The Soviet Experiment (Autumn)
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC1165 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 1 | 10 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- MLAC1165
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
Soviet rule lasted not quite three-quarters of a century, but this short and turbulent period of history not only brought profound transformations within Russian society and culture and the societies and cultures of the non-Russian republics, but influenced geopolitics in ways that are still at play in the 21st century. This semester-long module will introduce students to the history, politics, society and culture of the Soviet Union in its early years, from the 1917 Revolutions to the death of Stalin. The lectures will take a chronological approach, explaining the political and social changes that led to the development of institutions, environment, culture and lived experience that even today we recognise as ‘Soviet’. The lectures will be complemented by topic-based seminars based on reading and interpretation of literary texts and analysis of other forms of culture, including music, visual culture, architecture and fashion; other materials may include testimonies, speeches, diaries and memoirs. The module will also focus on aspects of the remembrance of Soviet culture in Russia today. Topics to be covered may include (but will not be limited to): the new Soviet man and woman; science and exploration; internationalism and nationalities; crime and punishment; youth culture; home and leisure; engaging with the state.
Target Students
Available for students on the degree course R9N1 Modern Languages with Business and Exchange students only. Students of Russian and Slavonic Studies should take MLAC1161 (full year option) in most circumstances.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 11 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
The module will consist of a weekly lecture (1h per week) and weekly seminar (1h per week). The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies operates an attendance policy. The details of this policy can be found in the student handbook on Workspace and in module handbooks.
Assessment
- 100% Coursework 1: Coursework (Commentary) Autumn - 2000 words
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the history and culture of the Soviet Union through the prism of everyday lived experience. Students will be equipped with the key technical skills for understanding the varying nature of communist society in the early 20th Century. Students will learn how to evaluate a range of Russian primary and secondary sources in their historical contexts.Learning Outcomes
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
Knowledge of the social and political history of the Soviet Union (A3)
Knowledge of the cultural history of the Soviet Union (A3)
Knowledge of the principles of close analysis of literary texts (A4)
Knowledge of the principles of close analysis of other verbal, visual and aural cultural forms (A4)
Intellectual skills:
Ability to critically analyse a variety of texts (B1)
Ability to engage with secondary scholarship on literary texts (B2)
Engaging in independent study and research (B4)
Forming well-researched and critically engaged interpretations of texts (B5, B6)
Participating in exchanges of ideas with others (B7)
Professional and transferable skills:
Understanding complex ideas expressed in English and/or Russian (C6, C7)
Presenting work in conformity with academic conventions (C8)
Effective communication of ideas, both orally and in writing (D1)
Gathering, processing, and critically evaluating material from a variety of sources and across different media (D2)
Working independently (D4)
Working as part of a team (D5)
Effective use of IT as a means of communication and learning (D8).