HISTORY AND ETHICS ON FILM: POLISH CINEMA

SLAVIC 305

Vocabulary reinforced through literature, film and journalism. Readings and discussions related to issues of contemporary Polish society. Continued work on grammar and vocabulary with written exercises and compositions.

SLAVIC 246

The swift collapse of communist regimes across Central and Eastern Europe came as a surprise to both their opponents and political clients. How did culture mediate the experience of this political, social, and economic revolution? How does the experience of communism shape the historiography, identity, and vision(s) of the future of the affected nations? What is the condition of postcommunism? These are some of the questions we will be exploring as we examine Polish, Russian, Ukrainian, Czech, and South Slavic literature in translation and cinema from the decades following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

LITTRANS/SLAVIC 215

Examines major traditions, narratives, and ideas that have shaped Polish literature and culture from their beginnings to World War II. Gain broad and contextualized knowledge of Polish civilization by closely reading and analyzing literary and cultural texts in their historical context. Course contents are organized into four major paradigms: Christianity, Sarmatism, Romanticism, and Modernity.

LITTRANS 207

Explore the rich tradition of Slavic contributions to Science Fiction (SF). Survey early and contemporary works in the Czech, Polish, and Russian contexts, most of which are little known in the US but are nonetheless fundamental to SF as a world genre. Alongside reading these works, discuss and analyze film adaptations that have, in some cases, become more famous than written texts themselves.

LITTRANS/SLAVIC 361

The collapse of communism and the posthumous triumph of the Solidarity movement started a new era in Polish culture. However, living in "posthistory" comes with its own set of problems. Examine contemporary Polish literature, film, and other cultural forms as they struggle with the country's turbulent past while trying to forge new collective identities for the future. How does culture mediate our relationship with the past? How does it help us understand the present and prepare for the future?