The University of Pittsburgh

Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures

Russ 0850 Russian Culture I, Fall Term 2001

Class Hours: T Th 4:00-5:15

Prof. Ilya Vinitsky
Office: 1417 CL
Office Hours: M W 12:00 pm -1:00 pm
E-mail: ilv1@pitt.edu

Our vast land is great and rich but there is no order here. Come along and rule over us.
(Primary Chronicle)

With the mind alone Russia cannot be understood,
No ordinary yardstick spans her greatness:
She stands alone, unique -
In Russia one can only believe.
(Fedor Tiutchev)

I. Course Description

This is a guided tour through Russian medieval and early 18th-century culture. My aim is to demonstrate the dramatic changes in the history of Russia's national idea, the richness and variety of Russian culture of the discussed period and its crucial importance for the development of modern Russian culture. We will focus our attention on three successive eras of Russia's cultural history -- Kievan Rus' (9-13 c.), the Muscovite Tsardom (13-17 c.), and the rise of the Russian Empire, centered on St. Petersburg (18 c.). The class will examine such artifacts as icons, architecture, sculpture, literature, and painting, as well as some basic theological, political, and aesthetic theories. Reading assignments will draw from historical (MacKenzie, Curran), art history (Hamilton), and literary (Zenkovsky) sources. Class lectures will be supplemented by frequent slide, video, and musical presentations.

II. Course Methodology

Class consists of lecture, discussion, occasional quizzes, and two in-class, closed-book exams. The introduction of each section of the course will place the works of art under investigation in their actual historical and cultural context.

III. Required Texts and Materials

• Hamilton, George Heard. The Art and Architecture of Russia. 3rd ed. New Haven: Yale UP, 1983.
• MacKenzie, David and Michael W. Curran. A History of Russia, the Soviet Union, and Beyond. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1993
• Zenkovsky, Serge A., ed. Medieval Russia's Epics, Chronicles, Tales. Rev. ed. NY: Dutton, 1974.

IV. Suggested Reading

• Billington, James. The Icon and the Axe: An Interpretative History of Russian Culture. NY: Random House, 1970
• Rzhevsky, Nicholas. An Anthology of Russian Literature, any edition.

NB!!! Required three-ring hole punch and three-ring binder for handouts.

V. Course Requirements

1. Attendance (see #6) and class participation. More than three unexcused absences will reduce your grade dramatically -- no exceptions!
2. Midterm and final examinations will include two parts each:
   1. identifications: what's The Time of Troubles?
   2. a short essay on a topic previously given in class

The Midterm Exam will be in class on Thursday, October 25. The Final Exam must be taken at the time scheduled by the Registrar in order to receive credit for this course.

VI. Attendance Policy and Class Participation

Attendance and participation in class discussion are required, and are incorporated into the course grade in the following ways:

1. Attendance counts for 10% of your grade. Since there are 28 class meetings (twice a week for fourteen weeks), every absence reduces the attendance portion of your grade by 1/28.
2. Participation counts for 10% of your grade. To earn an A for class participation, students are expected to participate meaningfully in class discussion at least 1/3 of the time (9-10 times during the semester). Absence means that you are unable to earn participation credit on that day.
3. To makeup examinations or quizzes will be given unless documentation of a medical emergence is provided the day the student returns to class. Unexcused absence on the day of examination or quiz is given results in no credit for that examination or quiz.
4. Much of the material covered in this course (and incorporated into examinations and quizzes) is introduced in lecture and through classroom discussion. Absence means a loss of access to this material, which likely averse consequences on examinations and quizzes. Students are responsible for obtaining notes from their classmate about sessions they may miss due to absence.

VII. Evaluation

Attendance: 10%
Participation: 10%
Quizzes: 25%
Midterm Exam: 25%
Final Exam: 30%

VIII. Academic Integrity

Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves thoroughly with the university policy of academic integrity and for adhering to it. The rules are spelled out in the University's Academic Integrity Policies (Policy 02-03-03, http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/PP/policies/02/02-03-03.html) and Procedures regarding cheating, plagiarism, etc. (Procedure 02-03-03, http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/PP/procedures/02/02-03-03.html). Academic dishonesty will result in course failure!

IX. Special Problems

Students experiencing difficulties in this course are encouraged to consult with the instructor. I am available to discuss any issue relating to the course during my office hours or via email.

Students with disabilities who require special testing accommodations or other classroom modifications must notify the instructor and the Office of Disability Resources and Services no later than January 18. Students may be asked to provide documentation of their disabilities to determine the appropriateness of their requests. The Office of Disability Resources and Services is located in 216 William Pitt Union and is available by telephone (voice of TTY) at 412-648-7890.

X. Selected Topics

• "Byzantinization and the "Double-Faith": Early Kievan Culture
• "The Spiritual Revival": Russian Monasticism and Icon-Painting of the 14th c.
• "The Third Rome": Muscovite Tsardom and its Holy Mission
• "The Invisible City": 1st Russian Utopia
• "The Age of Curiosity": the Russian Baroque
• "Window onto Europe": St. Petersburg and its Consequences
• "The Age of Adopted Wisdom": Russian Enlightenment
• "The Birth of Russian Intelligentsia": Russian Freemasonry in the Age of Catherine the Great

XI. Course Structure

Introduction

1. Russian Cultural Identity: Geography, Language, Religion
2. Overview of Russian cultural history

Part I. Originality and Byzantinization: Kievan Rus'

1. The Culture of Russian Slavs during the Pagan Era (8-10th c.)
2. The Russian Culture from the Beginning of Christianity to the Mongol Invasion (988-1240), or Kievan Rus'

Part II. Unification and a Sacred Mission: Muscovite Tsardom

1. The Russian Culture from the Time of Mongol Invasion till the Formation of the Moscow Tsardom (1240-1453), or the so called Appanage Period
2. The Culture of the Muscovite Tsardom (from 1453 until the End of the 17th Century). Russian Schism.
3. Part III. Westernization and the Search for a New Identity. The Age of St.-Petersburg
1. The Time of Troubles and the Muscovite Baroque
2. Russian Culture of the 18th Century
3. St. Petersburg in Russian cultural mythology

Syllabus

Introduction

Date	Part/Topic	Home Work
August 28	Introduction. Organization and overview of the course	McKenzie, ch.1, pp. 3-9
Aug 30	"A Tale of Three Cities": A Concise Overview of Russian Cultural History	Zenkovsky, 1-4
Sept 4	Cultural Identity: Language, Religion	McKenzie, ch.2

Part 1. Christianization and Originality

Sept 6	Culture of the Pagan Era: The Word. The Song. The Sacred Theater	McKenzie, ch.3, pp. 24-29, 34-35, ch.4, 44-50, ch.5, pp. 53-59
Sept 11	Kievan Rus': Historical Survey	Hamilton, ch.2, ch.5
Sept 13	St. Sophia: Kievan Architecture and Frescoes	Hamilton, ch.9-10
Sept 18	Kievan and Novgorodian Icon-Painting	Zenkovsky, V, VII, pp. 6-8, 11-13; texts: ## 2, 3, 6, 11, 18
Sept 20	Kievan Literature: Apocrypha, Homiletic works, and Chronicles	Zenk., VIII, 13-15, ##21, 22
Sept 25	Literature (continuation): Lives of Saints, A Lay of Igor's Campaign	Zenk., IX, 15-17, #33
Sept 27	Lay of Igor's Campaign (continuation)	McKenzie, ch.6, 60-73, ch.8, 85-93; Zenk. ##34, 35, 39
Oct 2	Russia during the Mongols	McKenzie, ch.9, 99-105; Hamilton, ch.11; Zenkovsky #45

Part 2. Unification and the Holy Mission

Oct 4	Russian Spiritual Revival. Monasticism. Novgorod and Moscow icon-painting. Rublev
Oct 9	Rublev. Tarkovsky's film	McKenzie, ch.10
Oct 11	The Rise oF Moscow and the Unification of Russia. "3rd Rome" Theory	Hamilton, ch.15
Oct 16	Muscovite Architecture	Zenkovsky XIII, XVI; ##45 (reread), 47
Oct 18	The Era of Ornamental Muscovite Monumentalism: Lives	McKenzie, ch.11; Zenkovsky, #53-54
Oct 23	Ivan the Terrible. His Correspondence with Prince Kurbsky	Review of possible questions (a handout); McKenzie, ch.12, ch.14, pp.156-163
Oct 25	Midterm Exam
Oct 30	The Time of Troubles. The early Romanovs. The Schism.	Zenkovsky, XIX (pp.33-34), #59
Nov 1	Russian Schism (continuation). Archpriest Avvakum's Life	Zenkovsky, pp.30-31, XX-XXI (34-40); ##62,73, 74

Westernization and the Search for a New Identity

Nov 6	Muscovite Baroque: Literature and Theater	Hamilton, ch.16, 18
Nov 8	Muscovite Baroque: Painting	McKenzie, ch. 15, 16
Nov 13	Peter's great reforms	Hamilton, ch.19
Nov 15	Sankt Petersburg as a Baroque City	Hamilton, ch.20; McKenzie, ch.17
Nov 20	"The Age of Merriment": Elizabeth's Rococo	McKenzie, ch.18, pp. 211-215, 223-228; ch. 19, 235-242
Nov 22	"Russian Enlightenment": Catherine the Great and Her Age	Handouts
Nov 27	Russian Neo-classicism: Literature and Theater	Hamilton, ch.21
Nov 29	Russian Neo-Classicism: Architecture	Handouts
Dec 4	The Spiritual Awakening: Russian Freemasons and the Emergence of Russian Intelligentsia
Dec 6	Review