy as reflected in literature and the arts.

Slavic 240. Introduction to Slavic Folklore.

(3). (HU).

Introduction to the folklore of Slavs, the largest population of Central and Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Primary emphasis on oral traditional verse and prose (epic, ballad, lyric, folktale), plus folk art and architecture, music, dance, cooking, customs, and ritual.

Slavic 312/RC Hums. 312. Central European Cinema.

A knowledge of Russian is not required. (3). (HU). Laboratory fee ($50) required.

Central European (Polish, Czechoslovak, Hungarian, Yugoslav) cinema studied against the background of the political, social, ideological, and artistic factors which helped shape it. The course spans the period 1958-1995, and covers the works of major directors: Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Milos Forman, Jiri Menzel, Vera Chytilova, Marta Meszaros, Istvan Szabo, Dusan Makavejev, and Srdan Karanovic. Films by many of the above directors and others are viewed, analyzed, and discussed both with respect to their intrinsic aesthetic structure and with respect to the cultural trends and socio-political events of the period and country. Special emphasis is given to issues of ethnicity and gender.

Slavic 313/RC Hums. 313. Russian Cinema.

(3). (HU). Laboratory fee ($50) required.

Russian cinema studied against the background of the artistic and political revolutions which helped shape it. The course spans the period 1917-present, from the Russian pioneers of film montage (Sergei Eisenstein, Vsevolod Pudovkin, Dziga Vertov, Alexander Dovzhenko) to the varied cinematic approaches of recent directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky, and Nikita Mikhalkov. Films by all of the above directors and others are viewed, analyzed, and discussed both with respect to their intrinsic aesthetic structure and with respect to the cultural trends and socio-political events of the period and country.

Slavic 395/REES 395/Hist. 332/Poli. Sci. 395/Soc. 392. Survey of Russia: The Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Successor States.

(4; 3 in the half-term). (SS). Laboratory fee ($10) required.

An interdisciplinary survey of the history, politics, government, economy, social institutions, literature, and arts of the Soviet Union and its successor states and their relations with the rest of the world. Lectures and discussion.

Slavic 396/REES 396/Hist. 333/Poli. Sci. 396/Soc. 393. Survey of East Central Europe.

No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in REES 397. (4; 3 in the half-term). (SS). Laboratory fee ($10) required.

An interdisciplinary survey of the people, history, politics, government, economy, social institutions, literature, and arts of the communist and post-communist states of Eastern Europe and their relations with the rest of the world. Lectures and discussions.

Slavic 423. Central European Literature in the Twentieth Century.

(3). (Excl).

Focus on selected Czech authors of the post-1945 era as examples of Central European writing. Texts are examined both in their relation to the cultural legacy of the Habsburg Monarchy (Kundera, Havel) as well as a reaction to the political and cultural context defined by the new Communist regime after 1948 (Kundera, Skvorecky). All work is based on English translations.

Slavic 483. Fundamentals of Slavic Linguistics.

(3). (Excl).

A general survey of concepts, techniques, and terminology applicable to synchronic as well as diachronic studies of Russian and other Slavic languages. Primary emphasis is on the basic linguistic methodology but balanced to serve the needs of students specializing either in literature or linguistics.

Slavic 490. Culture and Politics in Russia Today.

(1). (Excl). May be repeated for a total of four credits.

Survey and analysis of current developments in Russian literature, politics, and culture in light of the changes now taking place. Lectures, discussion, one paper. The one-credit course explores areas not covered in regular curriculum and thus offers students an opportunity to broaden knowledge of the field.

Slavic 545. Workshop in Slavic Linguistics.

Slavic 483. (3). (Excl). May be repeated for a total of six credits.

Workshop to provide opportunity for students to apply and expand their control of current methods and theories of linguistic analysis to Slavic languages.