This is an interdisciplinary course that uncovers the deep connection between politics and art while discussing Russian imperialism in historical and literary contexts.

When we think of Russia, past or present, we associate it with imperialist ambition, forceful projections of power, and abrupt annexations. But in terms of its contributions to the world, we think of Russia as home to a unique culture— in music, the fine arts, and especially literature, universally acclaimed for its humanistic ethos, empathy, and psychological depth. The purpose of this course is to explore the connection between these two aspects of Russian culture and to probe the ways in which the imperial drive influenced— was artistically mediated by—, especially nineteenth-century prose.

This course examines major social and political developments in nineteenth-century Russia and considers them from the differing perspectives of history and literary studies. It introduces students to methodologies used in each of these disciplines and encourages them to pursue their own scholarly interests in the intersections between multiple fields. Focusing on ethnic, religious, socio-economic, and cultural diversity in the Russian Empire we will explore those issues in broad historical context and analyze their treatment in nineteenth-century literature. Looking comparatively at diverse developments in nineteenth-century Russia, we will think about both the actual history of the Russian empire and the literary representations of it, with the requirement that students’ projects also explore both. In this course students will learn how to use multiple perspectives and integrate knowledge in order to approach complex problems.

Course Requirements:

Attendance at lectures and participation in class discussions (20%) Two papers (10-12 pages in length) (30% each) Final exam (20%)

Intended Audience:

Undergraduate students in multiple fields

Class Format:

Instruction mode: The course will be taught in a synchronous format (no pre-recorded lectures).

Assessment: Testing for this class will be asynchronous and will consistent of two essays (each submitted in two steps: first draft and revision) and portfolio (final project) via Canvas during a designated time frame.