This course concentrates on the cinematic legacy of Andrei Tarkovskii and Sergei Eisenstein, arguably the two most important directors in Russian history. This course allows the faculty in the Russian Program to teach what they truly love. Courses change from year to year, and are at times cross-listed with courses from other programs, bringing a diverse student body to the class. In general, they focus on a specific topic for one quarter and are conducted in Russian or a combination of Russian and English classes. This course is in Russian, and makes heavy use of the Program's Internet connections Russian-language television, video, and radio.
Literary translation is different from cultural translation in the nature of the texts used.
The student will rely not only on acquired knowledge of Russian grammar, vocabulary, and syntax, but also on a sense of the artistic. This course focuses on the development of Russian literature from its beginnings to roughly 1917, when the October Revolution prompted many writers and artists to leave Russia for France and other Western countries. This course will cover all eras of traditional Russian literature, particularly Romanticism and Realism. Appropriate literary theory is examined during the course of readings. Most readings and assignments are in Russian.