SLAVIC LANGUAGES (SLAV)

This undergraduate course introduces students to the languages and culture of the western, southern, and eastern Slavic worlds. The course leverages language and culture to approach the relationship between nation and state. No prior knowledge of a Slavic language is needed.

Childhood and adolescence as portrayed in both fictional and autobiographical form by 19th-and 20th-century Russian, Polish, Czech, and other East European writers, including Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Nabokov, I. B. Singer, Schulz, Milosz. Lectures and readings in English. Honors version available.

Reading and discussion of selected authors in the target language aimed at improving reading and analytical skills and preparing the student for higher level work.

Ukraine's resistance to Russian aggression brought renewed attention to Europe's largest country, its history, and its quest for liberty and democracy. This course explores the ways in which Ukrainian national identity has been forged by revolutions, wars, engineered famines as well as thirst for liberty. Works of Ukraine's leading writers will help students form an independent critical opinion of the country's unique culture, its problems, and aspirations. All materials are in English.

Permission of the instructor. Directed readings in a Slavic language other than Russian on topics in literature and linguistics not normally covered in scheduled courses.

Explores the fictional representation of Jewish life in Russia and Poland by Russian, Polish, and Jewish authors from the 19th century to the present. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.

New York was a significant gateway for immigration to the United States, particularly for Jews from Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a result, the city became the world's capital of Yiddish culture. This course explores the vibrant world of Yiddish literature, theater, poetry, journalism, and political activism that flourished in New York, shaping its unique ''Nyu-Yorkrish'' qualities. Through a diverse selection of texts, we will trace the evolution of Yiddish creativity in America's cultural capital.

A comparative survey of the major trends in 20th-century Russian and Polish dramaturgy and theatrical production, with attention to aesthetic, professional, and political connections between the two. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.

Comparative study of topics in non-Russian Slavic literatures and culture not covered in any other course. Specific topics will vary and will be announced in advance. Taught in English; some foreign language readings for qualified students.

Permission of the instructor. Special readings and research in a selected field or topic under the direction of a faculty member.