The focus of this course is 21st century Russian culture, language, and politics in their various instantiations. It will be based on analysis of contemporary texts and discourses, from novels to blogs, and from rap and stand-up comedy to political discussions. It will also include visual arts, such as film, animation, and graphic novels. The class is aimed at students with advanced knowledge of Russian, both Americans studying Russian and Russians living in America. All readings, lectures, and discussions are in Russian.

The course will focus on the ways in which Russian language is used in the contemporary public sphere and activities that have to do with performance in the broad sense of the word –– arts, politics, urban space, fashion, self-representation, the environment, and the ethnocultural sphere. We will read, watch, and analyse a wide range of texts and genres, from novels to blogs, and from rap and stand-up comedy to political discussions. Our dual purpose will be to deepen and frame your awareness of the current social and cultural processes, as well as advance your verbal proficiency and grammatical competence. We will also address some of the particularly challenging aspects of word formation, syntax, and idiomatic speech. The class is aimed at students with advanced knowledge of Russian, both Americans studying Russian and Russians living in America. All readings, lectures, and discussions are in Russian. All materials will be provided by the instructor.

Prerequisite: Russian 103B or consent of instructor.

Repeat Rules

Requirements class fulfills