Aimed at refining and enriching language proficiency. Close personal supervision, tutoring by native speaker, heavy emphasis on acquaintance with Russian culture at a deeper level. Extracurricular activities such as viewing films, traditional Russian teas, excursions to the Russian neighborhood in LA for a Russian meal and other activities. The first level is between the language of books and the cinema, and the second level is across cultures, i.e., when Russian literature is made into films by non-Russian filmmakers. No knowledge of Russian required.
Texts are English translations and the films subtitled or dubbed in English.
In-class viewing of international film versions made between 1959 and 1997 of works by Dostoevsky, Chekhov and twentieth century Russian writers. Analysis of transformations from book to film, comparing and contrasting different film versions of the same work. Grading based on class discussion, weekly paragraph-length written contribution to class forum on the web, final. 115 Kinsey Hall, Box 951502, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1502.