SLST 452 January 2017 Fantasy and Science Fiction in Russia. Wed. 3:30-6:20 in CLE A303

Transcription

1 SLST 452 January 2017 Fantasy and Science Fiction in Russia Wed. 3:30-6:20 in CLE A303 Instructor: Julia Rochtchina Office: Cle D248, office hours WF 12:00-1:00 and by appointment Introduction to best read Russian authors of the genre, the works and films that foreground science fiction and fantasy plots. The course begins with a short sketch of Russian fairy tales and pre-revolutionary fantasy followed by discussion of 20 th century science fiction and modern fantasy. We will watch, read and discuss some of the most significant works of Russian fantasy and science fiction; learn how Russian authors viewed the society they lived in and how they imagined the future of humanity. Films Amphibian Man (based on A.Belyaev s novel, by V.Chebotaryov and G.Kazansky) Heart of a Dog (based on M.Bulgakov s novel, by V.Bortko) To Kill a Dragon (based on E. Shvarts s play, M.Zakharov) Kin-Dza-Dza (original screen play by G.Daneliya and R.Gabriadze) Novels, novellas, and other narratives Vasilisa the Beautiful and Maria Morevna (fairy tales, online) The Bronze Horseman by A. Pushkin (poem, online) Viy by N. Gogol (novella, online) We by E. Zamyatin (novel, in Bookstore) Fatal Eggs by M. Bulgakov (novella, online) Descendants of the Sun by A. Platonov (short story, handout) Roadside Picnic by A. and B. Strugatskys (novel, in Bookstore) In addition, students will choose one of the following titles of modern fiction to read: Night Watch by S.Lukyanenko; The Slynx by T.Tolstaya, Omon Ra by V.Pelevin (available from Amazon and Abebooks).

2 COURSE EVALUATION: Attendance and class discussions 15% Midterm exam (in class, 120 min) 40% Test (in class, 50 min) 15% Presentation 10% Final Research Project (take home) 20% To familiarize yourself with the UVic grading guidelines, please consult the University Calendar. REQUIREMENTS IN DETAILS Attendance and class discussions are an important part of your grade. You are required to attend lectures, complete assigned readings, participate in discussions in class and on Course Spaces forum. Midterm exam will be administered in class on the day indicated in the course calendar. The exam will be on all the material (readings, films, lecture slides, discussions) covered in the first half of the course. I will provide information on the midterm format and expectations in class well before the exam date. The Test will be administered in class on the day indicated in the course calendar and will cover the material (readings, films, lecture slides, discussions) discussed in the second half of the course. Final Research Project is a 5-6 page review of a Russian SF book/film of your choice. You can choose to write a short essay (5-6 pages) instead of a review on a topic related to Russian Fantasy and Science fiction. Please talk to me if you have an alternative project idea. I ll be happy to discuss your ideas with you. You are asked to relate to the material covered in class and are encouraged to write creatively, expressing your opinion. You can choose books/films that we read/watch in class or other Russian SF works. The project guidelines will be posted on Course Spaces. The Presentation is your in-class talk supported by Power Point slides (optional) on a topic related to modern Fantasy and Science Fiction in Russia. You will be asked to talk to the class about one of the novels of your choice: Night Watch by S.Lukyanenko; The Slynx by T.Tolstaya, or Omon Ra by V.Pelevin. You may choose another work of Modern Russian Fantasy/Science Fiction. Please make an appointment and discuss your presentation with me at least two weeks prior to the presentation date.

3 TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR Week 1. September 6. Introduction to the course Magic tales: the source of inspiration for the development of fantasy fiction in Russia Assignment: Read for Week 2 Vasilisa the Beautiful and Maria Morevna (online link posted on Course Spaces) Week 2. September 13. Fantasy and Russian 19 th century classics Aleksandr Pushkin The Bronze Horseman ; Nikolai Gogol, Viy In-class discussion: Russian magic tales Assignment: Read for Week 4 The Bronze Horseman by Pushkin; Viy by Gogol (online link posted on Course Spaces) Week 3. September 20. Socialist Utopia and Science Fiction Socialism. Science in the Soviet Russia. Official Soviet SF: The World of Imaginary. Social Fantasy. A.Bogdanov, A.N.Tolstoy. Socialist Romanticism: Alexander Belyaev Film Screening: Amphibian Man Assignment: For Week 4 answer questions about The Bronze Horseman ; Viy, Amphibian Man posted on Course Spaces. Week 4. September 27. Russian Cosmism Cosmism. Philosophy of Common cause. Christian mysticism. Fyodorov s Philosophy; Konstantin Tsialkovsky, Andrei Platonov In-class discussion: The Bronze Horseman ; Viy, Amphibian Man Assignment: Read for Week 5 Platonov s short story (handout) and answer questions posted on Course Spaces. Read for Week 6: Mikhail Bulgakov The Fatal Eggs (link to the text is posted on Course Spaces). Yevgeny Zamyatin We (in bookstore) Week 5. October 4. Underground Literature: Fantastic Satire Mikhail Bulgakov Film Screening: Heart of a Dog. Part 1 In-class discussion: Platonov s Descendants of the Sun Assignment: Finish reading Bulgakov s The Fatal Eggs and Zamyatin s We by next class. Week 6. October 11. Underground Literature: Dystopia Yevgeny Zamyatin We. Film Screening: Heart of a Dog. Part 2 In-class discussion: Bulgakov The Fatal Eggs and Heart of a Dog Assignment: Answer questions about We posted on Course Spaces. Review all discussed material for the test (review sheet is posted on Course Spaces).

4 Week 7. October 18. Science and Literature under Stalin ( s). Plays by Evgeny Shvarts. The Dragon (1944). Film Screening: To Kill the Dragon (film by Mark Zakharov, 1988) Assignment: For Week 10 1) Answer questions about To Kill the Dragon posted on Course Spaces. 2) Finish reading Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky brothers Assignment: Read for Week 10 Roadside Picnic by Strugatsky brothers Week 8 October 25. Science and Literature under Stalin ( s). In-class discussion: We by Zamyatin; Midterm Exam (in class, 120 min) Week 9. November 1. Soviet SF during The Khrushchev Thaw and the Era of Stagnation Ivan Efremov The Bull's Hour Strugatsky brothers and Soviet Intelligentsia. Roadside Picnic by Strugatskys and Andrei Tarkovsky s film Stalker In-class discussion: To Kill the Dragon Assignment: 1) Read for Week 11 short excerpt from The Bull's Hour (on Course Spaces). 2) Answer questions (for Week 11) about works by Strugatskys and Efremov posted on Course Spaces. 3) Start reading one of the following novels: Tatyana Tolstaya The Slynx, Viktor Pelevin Omon Ra, or Sergei Lukyanenko Night Watch Week 10. November 8. Science Fiction during Perestroika Period Sad comedies of Georgiy Daneliya Film Screening: Kin-Dza-Dza Assignment: 1) For week 12: answer questions about Kin-Dza-Dza posted on Course Spaces. Finish reading one of the following novels: Tatyana Tolstaya The Slynx, Viktor Pelevin Omon Ra, or Sergei Lukyanenko Night Watch. Week 11. November 15. READING BREAK. NO CLASS Week 12. November 22. Post-Soviet Dystopia and Modern Fantasy Fiction Tatyana Tolstaya, Viktor Pelevin, Sergei Lukyanenko In-class presentations. In-class discussion: The Bull's Hour, Roadside Picnic, Kin-Dza-Dza Assignment: Answer questions posted on Course Spaces about the book you have chosen (one of: The Slynx, Omon Ra, Night Watch ).

5 Week 13. November 29. In-class discussion: Post-Soviet Dystopia and Modern Fantasy Fiction: The Slynx, Omon Ra, Night Watch In-class presentations. Test (in class, 50 min) Final paper due to hand in on Dec.6 th. COURSE POLICIES Accessibility Statement Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to approach me and/or the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) as soon as possible. CAL staff members are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and arrange appropriate accommodations. The sooner you let us know your needs the quicker we can assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course. Concessions and Documentation Students may ask for an academic concession, such as the rescheduling of a quiz or test or an extension for an assignment, upon providing proper documentation of a personal or medical affliction or of a time conflict. Proper documentation would include a doctor s note or a memo from Counseling Services, or a memo from a coach, employer or faculty member. It must be dated before or close to the time of the missed work or classes. Withdrawals and Deferrals Students who miss substantial amounts of class and assignments without documentation will be asked to withdraw, or will receive an N at the end of the semester. Even when the reasons for failing to meet course requirements are valid, it is not academically sound to allow students missing significant amounts of work to continue in the course. Students are to familiarize themselves with the withdrawal dates in the current academic calendar. A Note on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism Actions such as plagiarism, multiple submissions, falsifying materials used in academic evaluations, cheating or aiding others to cheat violate University policies on academic integrity and are considered serious offence. You must inform yourself about the university regulations (see UVic Policy on Academic Integrity). Unauthorized Use of an Editor An editor is an individual or service, other than the instructor or supervisory committee, who manipulates, revises, corrects or alters a student s written or non-written work. The use of an editor, whether paid or unpaid, is prohibited unless the instructor grants explicit written authorization. The instructor should specify the extent of editing that is being authorized. Review by fellow students and tutoring that do not include editing are normally permitted. In addition to consulting with their instructors, students are encouraged to seek review of and feedback on their work that prompts them to evaluate the work and make changes themselves.

6 Classroom Conduct Since the quality of the learning environment is paramount, every student has the right to learn and your instructor has the duty to perform his or her teaching duties in a cooperative, distraction-free and effective manner. Activities that could disrupt the learning environment for you and your instructor would include the non-academic use of electronic devices. Students are expected to turn off their cell phones, PDAs and mp3 players during class. The use of laptops is not necessary in the dynamic and participatory environment of a language class. Add/Drop Deadlines It is the student s responsibility to attend to ADD/DROP dates as published in the Calendar and the Undergraduate Registration Guide and Timetable. You will not be dropped automatically from a class that you do not attend. Undergraduate Grading Scale Passing Grades A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C Grade Point Value Percentage for Instructor Use Only * D COM Failing Grades Excluded Grade Grade Point Value N/A Percentage for Instructor Use Only * E 0 TBD Conditional supplemental. F N Description Exceptional, outstanding and excellent performance. Normally achieved by a minority of students. These grades indicate a student who is self-initiating, exceeds expectation and has an insightful grasp of the subject matter. Very good, good and solid performance. Normally achieved by the largest number of students. These grades indicate a good grasp of the subject matter or excellent grasp in one area balanced with satisfactory grasp in the other area. Satisfactory, or minimally satisfactory. These grades indicate a satisfactory performance and knowledge of the subject matter. Marginal Performance. A student receiving this grade demonstrated a superficial grasp of the subject matter. Complete (pass). Used only for 0-unit courses and those credit courses designated by the Senate. Such courses are identified in the course listings. Description Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed course requirements; no supplemental. Did not write examination or complete course requirements by the end of term or session; no supplemental.