Professional theatre was imported from Western Europe and introduced, by force, into Russia in the early eighteenth century. In spite of its utter foreignness, however, the theatre quickly adapted to the Russian environment and immediately became a platform for discussing the most difficult questions of Russia's national identity and destiny. In this course, we will read the greatest works of the Russian dramatic canon, including plays by Pushkin, Gogol, Ostrovsky, Chekhov, and Bulgakov, each of which discusses the rights and duties of the individual in the larger social context. In addition, we will investigate the theatricality of Russian society by examining the role the theatre has played in creating the idea of a Russian nation. Each week, we will read two plays from the classical repertoire as well as a selection of critical and theoretical writings. All readings will be available in English, but students registering for this course in the Russian department will be required to read all plays in Russian. Requirements: bi-weekly thesis papers of 2-3 pages and a final research project of 15-20 pages.
CASSIDAY