RUSN 236 Zizek, Bakhtin: A Pervert's Guide to Eastern Europe

If you are looking for straight, well-trodden roads, do not go to Eastern Europe. If, however, obscure and deviant paths attract you; if you are beginning to suspect that the direct route is neither the safest (Tarkovsky’s Stalker), nor the shortest; if you are ready to “go I know not whither and fetch I know not what” (Slavic fairy tale)—beware, for you might suddenly find yourself in Eastern Europe (or find Eastern Europe within you). In which case... you will need this guide.  Our principal areas of concentration will be Slavic mythology, the Soviet-era critic Mikhail Bakhtin, and the enfant terrible of contemporary literary theory, psychoanalysis and pop culture Slavoj Zizek; yet we shall also be touching upon selected works from a number of other writers and film-makers:Dostoyevsky, Tarkovsky, Tsvetaeva, Skovoroda, Paradjanov, Mamardashvili, and Drakulić).

This course meets twice a week with CSLC 236, and for one additional 85 minute session per week, to develop Russian students' intermediate language skills, specifically by reading and discussing works under consideration in the course taught in translation.