The Russian Mind (in English)
The Russian Mind (in English) In this course we will study the dominant themes of Russia's past and their role in shaping the present-day Russian mind. Topics will include: Slavic mythology; Russian Orthodoxy; Russian icons; the concept of autocracy; the legacy of Peter the Great and Catherine the Great; the Golden Age of Russian Literature (Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky); Russian composers, including the "Mighty Five"; Russian theater and ballet; the origins of Russian radicalism; the Russian Revolution; the legacy of Lenin and Stalin; and Russia from Khrushchev to Putin.
Absolute gem. Decent amount of reading, but most of it is interesting and engaging -- a lot of shorter pieces. Portice is very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, as well as a very easy grader. Definitely worth taking as an easy A with some outside work.