Teaching Russia and Eastern Europe Through Literature and Film

1. Teaching Russia and Eastern Europe Through Literature and Film

2. Two Topics Today

3. Two Topics Today • Content—Some suggestions for what to teach • Movies, internet sources, shorter works that aren’t as scary as War and Peace

4. Two Topics Today • Content—Some suggestions for what to teach • Movies, internet sources, shorter works that aren’t as scary as War and Peace • Concept—Discussions of how to teach • Approaching the “other” Europe • Dealing with sensitive issues

5. Russia—Not so Different as We’d Like to Think

6. Russia—Not so Different as We’d Like to Think • Multi-ethnic empire with colonized native population

7. Russia—Not so Different as We’d Like to Think • Multi-ethnic empire with colonized native population • Former slave/serf state

8. Russia—Not so Different as We’d Like to Think • Multi-ethnic empire with colonized native population • Former slave/serf state • The “Woman” question

9. Russia—Not so Different as We’d Like to Think • Multi-ethnic empire with colonized native population • Former slave/serf state • The “Woman” question • Constructed according to experimental political ideology

10. But just different enough

11. How can we make American students understand this? • Compare with familiar Western books/films • Compare with students’ own lives • Point out issues students may not understand as wrong—e.g., hate speech, sexual exploitation—and explain problems in non-accusatory language • Other???