"Narratives of the Russian Self: from the Kievan Rus' to Instagram" provides an introduction to the main aspects of Russian Culture, through the study of how the country has been conceptualised, represented, mythologised and distorted in a variety of media and genres, such as literature, folklore, historiography, geography, philosophy, cinema, theatre, visual arts and music.

Historical introduction: Drevnjaja Rus’ (IX-XIV); Moskovskaja Rus’ (XV-XVII); Peterburgskij period (1697-1825); Ot Nikolaja I do Nikolaja II (1825-1894); Serebrjanyj vek (1894-1917); Meždu revoljuciej i vojnoj (1917-1941); Ot vojny do raspada SSSR (1941-1991).

We will pay particular attention to the re-narration of these historical periods within the cultural projects Arzamas and Karta Istorii.

Methodological introduction: Cultural Studies, Kul’turologija, Jurij Lotman: Stat’i po tipologii kul’tury, Kul’tura i vzryv, Besedy o russkoj kul’ture.

Themes: Space, Border, Montage, Monument, Primitive, Red, Duel.

Knowledge and understanding: knowledge and ability to understand contents and problems concerning Russian Culture, and the specific subject of the course, identifying key moments in the development of the narration and definition of the Russian Self

Applying knowledge and understanding: application of knowledge to specific cultural products, showing the ability to recognize the historical roots of cultural processes and the manipulation of political/cultural discourses

Making judgements: acquisition of information in the field of Russian culture in order to reflect upon specific cultural products; ability to formulate personal hypothesis on studied or not specifically treated themes.

Communication skills: use of a clear and precise language, adopting the specific vocabulary. Ability to explain the meaning of some Russian words that are essential to the definition of Russianness (prostor, pamjatnik, narod, etc.)

Learning skills: independent studying and learning, ability to recognise useful sources

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures, essays writing

Course books

Franklin-Widdis, National Identity in Russian Culture. An Introduction, Cambridge University Press 2004;

Rzhevsky (ed. by), The Cambridge Companion to Modern Russian Culture, Cambridge University Press 1998;

Ferrari, La Foresta e la Steppa. Il mito dell’Eurasia nella cultura russa, Mimesis 2012;

Lotman, Conversazioni sulla cultura russa, Studi Bompiani 2017.

Arzamas lessons https://arzamas.academy/likbez/ruskult

ONE literary text

Assessment

Oral exam in three parts.

Discussion of:

ONE historical period, with critical comments on ONE audiolekcija from Arzamas Academy;

an essays written by the student on ONE theme, appropriately developed with personal considerations;

ONE textual or visual or cinematographic document

The exam will evaluate knowledge and understanding (knowledge of cultural, political, historical and social concepts related to the construction of Russian identity); applied knowledge and understanding (applications to specific and complex cases); skills (critical and independent judgment, with reference to the discussion of the personal essay).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.