NOTE: All required reading, viewing, and browsing must be completed in advance of the corresponding unit’s due date listed below.

21 Jan: Introduction to the Course

UNIT I — The Russian Origins of Soviet Culture

28 Jan: Imperial Contexts

Reading:

4 Feb: Modernizing Russia

Reading:

  • Kenez, Introduction (pp. 1-13)
UNIT II — Revolutionary Dreams

11 Feb: Russia’s Great War & Revolutions

Reading/Browsing:

18 Feb: Foundations of the Planned Economy

Reading:

  • Kenez, pp. 41-75
  • Bulgakov, Heart of a Dog (entire book) Reading quiz #1 due

25 Feb: Course Exam #1

UNIT III — The Stalin Model

3 Mar: StaLen

Reading:

  • Kenez, pp. 75-96
  • Graham, pp. 1-48

10 Mar: “The Great Break”

Reading:

  • Kenez, pp. 96-119
  • Graham, pp. 49-65

17 Mar: No Class — Spring Break

24 Mar: Fairytale Socialism

Reading/Viewing:

  • Kenez, pp. 119-126
  • Graham, pp. 67-80
  • Flyers (1935) [78 min.] Viewing quiz #1 due

31 Mar: From World War to Cold War

 Reading:

  • Kenez, pp. 126-183

7 Apr: Course Exam #2

UNIT IV — Heirs of Stalin

14 Apr: Consumer Communism

Reading:

  • Kenez, Chapter 8 (pp. 184-213)

21 Apr: “Real Existing Socialism”

Reading:

  • Kenez, Chapter 9 (pp. 214-242)
  • Kotkin, Introduction and Chapter 1
  • Graham, Chapter 5 & Epilogue
UNIT V — Post-Soviet Russia

28 Apr: The Gorbachev Phenomenon

Reading:

  • Kenez, Chapter 10 (pp. 243-277)
  • Kotkin, Chapters 2 & 3
  • Pelevin, Omon Ra (entire book) Reading quiz #2 due [Click HERE for the quiz]

5 May: “We wanted better, but it turned out like always”

Viewing:

Reading:

  • Kenez, Chapter 11 (pp. 278-304)
  • Kotkin, Chapters 4-7   Response paper due

12 May: Final Exam 6:00 pm