109-120 Post-perestroika Russia: Transformations

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Subject Description

Taught in English, this subject is an introduction to contemporary Russian culture, through films and literary texts, examined against the backdrop of the post-perestroika changes in the society of the New Russia and in a comparative (western) perspective. The discussion of topics such as the contemporary reevaluation of Russian history and the cultural heritage, history as memory and archaeology, will be contrasted with the 'naive' representations of history as 'apologia' or as 'the end of history' in dystopia and will draw on the theoretical discourses of psychoanalysis and poststructuralism. On conclusion of the subject students should have become acquainted with approaches to the study of cultural texts in the general context of postmodernity as it relates to the phenomenon of the New Russia; and be able to compare and contrast post-perestroika Russian culture with western cultural models.

Assessment

Written work totalling 4000 words comprising a 1500 word classpaper and a 2500 word essay.

Prescribed Texts

• O Chukhontsev (ed), Dissonant Voices: The New Russian Fiction. Harvill/Harper Collins 1991.
• Y Dombrovsky, The Faculty of Useless Knowledge. A Myers (trans) Harvill Press 1996.
• A Rybakov, Children of the Arbat. H Shukman (trans) Hutchinson 1988.
• A Kabakov, No Return. T Whitney (trans), William Morrow & Co 1990.
• M Epstein, A Genis & Vladiv-Glover, Russian Postmodernism: New Perspectives on Post-Soviet Culture. Berghahn Books 1999.