Russian Culture I

The course aims to provide students with a general understanding of the key topics of Russian culture, in a historical-diachronic perspective. To this end, lessons cover the main features of Russian politics and culture from the Middle Ages to today's times. The focus is on the most important political, social, philosophical, religious and aesthetic ideas that permeated Russian culture during its various phases. Moreover, the course introduces major cultural concepts which impacted on subsequent historical periods, analysing them in light of the main events in the political history of Russia. These cultural concepts can be found expressed most of all in written literary sources. Therefore, the course focuses on the study of the history of Russian literature and language to explore such concepts thoroughly.

By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the fundamentals of the history of Russian culture and identity - a knowledge which is essential for an effective dialogue between cultures. Moreover, students will be able to analyse, debate and convey the fundamental concepts of Russian culture.