Russian 100: Russian Civilization
To know the past is to perceive the present.
The Russian culture has always been considered a unique one in the world. This course will guide you to the treasures of Russia. Familiarity with Russia’s culture and heritage can bring not only increased appreciation of its art and architecture but also understanding of why its people act as they do today and what tomorrow may bring.
Behind the places go the stories and the names: you will meet extraordinary Russian rulers, merciless conquerors and merchant adventurers, gifted artists, religious hermits and humble peasants. Together they form a chain that links the centuries into a single whole, to give a sweeping picture of the enormous country of Russia and its turbulent history.
What will I learn in this course?
This is a 3 credit course that will acquaint students with Russian history and culture from the origins of Kievan Rus in the Middle Ages to the present. The course will examine the many facets that make up culture: history, politics, language, literature, folklore, religion, music, and art. It will place Russian culture in the broader context of the Slavic nations and peoples. Lectures and readings will all be in English. By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe and identify important geographical features of Russia.
- Describe the impact of different Russian rulers on culture and society in Russia.
- Discuss the changes in the country after the October Revolution.
- Discuss the influence of women leaders in Russia.
- Identify prominent figures in music, art, and literature and their works.
- Explain the impact of Stalinist cultural policies on art and the artistic community.
- Identify and describe Russian crafts.
- Discuss Russian traditions, customs, and holidays.
This course meets the General Education Humanities (GH) requirements, the International Cultures (IL) requirements, and the Bachelor of Arts degree requirements. See your advisor if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.
Are there any prerequisites for this course?
There are no specific classes that you must take before taking Russian 100. This course is completely online. Students who are disciplined and motivated will be highly successful in RUS 100 because these qualities allow students to better assume a greater degree of responsibility for their own learning. To take this course, you should feel comfortable navigating on the Internet. You must also be a self-starter who feels confident about reading to learn and who is comfortable working independently.
I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?
By taking an online course, you can learn beyond the traditional borders of the classroom, and as part of a wider and more diverse audience. There are no preset meeting times, so this class will help those who are struggling with scheduling issues. We'll use Penn State's ANGEL system for RUS 100, and a combination of text, Web links, and images as our class "lecture." You'll communicate with the professor and your classmates through chat, e-mail and threaded discussions within ANGEL.
An online course is not easier than a traditional resident course! You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.
What are the technological requirements for this course?
This course is designed to work within the ANGEL technological requirements.
How is the course structured?
RUS 100 has 15 lessons. Each lesson will begin with a short quiz, which is designed to help review the material from the previous lecture. Throughout the course, you'll be expected to participate in online discussions, which will count toward your class participation grade. You will also need to submit a written reaction paper and a research paper. Exams are online.
Where can I get more information?
For more information about RUS 100 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access RUS 100 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL .
Why Study Russia?
"The melody is eternal, and therefore Pyotr Tchaikovsky will live for ever. Not only in Russian, but also in foreign music, it is hard to find a composer like Tchaikovsky, who is so strong, so bright and so original in all musical genres: instrumentals, piano works, symphonies, operas or romances.”
Alexander K. Glazunov
“Sometimes technological barbarity can turn to an advantage… God himself and the boredom of life has compelled our citizens to read books… Russia, notwithstanding the horrors of the transition period, did not decline as a nation… Possibly because Russians have not lost the capability to avidly read books.”
Izvestia on 13th International Moscow Book Fair.
‘We seemed doomed to bear some cross… May be, it is the other side of the much-vaunted ‘mysterious’ Russian soul: we despise the low–material–culture, the culture of consumption, and we tend to aspire to the World, the Thought, the Poetry… There is also our exaggerated national exclusivity–that special form of national pride, which we are perhaps being punished for…
Argumenty i Fakty weekly, trying to explain the causes of the series of fatal disasters in July and August 2001