RUSS-340 Diversity of the Russian-Speaking World (3)

This course explores the diversity of the Russian-speaking cultures and the impact of the Russian language and culture on their development through a survey of nonfiction and fiction works, intellectual history, and interactions with modern-day representatives of the cultures. Students are introduced to the cultures of the Baltic States, then Ukraine, then Russia and its ethnic minorities, and lastly Central Asia with a focus on Kazakhstan through historical and modern-day perspectives. The course provides a model of cultural analysis that students are able to use both within and beyond the course. Students acquire conceptual tools to analyze power relations, gender roles, religious tensions, and the marginal position of minority groups in the cultural landscape. AU Core Habits of Mind: Cultural Inquiry. Note: Language of Instruction: English.