OVERVIEW

This 9-credit 54-hour course will be taught over the course of two semesters; it is aimed at Master’s students from the LM37 program and available to others as an elective. In the second semester, this course will be taught together with 117688.

AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

This course provides (1) deeper knowledge of a single novel that was fundamental for the story of Russian culture and for its radicalization in the middle of the 19th century; (2) deeper knowledge of a single author that was fundamental for the story of Russian culture and for its radicalization in the middle of the 19th century; (3) familiarity with diverse critical approaches to the novel and to the author in question and to ways of thinking about these; (4) an introduction to the amazing development of Russian and Russophone literature and culture in the first decades of the 20th century, (5) a general understanding of the radical changes to previous tradition that early 20th-century cultural developments represented, (6) broad cultural knowledge capable of linking these cultural developments to the general historical and socio-political context, (7) an introduction to changes in the field of literature and culture resulting from Bolshevik and Stalinist policy, (8 familiarity with specific Russophone artists and their work, both in Russian and translation, (9) an introduction to research methods and techniques in the field of Russian cultural studies through participation in individual projects, (10) an introduction to brief genres of academic writing (such as introductions to the author and to the work, the review) together with practical experience in reading and writing these.

PREREQUISITES

This course requires familiarity with the Russian language.

TEACHING METHODS

This course will be conducted in person and in Italian. Students who are unable to attend regularly should contact the instructor as soon as possible.

Students must register for the course on Aulaweb in order to keep informed both via automatic notifications and posts regarding updates, materials, and details on the course syllabus, lectures, and the exam. N.B. If your name does not appear in the list of "participants", you are not yet signed up and will not receive any notifications.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Course title: “A CENTURY OF UPHEAVAL”

The first semester of this course will explore a fundamental novel from the mid 19th century, “Who Is To Blame?” by Aleksandr Herzen, in its socio-historical context, via the biography of the author, and in terms evolving literary criticism. In the second semester, we will consider different moments in Russian and Russophone culture in the period of its richest flowering, the early 1900s, amidst significant events such as the Revolution of 1905, World War I, the Revolution of 1917, the Civil War and the establishment of the new Soviet state. From the late 1800s, the increasingly rapid advance of modernity was accompanied by dizzying speed in the arts, exemplified by marvelous inspiration and invention in an attempt to keep up with the times. We will examine the results of this cultural “explosion” in different fields, including prose, poetry, painting and cinema. Specifically, this course will explore artistic experimentation that tried to overturn previous tradition, the invention of cinema, the arts at the service of the Future and of the Revolution, as well as how new Soviet and Stalinist pressures inhibited processes of innovation, without, however, stopping them entirely.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

(N.B. Despite the title of this section, the reading is not “recommended”, but mandatory!)

FOR READING

Riasanovsky, Nicholas. “Storia della Russia” (pagine selezionate)

I semestre:

Herzen, Aleksandr, “Who Is To Blame?” (Кто виноват?, 1845) (if in Italian, the new Oscar Cult edition)

II semestre:

Chodasevič, “The Monkey” (Обезьяна, 1919)

Cvetaeva, selected poetry

Blok, “The Twelve” (Двенадцать, 1918)

Blok, “The Scythians” (Скифы, 1918)

Zamjatin, “The Cave” (Пещера, 1920)

Achmatova, “All Is Ravaged...” (Всё расхищено..., 1921)

Majakovskij, selected poetry

Platonov, “The River Potudan” (Река Потудан, 1936)

FOR VIEWING

Selected Russian paintings

Selected works of cinema (chosen in collaboration with Prof. Schamma Schahadat, Tubinga) by directors Kulešov, Vertov, Ejzenštejn, Pudovkin, Protazanov, Room.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The week of Sept. 29, 2025.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam and written exam at the end of the course. The completion of homework assignments during the course may reduce the size of the final exam (see below).

This course is conceived as a laboratory that requires the active participation of the students. Those who participate regularly will have a reduced final exam. “Participate regularly” means (1) attending at least 75% of the classes (25 ore), (2) completing the assignments (whether individual or group) in an adequate and timely manner (before September 15, 2026), including one or more written assignments and an oral presentation. The assignments will be explained in class and on Aulaweb and completed, in part, together.

Students who attend less than 70% of the course but are still able to complete the assignments as above will have a somewhat reduced exam. Students who attend at least 70% of the course but are unable or unwilling to complete the projects assigned have two options: (a) discuss their individual situation with the instructor in order to understand if other “discounts” or extensions are possible (if the problem is deadlines); (b) take the full final exam; and/or (c) take the exam with a different program the following year.

Exams will be held in June/July 2026 and September 2026, after which time students may take the exam by appointment. Students who do not pass the exam by February 2027 will need to move to the syllabus for 2026/27.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students may sign up for the exam on the Unige site. The exam may be taken in Russian, Italian, or English. The exam will test general knowledge of the historical context, the students’ reading of the texts on the syllabus, and their ability to offer a critical interpretation of these. Students are advised to read attentively and to formulate their own opinion on the material. The quality of the students’ self-expression in presenting their ideas and their correct use of relevant scholarly terms will figure into the grade.

FURTHER INFORMATION

ATTENDANCE: Strongly recommended – and students who attend regularly will have more options on the exam.

DISABILITY: Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and/or exams in this course or in general, should speak with the instructor, who is also the Department’s disability liaison.