RUSSIAN FILM LTRS 270, FALL 2015. TUE/THUR 3:05-4:20pm JC LONG 402A DR. IRINA ERMAN, RUSSIAN STUDIES PROGRAM College of Charleston, School of Languages, Cultures and World Affairs EMAIL: ermanim@cofc.edu OFFICE: JC Long 421 OFFICE HOURS: MW 2-3:30pm, TR 4:30-5pm This course aims to introduce students to the developments and innovations in Russian cinema from the collapse of the Soviet Union until the present day. We will consider major trends in contemporary Russian cinema, while also taking stock of Russia s rich cinematic legacy and its contributions to world film culture. Our selection of films will be analyzed in the context of the major social, political and economic changes that have taken place in Russia over the past decades. We will enhance our discussions with cultural materials, relevant readings and student presentations. [1] NOTE: This course is open to all students with an interest in film and/or Russian culture. No previous knowledge in the area is expected or required.
Course Goals: 1. Introduce students to major directors and genres of the postsoviet period in Russian cinema. 2. Provide students with the necessary analytical skills to be able to read a film. 3. To help students develop critical thinking skills through discussion and writing assignments. General Education Student Learning Outcomes for Humanities: 1. Students analyze how ideas are represented, interpreted, or valued in various expressions of human culture. 2. Students examine relevant primary source materials as understood by the discipline and interpret the material in writing assignments. Course Evaluations 3. Both of these outcomes will be assessed by a final paper. You will have an opportunity to evaluate this course and the quality of instruction via an online evaluation form. We will take 15 minutes on the last day of class to fill out evaluations. This process will require that you bring a mobile device, such as a laptop or cell phone, to access the online course evaluation system. If you have any comments or concerns about the class, please do not feel like you have to wait until the final day. You are always welcome to come and talk to me about anything I can do to improve your learning experience and to help you succeed in the class. [2]
ASSIGNMENTS 1. Participation You are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the films and readings assigned. Your participation grade will be assessed on the basis of the quality of your contributions to class discussion. 2. Presentations You will sign up for 1-2 20-minute presentations in the first week of class. Presentations should discuss the following aspects of the films: director, historical and political context, plot, technology, analysis and questions for discussion. 3. Short Papers (2-3 pages) Paper 1 is due on Oct 2nd by 10pm. Topic: Pick one of 3 films (Burnt by the Sun, Hammer & Sickle, or The Thief) and discuss the film s engagement with Stalinism in the context of the 1990 s. Paper 2 is due on Nov 20th by 10pm. Topic: Compare our selection from the novel Bury Me Behind the Baseboard with its adaptation to film form. 4. Midterm Paper (5 pages) Due on Oct 16th by 10pm via email. Topic: Pick one of three films: Barber of Siberia (Mikhalkov), Night Watch (Bekmambetov), or Brother 2 (Balabanov). Your job in the midterm is to present an analysis and evaluation of the film that strongly argues why we should watch your choice of film in week 14. Make sure to point out how the film fits in with the topics and films we have covered so far. 5. Final Paper (7 pages) Due on Dec 10th by 10pm via email. Topic: You are free to develop your own or to select one from a list of suggested topics posted on OAKS. Grade Breakdown: 10% Presentations 20% Short Papers 20% Midterm Paper 20% Class Participation 30% Final Paper Grading Scale: 100-94(A) 93.9-90(A-) 89.9-88(B+) 87.9-84(B) 83.9-80(B-) 79.9-78(C+) 77.9-74 (C) 73.9-70(C-) 69.9-68(D+) 67.9-60.1(D) 60-0(F) [ 3]
READINGS EXCERPTED FROM: Rigaila Salys, The Russian Cinema Reader. Volume 2: The Thaw to the Present. (Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2013) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/ collegeofcharleston/detail.action?docid=10822260 Eliot Borenstein, Overkill: Sex & Violence in Contemporary Russian Popular Culture (Cornell University Press, 2007) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/ collegeofcharleston/detail.action?docid=10468003 Helena Goscilo; Yana Hashamova (eds). Cinepaternity: Fathers and Sons in Post-Soviet Film (Indiana University Press, 2010) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/ collegeofcharleston/detail.action?docid=10481724 Louis Menashe, Moscow Belives in Tears: Russians and Their Movies (Washington, DC: New Academia Publishing, 2010) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/ collegeofcharleston/detail.action?docid=10661468# Stephen Norris, Blockbuster History in the New Russia: Movies, Memory and Patriotism (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2012) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/ collegeofcharleston/detail.action?docid=10604293 Stephen Norris; Zara Torlone (eds.) Insiders and Outsiders in Russian Cinema (Indiana University Press, 2008) *Library reserves PN 1993.5.R9.I59 and OAKS RECOMMENDED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Helena and Margaret Goscilo, Fade from Red: The Cold War Ex-Enemy in Russian and American Film (New Academia Pub, 2014) *Library reserves PN 1995.9.P6G.67 Nancy Condee, The Imperial Trace: Recent Russian Cinema (Oxford University Press, 2009) Birgit Beumers; Nancy Condee (eds.) The Cinema of Alexander Sokurov (I.B. Tauris, 2011) http://site.ebrary.com.nuncio.cofc.edu/lib/collegeofcharleston/ reader.action?docid=10554341 FILM SCREENINGS Film screenings will take place at 8pm on Mondays in room TBA. If you are unable to make it to the film screening, it is your responsibility to get the film DVD from the library or to obtain the film online and to watch it before class. All required books are online. [ 4]
COURSE POLICIES Absences More than 3 unexcused absences will result in a reduction of your participation grade by 10% per additional absence. If you miss 6 or more classes without an acceptable excuse from the Absence Memo Office, you will be dropped from the course. If you miss a class due to a legitimate, documented reason, you may bring documentation to the Absence Memo Office located at 67 George Street. Electronics in the Classroom Please make sure your cell phones are turned off or silenced during class. You may use computers and ipads to access the course readings during class, but I strongly encourage you to take notes on paper. If you are at any point caught using your laptop or other device to access anything No browsing, texting or emailing during class. other than the course materials (such as your email, Facebook, etc), you lose computer privileges for the duration of the semester. Statement on Religious Accommodation CofC supports the concept of reasonable accommodation for religious observance in regard to class attendance, but students are responsible for satisfying all academic objectives, requirements and prerequisites as defined by the instructor and by the College. Equal Access I am happy to work with all students to ensure that they have equal access to the educational experience of this class. The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should apply at the Center for Disability Services / SNAP, located on the first floor of the Lightsey Center, Suite 104. If you are approved for accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. All such discussions will be held in confidence unless you stipulate otherwise. Honor Code I enforce without exception the College s Honor System and Classroom Code of Conduct. By choosing to enroll in this course, you indicate that you understand the Honor Code and are going to abide by it. The academic honor code forbids lying, cheating, and plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as presenting the work of others as your own and copying sources without citation. Plagiarism or cheating will result in an XF grade for the course. ONLINE RESOURCES: Center for Disability Services http://www.cofc.edu/~cds/ Honor Code http://www.cofc.edu/studentaffairs/general_info/studenthandbook.html Center for Student Learning http://csl.cofc.edu Absence Memo Office http://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/about/absence-memo/index.php [ 5]
SCHEDULE *Subject to change due to extenuating circumstances Week Date Topic Readings 1 Tue 8/25 Introduction to the course 2 Tue 9/1 8/27 Screening of My Perestroika (Hessman) Russia in 1980 s and 1990 s Screening of My Perestroika (Hessman), the breakdown in Soviet mythologies Moscow Believes in Tears: Russians and their Movies, pp. 155-6 190-201 Overkill, Introduction, pp. 1-23 9/3 Finish discussion: Soviet myths, generational change, Russia and the West Recommended: Goscilo, Fade from Red: The Cold War ex- enemy in Russian and American Bilm, Introduction and The Big Chill 3 Mon 9/7 8pm screening of Little Vera (Pichul, 1988) 2hrs 15mins Tue 9/8 Little Vera 228-238 9/10 Little Vera [ 6]
SCHEDULE Week Date Topic Readings 4 Mon 9/14 8pm screening of Burnt by the Sun (Mikhalkov, 1994) 2hrs 32mins Tue 9/15 9/17 Burnt by the Sun Burnt by the Sun 239-250 Blockbuster History of the New Russia, pp. 25-31 251-256 5 Mon 9/21 8pm screening of Hammer and Sickle (Livnev, 1994) 1hr 33min Tue 9/22 9/24 Hammer and Sickle Hammer and Sickle Judith Butler, Performative Acts and Gender Constitution (available online here) Recommended: Lilya Kaganovsky, Men Wanted: Female Masculinity in Sergei Livnev s Hammer and Sickle (available online at jstor) 6 Mon 9/28 8pm screening The Thief (Chukrai, 1997) 1hr 36min Tue 9/29 10/1 Fri 10/2 The Thief The Thief Cinepaternity, Introduction, pp. 1-20 Cinepaternity, Models of Male Kinship in Perestroika Cinema, pp. 70-86 SHORT ESSAY 1 DUE by 10pm via email [ 7]
SCHEDULE Week Date Topic Readings 7 Mon 10/5 Tue 10/6 10/8 8 Mon 10/12 Tue 10/13 10/15 Fri 10/16 9 Tue 10/20 Wed 10/21 10/22 Fri 10/23 8pm screening of Brother (Balabanov, 1998) 1hr 40min Brother Brother 8pm screening of House of Fools (Konchalovsky, 2002) 1hr 48min House of Fools House of Fools NO CLASS Fall Break 8pm screening of Russian Ark (Sokurov, 2002) 1hr 39min Russian Ark Midterm Grades online at noon [ 8] Overkill, pp. 188-191 Recommended: Insiders and Outsiders in Russian Cinema, About Killers, Freaks and Real Men: The Vigilante Hero of Aleksei Balabanov s Films, pp. 127-138 Insiders and Outsiders in Russian Cinema, Fools and Cuckoos: The Outsider as Insider in Post- Soviet War Films, pp. 142-5, 151-9 MIDTERM ESSAY DUE by 10pm via email 270-281
SCHEDULE Week Date Topic Readings 10 Mon 10/26 8pm screening of The Return (Zvyagintsev, 2003) 1hr 48min Tue 10/27 The Return 282-292 10/29 11 Mon 11/2 The Return Last day to withdraw from course with W 8pm screening of Elena (Zvyagintsev, 2011) 1hr 52min 282-292 Revisit Cinepaternity, Models of Male Kinship in Perestroika Cinema, pp. 70-86 Tue 11/3 Elena Read NYT review here: NYT Elena 11/5 Elena 12 Mon 11/9 8pm screening of Bury Me Behind the Baseboard (Snezhkin, 2009) 1hr 57min Tue 11/10 Bury Me Behind the Baseboard Selections from Bury Me Behind the Baseboard 11/12 Bury Me Behind the Baseboard [ 9]
SCHEDULE Week Date Topic Readings 13 Mon 11/16 8pm screening of Euphoria (Vyrypaev, 2006) 1hr 41min Tue 11/17 Euphoria 11/19 NO CLASS Professor away at conference Fri 11/20 SHORT ESSAY 2 DUE by 10pm via email 14 Mon 11/23 8pm screening of Barber of Siberia, Night Watch, or Brother 2 based on student midterm vote Tue 11/24 of screened eilm 11/26 NO CLASS Thanksgiving break 15 Tue 12/1 In class screening professor s choice 12/3 In class screening professor s choice 16 12/10 FINAL ESSAYS due by 10pm via email [ 10]