RUSS 303 D: Topics in Russian Culture (In English)
Exploring Russian Culture and National Identity
Department of Central, Eastern & Northern European Studies
| COURSE DATES AND LOCATIONS:
Summer Term 1 (May 16, 2022 to June 1, 2022 Locations: Vancouver – May 16-June 7, 2022; Moscow – June 8-June 22, 2022 Instructor Name: Dr. Veta Chitnev Preferred name to be addressed: Veta E-mail: vchitnev@mail.ubc.ca Office: Buchanan Tower 903 Office telephone: (604) 827- 5541 Skype: 9f4d048513cf5dde Office Hours: by appointment Website: blogs.ubc.ca/russcourses |
Course Description
The course includes a selection of themes related to Russia and Russian culture. How do Russians view themselves and conceive of their own identity? What do Russians think makes them “Russian”? The scope of the topics covered will range from the representation of the major historical events and significant figures in Russian culture to the role of religion in shaping and reshaping Russian ethnic identity.
This course is a powerful tool for developing intercultural competence, and it will facilitate your cultural knowledge, reflexivity, and critical thinking. You will have an opportunity to
- compare your perception of Russian people’s conventions described in literature and covered in class in pre-departure lectures you’re your experience of observing Russian people and interacting with them;
- visit museums and historical sites that allow a deeper understanding of Russian cultural history.
The research component will contribute to the development of your critical thinking skills and will allow you to explore a topic of your interest in greater depth.
Learning Objectives
After successfully completing RUSS 303, you will be able to:
- identify and analyze:
- a range of Russian people’s beliefs, values, and conventions;
- factors that influenced Russian culture;
- the main events, figures, and achievements in Russian cultural history;
- describe selections of Russian poetry, prose and film in order to analyze how Russian cultural values and ethnic identities are depicted;
- question your own cultural preconceptions by discussing the difference between how Russians view their culture and Western perspectives of Russia;
- develop cultural sensitivity by reflecting on some peculiarities of Russian culture;
- communicate perceptions of unfamiliar cultural materials to peers.
- design and conduct research (formulate research questions, use library and Internet resources, and evaluate sources of information).
Required Material
All reading material is available online, and via the UBC library system
All films are accessible via links or via the YouTube Mosfilm Collection or CANVAS
Evaluation
Written Assignments 15%
Quizzes 15%
Research Proposal 15 %
Research Presentation 15%
Research Paper 40 %
Written assignments (15%)
There will be written assignments on assigned reading and study tours. Written assignments are graded according to a Complete/Incomplete grading scheme. Assignments submitted after the due date will receive 80% of the grade.
Quizzes (15%)
There will be online quizzes after each module on the material from both the reading assignments and the lectures. The quizzes will be 10-15-minute-long, and they will include multiple choice and true and false questions. The lowest score will be excluded from the final grade.
Research Proposal (15 %)
You will have to submit a research proposal (minimum 750 words) on the topic of your interest related to Russian culture. You will examine this topic in your final paper and research presentation following these guidelines:
- The instructor does not provide topics. You must come up with your own.
- The topic must be related to RUSS 303.
- You must submit the topic by the date indicated in the course schedule for the instructor’s approval.
Your proposal should include a description of the research topic and an annotated bibliography (minimum 5 sources, consistent with one style, e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) In your description, you should introduce a problem or issue relevant to the topic and make a clear and creative argument for the importance of the topic. Your annotations should be minimum 100 words each and they should include the following information:
- A summary of the source
- The source’s strengths and weaknesses
- Why the source is relevant in your field of study
- Information about the author’s background
- Your personal conclusions about the source
Scoring Guideline for the Research Proposal
|
|
Exceptional | Outstanding | Competent | Satisfactory | Adequate | Inadequate |
| 90-100% | 80-89% | 70-79%/ | 60-69% | 50-59 % | 0 -49% | |
| Description of the research topic
20 pts. |
· The proposal introduces a problem or issue relevant to the topic.
· A clear and creative argument for the importance of the topic. |
· The proposal introduces a problem or issue relevant to the topic.
· A a clear argument for the importance of the topic. |
· The proposal introduces a problem or issue relevant to the topic,
· but it explains its significance in simplistic terms. |
· The proposal introduces a problem or issue, explains its significance in simplistic terms.
· Reader is left confused on the problem/issue. |
· The proposal introduces a problem or issue,
· but fails to explain its significance. |
· The proposal does not introduce a problem/issue.
· Topic for the research paper is not provided.
|
| Quantity of sources
10 pts. |
· The proposal cites 5 sources
|
· The proposal cites 4 sources
|
· The proposal cites 3
|
· The proposal cites 2 sources
|
· The proposal cites 1 source
|
· No sources cited |
| Quality/ Reliability &
Variety of sources
20 pts. |
· All sources are reliable.
· Excellent variety of sources that provides different perspectives. · More than four types of sources. |
· All sources are reliable.
· Good variety of sources. · More than four types of sources. |
· Most sources are reliable.
· Good variety of sources. · Three types of sources. |
· Some sources can be considered reliable. Adequate variety of sources.
· Three types of sources. |
· Few sources cited can be considered reliable.
· Poor variety of sources. · Two types of sources. |
· Little or no reliable or trustworthy
· No variety of sources. · Only one type of source. |
| Quality of annotations
30 pts. |
· All annotations are complete and meet the requirements described in the syllabus.
· The annotations provide evidence for importance and relevance of the sources. |
· All annotations are complete and meet the requirements described in the syllabus. | · Most annotations are complete and meet the requirements described in the syllabus. | · Some annotations are complete and meet the requirements described in the syllabus. | · Most annotations are lacking in completeness. | · All annotations are lacking in completeness. |
- Research Presentation (15%)Create a 10-minute video presentation that summarizes your research paper, including introducing the topic, summary of relevant research, your arguments and conclusion. When preparing your video, ensure it uses visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint, Prezi, paper handouts, flip charts, black board etc.) that help you convey ideas to the audience. When your video is complete, upload it or post a link to the appropriate page in Canvas. It will be evaluated by the instructor using the rubric below (for 10% of your grade).Scoring Rubric for Oral Presentations ORGANIZATION 5 4 3 2 1 0 clear objectives/logical structure CONTENT 15 12 9 6 3 0 concise summary of your research with the
main arguments covered
VISUAL 5 4 3 2 1 0
Attractive images/ legible text/
Slides enhance presentation
TIME MANAGEMENT 5 4 3 2 1 0
effective use of time
TOTAL SCORE ______ / 30
The remaining 5% of your grade will come from providing high quality feedback to your peers. Please review 5 peers’ video presentations (to be assigned in class) using the feedback form to be provided in class. The instructor will evaluate the quality of the feedback you provide to others (1% x 5).
Research Paper (40%)
Your final paper is a research essay on the topic of your research proposal described in the previous sections. In this paper, you should analyze both literary and non-literary works to address topics related to Russian culture and national idenity. Your paper should follow the following requirements:
- The format is 10-12 pages (2500 words) not including bibliography, double-spaced, 12-point fonts
- Minimum 10 sources (primarily literary and scholarly)
- Its features should adhere to the criteria listed below
Scoring Rubric for the Final Paper
|
|
Exceptional | Outstanding | Competent | Satisfactory | Adequate | Inadequate |
| 90-100% | 80-89% | 70-79%/ | 60-69% | 50-59 % | 0 -49% | |
| Research question
10 pts. |
· Wrote clear question or questions which fit the topic and is worth publishing | · Wrote clear question or questions which fit the topic | ·Wrote clear question or questions which is partially relevant to the topic | · Wrote some questions which did not fit the topic. | · Wrote many questions which did not fit the topic. | · Failed to include research questions. |
| Organization
-Structural Development of the Idea 70 pts. |
· Compelling evidence to support your thesis.
· Thorough analysis of evidence · Writer demonstrates logical and subtle sequencing of ideas through well-developed paragraphs; transitions are used to enhance the organization · The conclusion is very engaging and restates the thesis · No errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling.
|
· Evidence to support your thesis.
· Thorough analysis of evidence · Writer demonstrates logical and subtle sequencing of ideas through well-developed paragraphs; transitions are used to enhance the organization · The conclusion is engaging · and restates the thesis · Almost no errors in punctuation, · capitalization and spelling. |
·Paragraph development
present but not perfected. ·The conclusion restates the thesis.
·Many errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling. |
· Logical organization; organization of ideas not fully developed.
· The conclusion does not adequately restate the thesis. · Very many errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling. |
· Logical organization and organization of ideas not fully developed.
· The conclusion is incomplete and/or unfocused. · Numerous and distracting errors in punctuation, capitalization and spelling. |
· No evidence of structure or organization.
· No conclusion. · Numerous and distracting errors in punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. |
| Bibliography
15 pts. |
· Identified more than 10 useful sources in many formats (books, magazines, electronic, but no more than two internet sites). | · Identified many useful sources in many formats (books, magazines, electronic, but no more than two internet sites). | ·Identified useful sources in many formats (books, magazines, electronic). | · Identified a few useful sources in one or two formats. | · Identified a few useful sources in one format. | · Identified no useful sources in any format |
| Format
5 pts. |
· Included all sources used and listed sources in an appropriate format. | · Included all sources used and listed sources. A few mistakes in the chosen format are made. | ·Included most sources used. | · Included most sources used, but some information was missing or incorrect. | · Failed to include most of the sources used, and much information was missing or incorrect | · Failed to include the sources used, and a lot of the information was missing or incorrect |
Course Schedule (Subject to Change)
| Week and Location | Topics and Activities |
| May 16-May 22
Vancouver |
Readings and prerecorded lectures posted on Canvas:
1. Introduction: 2. The concepts of “culture” and “national identity.” 3. Geography & population 4. The language and identity. |
| May 23-May 29
Vancouver |
Reading materials and prerecorded lectures posted on Canvas:
1. The representation of the major historical events and significant figures in Russian culture. 2. An overview of Russian philosophical thought
|
| May 30 – June 7
Vancouver |
Reading materials and prerecorded lectures posted on Canvas:
1. The Orthodox Church. Identity and religion 2. “Us against Them”: Imaginary ideological homogeneity of Soviet identity in the novel Master and Margarita. 3. Russian fairytales
|
| June 6
Vancouver |
Research proposal is due |
| June 8 – June 14
Moscow |
Activities:
Orientation 2 hours of practical Russian for travelers Lectures by Veta Chitnev: 1. Russia’s folk culture. Fairytale as a construction and reflection of cultural values. 2. (Location RUDN) Site visits: ü ½ day site visit: Red Square; ½ day site visit: The State Historical Museum ½ day site visit: Arbat Street & Dostoevsky Museum ½ day site visit Novodevichy Convent The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Full day excursions: Bus trip to Yasnaya Polyana or Vladimir and Suzdal
|
| June 15 – June 22
Moscow |
Activities:
1. Lectures by Veta Chitnev1. “Us against Them”: National Identity across history 2. The Great Patriotic War. The narrative of power and suffering 3. Russian Province (Location RUDN) Farewell dinner Site visits: ½ day Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure. ½ day The Museum of the Great Patriotic War ½ day The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics ½ day Ostankino Tower Full day excursions: The State Historical Museum of Russia Bus trip to Sergiev Posad The Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy & Ostankino Park The Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center
|
| July 15 | Research paper is due |
RUSS 303 Global Seminar Field Trip Detailed Schedule (Subject to Change)
| Jun 8 | Wednesday | Arrival. Orientation. Welcome party |
| Jun 9 | Thursday | A campus tour. Survival Russian language classes. Evening. 3-hour Moscow night sightseeing bus tour “Moscow never sleeps”.” |
| Jun 10 | Friday | The State Historical Museum. Red Square
GUM. Tverskaya Street walking tour A walk through the Tchaikovsky Conservatory |
| Jun 11 | Saturday | Lecture “Interpreting national history” The Kremlin Cathedrals The Kremlin Cathedrals and The Kremlin Armoury Museum. Evening: One of the following The Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus/Ballet//Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance /. |
| Jun 12 | Sunday | Bus tour: Moscow city and former royal estate Kolomenskoye. |
| Jun 13 | Monday | Lecture of Dr. Valikova O.A “Identity and religion.” The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and Novodevichy Convent. |
| Jun 14 | Tuesday | Free time. Volunteer students are available for walking tours. |
| Jun 15 | Wednesday | Lecture “The Great Patriotic War. The narrative of power and suffering |
| Jun 16 | Thursday | Full day bus trip to Suzdal (the oldest Russian Golden Ring town) |
| Jun 17 | Friday | Lecture “Russia’s folk culture. Fairytale as a construction and reflection of cultural values” The State Tretyakov Gallery |
| Jun 18 | Saturday | Izmaylovo. The museum of bread The Museum of Bread . Evening: One of the following The Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus/Ballet//Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance /. |
| Jun 19 | Sunday | Full day bus trip to Sergiev Posad. The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (the spiritual centre of Russia). One of the most well-known centers center for the Slavophile movement and artistic activity in the 19th century Abramtsevo. The National Museum of Toys
|
| Jun 20 | Monday | Tolstoy House Museum in Khamovniki districtTolstoy House Museum in Khamovniki district. . Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure. Moscow’s largest food market Depot. |
| Jun 21 | Tuesday | Free time. Volunteer students are available for walking tours. Evening:
One of the following The Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus/Ballet//Igor Moiseyev State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance /. |
| Jun 22 | Wednesday | Departure |
Textbooks available at UBC library online:
Berry, R., & MyiLibrary. (2004;2013;2002;). The research project: How to write it (5th;6; ed.). London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203130506
Solovyov, V. S., Wozniuk, V., Ebrary Academic Complete (Canada) Subscription Collection, & Project Muse University Press Archival eBooks. (2008). Freedom, faith, and dogma: Essays by V.S. Soloviev on Christianity and Judaism. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Public Domain Text Resources
Avvakum Petrovich, Life of the Archpriest Avvakum
https://pages.uoregon.edu/sshoemak/325/texts/avvakum.htm
Chekhov, A. & Garnett, C. (1919). Uprooted. Available at https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Uprooted
Chernyshevsky, (1886). What is to be done?. Availble at
https://archive.org/details/cu31924096961036
Leskov,N, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk Availble at
https://www.readanybook.com/online/565869
Nestor, A., Cross, S. H., & Sherbowitz-Wetzor, O. P. (1953). The Russian primary chronicle: Laurentian text. Cambridge, Mass: Mediaeval Academy of America. Available at
https://archive.org/details/TheRussianPrimaryChronicle
Pushkin, A.S., The Captain’s Daughter, Chapter XIV. Available at https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Russian_Romance_(Pushkin)/The_Captain%27s_Daughter/Chapter_X
Pushkin, A.S. “The Horseman”
http://www.tyutchev.org.uk/Download/Bronze%20Horseman.pdf
Texts provided by Instructor. Selected pages from:
Bulgakov, M., & Bouis, A. W. (2011). A dog’s heart. Richmond: Oneworld Classics.
Dovlatov, S. (1989). My First Cousin. In Ours: A Russian family album (1st ed.). New York: Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
Pasternak, B. L., Pevear, R., & Volokhonsky, L. (2010). Doctor zhivago (1st American ed.). New York: Pantheon Books.
Pushkin, A.S. (1827-28)The Blackamoor of Peter the Great
Shalamov, V., & Glad, J. (1994). Major Pugachov’s Last Battle. In Kolyma tales. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Sholokhov, M. A., & Waddington, P. (1964). Sudʹba cheloveka: Destiny of a man. London: Collet’s Publishers.
Films (available on CLAS)
Bodrov, S. (Director) (1996). Prisoner of the Mountains, Mosfilm.
Eisenstein, S. (Director) (1944). Ivan the Terrible, Mosfilm.
Gayday, L (Director) (1973). Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future, Mosfilm.
Klimov, E. (1981). Agony, Mosfilm
Lungin, P. (Director) (1992). The Luna-Park, France/Russia
Menshov, V. (1980). Moscow does not Believe in Tears. Mosfilm.
Mitta, A. (Director) (1976) How Czar Peter the Great Married off his Moor, Mosfilm.
Mokritskiy, S.(Director) (2015) Battle for Sevastopol, Russia, Ukraine
Sokurov, A.(Director) (2003) Father and Son, Lorber Films.
Tarkovsky, A. (Director) (1966) Andrey Rublyov, Mosfilm.
Tarkovsky, A. (Director) (1962) My Name Is Ivan, Mosfilm.
Assigned films to be viewed outside of class, and they are accessible on CLAS https://clas.sites.olt.ubc.ca/
Course Policies:
Penalties
Assignments are due on the day originally announced. Penalties for late assignments will 20% after the due date. In special, documented circumstances, assignments may be submitted after the initial due date, subject to explicit arrangements with the instructor. A valid note form Arts Advising is required, no exceptions. Any assignment handed in electronically needs to be sent on the due date before class time.
Final course marks
The Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies may, in exceptional cases, adjust the final course marks in order to conform to Departmental policy.
Turnitin.com, Citation format, and Plagiarism
You are required to submit you Final Research Project via Turnitin.com. UBC has provided instructions for students how to use Turnitin.com: see http://elearning.ubc.ca/toolkit/turnitin/. Note that Turnitin.com’s information is stored on servers in the United States. To protect your privacy, follow all the steps on the instruction sheet. If you choose to create an alias to upload your assignments, you must let the instructor know what your alias is. The class ID and Password will be distributed before Assignment N 3 is due.
Students are expected to follow a standard style and citation format and to remain consistent throughout their work and in all their assignments. Please consult a UBC librarian, the UBC Library Research Guide (http://help.library.ubc.ca/evaluating-and-citing-sources/how-to-cite/) or an online writing lab (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/search.php) if you have any questions.
Students are expected to know the University policies on plagiarism and academic misconduct. Therefore, please review UBC’s policies on cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty and misconduct in the UBC Calendar under “Academic Regulations.” In this seminar, as per University regulations, students must write, correct and/or revise all their assignments independently (unless the assignment or parts thereof were meant to be a pair or group activities); that is, with no assistance of any kind from another person. The use of electronic aids and devices is strictly prohibited; students are encouraged to consult scholarly publications (scholarly articles, books, book chapters), but must acknowledge all sources and clearly mark all quotations as such. For further information, see Plagiarism Avoided: (http://learningcommons.ubc.ca/resource-guides/avoiding-plagiarism/). Cheating, plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct are serious offenses. They are subject to disciplinary action and will not be tolerated.
Early Alert
The instructors will do their best to reach out and offer support if they are concerned about students’ academic performance or wellbeing. They will identify their concerns using Early Alert, a program that allows academic, financial, or mental health concerns to be identified sooner and responded to in a coordinated way and respectful manner. This provides students with the earliest possible connection to resources like academic advising, financial advising, counseling or other resources and support to help students get back on track. The information is treated confidentially and is meant to help students not hurt them. For more information, please visit earlyalert.ubc.ca.