LFU:online

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

In this 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. The focus is 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 course (to be realized in this semester largely in self-study) will provide students with basic knowledge but will also underscore, that the assessment of nations and spaces has to be critically reflected.

Preserve: The documents (according to the lecture of WS 2020/21, i.e. slides and workloads) will be made available on OLAT. In addition, 3 meeting dates are offered.

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.