Interpreting Culture (202-0-31)

Topic

Gender and Revolution in Soviet Russian Literature

Instructors

Clare Cavanagh
847/467-2360
1880 Campus Dr. (Kresge) Office 3222
Office Hours: Tuesdays 2-4pm and by appointment

Meeting Info

Parkes Hall 223: Mon, Wed 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

Gender and Revolution in Soviet Russia

The Russian Revolution of 1917 initiative a vast experiment in family, sex, and marriage. How did the backwards Russia of the early twentieth century become the most advanced nation in the world in gender and family legislation in the early 1920's? How did the Soviet government attempt to translate Marxist theories of the family into social practice? What happened when revolutionary visions were replaced by the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin? How did the state regulate gender representation in the arts? How did literature and the arts shape, resist or reflect key transformations in Soviet society as the century progressed? We will examine both state-sanctioned and oppositional works, including poetry, short stories, novellas, novels, literary journalism, film, and the visual arts as we explore these questions. All reading to be done in English

Class Attributes

Literature and Arts Foundational Discipline
Literature & Fine Arts Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration -- Reserved for Comparative Literature students.