The Soviet Experiment
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| MLAC1161 | Modern Languages and Cultures | 1 | 20 | Full Year UK |
- Code
- MLAC1161
- School
- Modern Languages and Cultures
- Level
- 1
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Full Year 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 year-long module will allow level 1 students to gain a grounding in the politics, society and culture of the Soviet Union from the 1917 October Revolution and up to its fall in 1991. 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 in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures; also available to students in the Arts Faculty. Available to Exchange students. Students on RSS degrees in MLC have priority.
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 23 weeks
- One 1-hour lecture each week for 23 weeks
The module will consist of a weekly lecture (1h per week) and weekly seminars (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
- 50% Coursework 1: 2000 Words
- 50% Coursework 2: 2000 Words
Assessed in both autumn & spring semest
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 20th Century. Students will learn how to evaluate a range of Russian primary and secondary sources in their historical contexts, giving a firm foundation for continued studies in Russian and Slavonics.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).