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| Unit name |
Russian Literary Scholarships, 1950 - 1990 |
| Unit code |
RUSS32060 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Coates |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Russian |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This course will introduce three major orientations in the twentieth century Russian literary scholarship: Formalism, Structuralism and Semiotics. In a series of readings, discussions and presentations, the students will master important critical concepts and tools that will advance their ability to critically assess literature. The course aims at demonstrating that the opposition between literature and thinking about literature is often artificial; and vice versa, the practical critical orientation of the course will show that there are no 'theoretical' issues that do not find their place in our habitual understanding of literature. While closely engaging with important ideas, terms and concepts that originated in Russian intellectual circles in the period between 1915 and 1990, we will ask ourselves some seemingly simple questions: What is literature? Why do we read: for pleasure or to learn about life? What is literary in literature? Can one really be taught how to read literature?
Aims:
- To introduce students to a significant body of knowledge of a complexity appropriate to final year level. The content matter will normally include one or more of the following: literature; social, cultural or political history; linguistics; cultural studies; film, television or other media.
- To facilitate students engagement with a body of literature, including secondary literature, texts, including in non-print media, primary sources and ideas as a basis for their own analysis and development. Normally many or most of these sources will be in a language other than English and will enhance the development of their linguistic skills.
- To develop further skills of synthesis, analysis and independent research, building on the skills acquired in units at level I.
- To equip students with the skills to undertake postgraduate study in a relevant field.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Successful students will:
- be knowledgable about a significant cultural, historical or linguistic subject related to the language they are studying;
- will have advanced skills in the selection and synthesis of relevant material;
- be able to evaluate and analyse relevant material from a significant body of source materials, usually in a foreign language, at an advanced level;
- be able to respond to questions or problems by presenting their independent judgements in an appropriate style and at an advanced level of complexity;
- be able to transfer these skills to other working environments, including postgraduate study.
Teaching Information
2 hours weekly, tutor- and student-led seminar.
Assessment Information
3000 word essay (60%), book review (20%), and 50-minute class test (20%).
