INTRODUCTION TO SLAVIC LITERARY THEORY

This course introduces graduate students to the major 20th-century literary theories that emerged in Russia and Eastern Europe. The course's main purpose is to familiarize students with these approaches and teach them how to use theoretical models as tools for analyzing literary texts.

By the end of the course, students will be required to write a paper investigating the theoretical aspects of one or more literary texts discussed in class. This paper will test not only students' mastery of literary analysis through the prism of multiple theoretical models, but also their ability to challenge a literary text through theory and vice versa.

Writing the paper will include a workshop-style class in which students design their thesis and outline. The course will also introduce students to the Bahmeteff Archive and Columbia's library holdings.

This course counts as Proseminar for Slavic graduate students but is also open to students in other disciplines, which is why all readings are in English.