LFU:online

The course provides an overview of the distinctive features and the development of Russian literature and culture from the beginning of the 20th century until "the Thaw".

Russian literature of the 20th century has developed in a more interesting and diversified way than almost all others in Europe. This is partly due to its close bond with the country’s history. 

The revolution of 1917 and its direct consequences like communism, civil war, the first 5-year plan, Stalin’s totalitarian system and finally WWII challenged literature and the arts in different ways. Russian literature portrays bold technical experiments, proposes New Humans and socialist heroes: Shift workers and breakers of world records. At the same time Russian literature expresses the fears prevailing among many artists during Stalin’s era and shows the hardship among the population after the attack of Soviet Russia by the German Wehrmacht.

The lecture focuses on the interplay and close relationship between literature, history and society. Furthermore it seeks to display the similarities and differences between the Russian Avantgarde and Socialist Realism. According to Boris Groys “Sotsreal” is only the consequent putting into practice of the Avantgarde program rather than its opposite

Lecture and discussion in class. Students are expected to prepare for each class and complete the weekly reading in advance.

Active participation is expected; written exam at the end of term.

Bürger, Peter: Theorie der Avantgarde. Frankfurt a. M. 1974;

Bowlt, John E. (Hg.): Laboratory of Dreams. The Russian Avant-Garde and Cultural Experiment. Stanford 1996;

Clark, Katerina: The Soviet Novel. History as Ritual. Chicago 1981.

Groys, Boris (Hg.): Am Nullpunkt. Positionen der russischen Avantgarde. Frankfurt a. M. 2005;

Ders.: Gesamtkunstwerk Stalin. München 1988;

Grübel, Rainer: Russischer Konstruktivismus. Literarische Theorie und kultureller Kontext. Wiesbaden 1981;

Hutchings, Stephen C.: Russian Modernism. The Transfiguration of the Everyday. Cambridge 1997;

Städtke, Klaus (Hg.): Russische Literaturgeschichte. Stuttgart, Weimar 2002.

Due to substantial differences in the allocation of ECTS-Credits in various curricula (teacher training programs/specialized degree programs), the requirements for this course vary. Information will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the course.