| Unit name | Understanding Russia: History & Identity |
|---|---|
| Unit code | RUSS10041 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Knight |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Russian |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
Winston Churchill famously described Russia as "a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma"—a statement that is both apt and yet also terribly misleading. In this unit, students will examine Russia’s history and cultural identity in order to uncover the ways in which this thousand-year-old empire and nation is both unique and strange, and conversely, also typical and familiar for Western observers.
Rather than racing through a millennium-long chronology though, students will encounter Russia thematically, through at least two of the following core concepts: time, space, heroism and power. Russia’s perceived progress relative to the West, its geographical placement caught between East and West, its celebration of leading figures, and its proclivity for authoritarian power structures—these are some of the main elements that have made Russia what it is today. To discover just how and why, students will engage with a range of source materials, from historical documents, speeches and letters to media sources, art and film.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
For Single Honours and Post-A level students of Russian, this unit is half of the cultural component of your first year in the Russian programme. It complements Understanding Russia: Literature & Visual Culture, while taking a broader look at the historical context that shaped Russian identity and its expression through literature and art.
For Joint Honours Russianists, this unit is one of two that you may choose from to explore Russian culture in your first year. Both units introduce you to the study of Russian culture and the kinds of academic skills you will need throughout your degree.
More broadly, this unit is particularly well-suited to students interested in Russia’s history and development as a nation.
An overview of content:
In this unit, you will read texts produced by some of the most well-known and notorious leaders and thinkers in Russian history. (No Russian language is required though, as these will be provided in translation.) You will hear from tsars and revolutionaries, starry-eyed idealists and brutal pragmatists, Russians, non-Russians, peasants, artists, theologians and celebrities of their era, as we trace the development of Russia in the imperial and Soviet periods. You will explore the impact of Russia’s sense of place, ideas of progress, heroes and leaders on its identity, from both a Russian perspective and a Western one. You will analyse both primary and secondary texts (historical sources and scholarship) in order to learn what others have seen in Russia, while also developing your own understanding. You will improve your ability to communicate about complex ideas and topics in written work, while also mastering core academic skills such as developing an argument, referencing sources and conducting research.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit:
Not only Churchill, but also much of mainstream media presents Russia as an incomprehensible anomaly. You will discover on this unit that this is not at all the case. You will acquire an in-depth knowledge of a country and society that differ profoundly from contemporary Britain, but which yet remain approachable once we know where to begin. By giving you that entry point, this unit enables you to begin to reflect on and interact with worldviews and values that are unfamiliar to you. Through engaging with the texts and ideas on the unit, you will develop your ability to identify, inquire into and adapt to differing perspectives on the world. For those of you on Russian degrees, this first step in developing your expertise in Russian culture is a necessary complement to your growing knowledge of the language.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1. Articulate a developing knowledge and understanding of the conceptual frameworks required to make sense of the history, thought and culture of Russia.
2. Assess and challenge the narrative frameworks that shape how Russia has been understood in a variety of contexts.
3. Engage with, interpret and compare documents/visual sources from different periods and genres.
4. Demonstrate and develop research skills of independent thinking, critical analysis, and debate.
Each week, you will have a two one-hour classes that will include, broadly, three types of learning: lecture, discussion and workshop.
Lectures (weekly): Lectures equip you with foundational subject knowledge. Far from being a passive mode of learning, lectures help you build critical analysis and evidence-gathering skills by modelling textual interpretation and posing key questions related to the discipline.
Discussion (most weeks): Discussions or seminars are a student-centred mode of learning. In pairs or small groups, you will discuss key questions about the texts, developing, sharing and defending your own arguments.
Workshop (occasionally): Workshops are dedicated to a specific skill, such as academic writing or textual analysis. Workshops are held occasionally in place of the discussion or seminar class, usually in advance of assessment.
Beyond the classroom, you will devote much time to primary and secondary reading, essential in the humanities. You should anticipate reading in a number of different media: scholarly books, book sections, journal articles, as well as a wide variety of primary sources (speeches, diaries, portraits, political posters, film clips, official state documents, etc.). Reading is sometimes misunderstood as a ‘passive’ activity, but engaged reading is an active process, as you will not only be expanding your subject knowledge, but also developing your sense of empathy and judgement. Online activities and digital resources will be used as appropriate.
In total, you will have 22 hours of class teaching and 178 hours of independent learning.
Tasks that count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. RUSS10041).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
