Contemporary Russian Literature
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
This course aims at proposing an approach to the Russian Culture and Literature from the Thaw to today. First some of the key novels of the early Soviet period will be presented. Then, some of the most significant novels by Vasilij Aksenov, Andrej Bitov, Venedikt Erofeev, Sergei Dovlatov, Viktor Pelevin and Vladimir Sorokin will be examined.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding: outline of the history of Soviet and Russian Literature from 1953 to today; main authors and literary movements of the period; evolution of the soviet and post-soviet novel. Applying knowledge and understanding: ability to read and contextualize the main works of the Soviet Literature from 1953 to today; ability to read and analyze 7 novels from the late Soviet and post-Soviet period; understanding of historic, cultural, and social implications of the novels; ability to place authors, movements and works in their context; ability to recognise and explain affinities and differences among the novels.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Course title: Being Young in the Soviet Union. Images from the Novel to Soviet Cinema between the "Thaw" and the 1990s (1953-1999) (40 / 60 hours, 6 / 9 cfu)
Semester: I semester AA 2025/2026
Lecturer holding the course: Damiano Rebecchini
Teaching unit A (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Young people in Soviet society, literature and cinema from the 1930s to the stagnation [D. Rebecchini]
Didactic Unit B (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Soviet youth in the novel and cinema of the 1970s [D. Rebecchini].
Didactic Unit C (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Soviet youth in the novel and cinema from Perestroika to the 1990s [D. Rebecchini].
The course is addressed to students of the 2nd and 3rd year of Foreign Languages and Literature and of the Master's degree. The course is also open to students of the degree courses in Modern Literature, History and Philosophy, Humanities for Communication.
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will follow the syllabus of teaching units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu will follow the full syllabus.
The course programme is valid until September 2026.
Course presentation
In this course we will focus on the life of Soviet youth and the representation of youth in literature and film in the period from the Chruščev "thaw" to the late 1990s. We will focus in particular on the complex relationship of young people with the previous generations, who came out of the harsh Stalinist years; on their relationship with friendship, love, study, work and leisure. We will deal with novels that have often remained on the fringes of the official circuits of literary consumption; with Soviet films, auteur or commercial, often beloved by intellectuals and the general public alike. We will analyse the historical, social and cultural context of these works, what they have in common in language, images and style. Students will be asked to actively participate in the analysis of novels and films covered in class.
Semester: I semester AA 2025/2026
Lecturer holding the course: Damiano Rebecchini
Teaching unit A (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Young people in Soviet society, literature and cinema from the 1930s to the stagnation [D. Rebecchini]
Didactic Unit B (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Soviet youth in the novel and cinema of the 1970s [D. Rebecchini].
Didactic Unit C (20 hrs, 3 cfu): Soviet youth in the novel and cinema from Perestroika to the 1990s [D. Rebecchini].
The course is addressed to students of the 2nd and 3rd year of Foreign Languages and Literature and of the Master's degree. The course is also open to students of the degree courses in Modern Literature, History and Philosophy, Humanities for Communication.
Students interested in acquiring 6 cfu will follow the syllabus of teaching units A and B; students interested in acquiring 9 cfu will follow the full syllabus.
The course programme is valid until September 2026.
Course presentation
In this course we will focus on the life of Soviet youth and the representation of youth in literature and film in the period from the Chruščev "thaw" to the late 1990s. We will focus in particular on the complex relationship of young people with the previous generations, who came out of the harsh Stalinist years; on their relationship with friendship, love, study, work and leisure. We will deal with novels that have often remained on the fringes of the official circuits of literary consumption; with Soviet films, auteur or commercial, often beloved by intellectuals and the general public alike. We will analyse the historical, social and cultural context of these works, what they have in common in language, images and style. Students will be asked to actively participate in the analysis of novels and films covered in class.
Prerequisites for admission
The course will be held in Italian. Students are kindly requested to sign up using the app EasyLesson. For students who are not on the degree course in Foreign Languages, a basic knowledge of the history of the Soviet Union is most welcome.
Teaching methods
The course will be held in Italian and wil be presented through lectures and students presentations in the classrooms.
Teaching Resources
Please check the following web-site for materials and documents about the course
https://ariel.unimi.it/offerta/site/drebecchinilr
Foreign students are allowed to read the novels and watch the movies mentioned in the Syllabus in original language (Russian) or in English.
https://ariel.unimi.it/offerta/site/drebecchinilr
Foreign students are allowed to read the novels and watch the movies mentioned in the Syllabus in original language (Russian) or in English.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The test will be based on an oral exam in Italian. The exam aims at evaluating the skills of the student in presenting a) the main methodological approaches of the course; b) the main figures, works and problems of the history of the Russian Literature and Cinema, with a particular focus on the Soviet and post Soviet period; c) a critical interpretation of the literary texts by the authors presented during the course. The final marks will be on a max of 30 points.
International and Erasmus students are kindly requested to contact prof. Rebecchini as soon as possible.
International and Erasmus students are kindly requested to contact prof. Rebecchini as soon as possible.
Modules or teaching units
Part A and B
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Part C
L-LIN/21 - SLAVIC STUDIES - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Friday h. 16-19 on Teams, please confirm by email