RUS 144Multicultural Russia: Narratives of Race and Ethnicity in Russian Literature and Culture

3 credits · Russian · Penn State

Russia, even today, is more accurately described as an empire than a nation, encompassing over 170 ethnic, racial, linguistic, and religious groups. For most of the past two centuries, this empire was even larger and more diverse. During the early Soviet era, this diversity was celebrated as part of the "friendship of peoples" in the Communist state. However, this policy was later reversed, leading to the suppression of many literary works that provide invaluable insights into the lives of these diverse peoples. This course examines key works by authors from ethnic minorities within modern Russia, as well as writers from former Soviet and Russian colonies. No prior knowledge of Russian culture or history is required, and the course is taught in English.