LFU:online

Students will get in-depth knowledge of the characteristics and the historical background of Eastern European cultures, especially Russian culture

In this lecture course students will get basic information about the cultural and historical characterstics of Eastern Europe. Topics are: spacial constructions (such as the “invention” of Eastern Europe), religions and nation building. We will focus also on socialism as it has influenced Russia for many decades and – although only temporarily – made even Eastern Europe a political and cultural block.

The lecture course will provide students with basic knowledge but will also underscore, that the assessment of nations and spaces has to be critically reflected.

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.

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

Gehler, Michael: Die Umsturzbewegungen 1989 in Mittel- und Osteuropa. Ursachen – Verlauf – Folgen. In: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte No. B 41-42 (2004), 36-46.

Groys, Boris: Gesamtkunstwerk Stalin. München 1988.

Todorova, Maria: Imagining the Balkans. Oxford 1997. (dt. Die Erfindung des Balkans. Europas bequemes Vorurteil. Darmstadt 1999)

Wolff, Larry: Inventing Eastern Europe. The Map of Civilization on the Mind of Enlightenment. Stanford 1994.