Unit information: The Cold War at Home: Soviet Culture and Society 1945-1991 in 2012/13

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Unit name The Cold War at Home: Soviet Culture and Society 1945-1991
Unit code RUSS30058
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Shaw
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 unit will consider Soviet domestic culture and society from 1945-1991. It will examine how the Cold War, with its fears of capitalist imperialism and narratives of socialist superiority, was mapped onto the domestic experiences of Soviet individuals. By examining Cold War society through a range of contexts, including consumption and living standards, leisure activity, tourism (to Eastern Europe and elsewhere), the mass media, fashion, sport and youth cultures, we will consider how the propagandistic tropes of Soviet progress – “forward, USSR!” – impacted on the lives and identities of Soviet citizens, and how the lure of the West both reinforced and undermined a sense of Soviet cultural identity in this period.

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

Two seminar hours per week across one teaching block (22 contact hours).

Assessment Information

One of the following:

a) A written assignment of 3000 words and a two hour exam (50% each)

b) A written assignment of 3000 words (25%) and a three hour exam (75%)

c) One written assignment of 6000 words (or equivalent)

d) Two written assignments of 3000 words (50% each)

e) One oral presentation (25%) plus one written assignment of 1500 words (25%) plus one written assignment of 3000 words (50%)

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