The Major
Students become sophisticated readers of Russia’s cultural traditions through the disciplines of literature, film, cultural studies, history and politics.
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We examine the rebels, deviants, dissidents and loners of Russian literature, and the interchange between art and politics, from the Russian Futurists to Pussy Riot. All of our literature and culture courses are taught in translation.
Department Highlights
Literature Courses
Our literature and culture courses—offered in translation—are part a broad liberal arts tradition.
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Language Instruction
Many students begin Russian language study for the first time at Amherst. Our language courses provide instruction at all levels.
Russian House
At the Russian Culture Theme House in Porter Residence Hall, students speak Russian and participate in cultural and social events. Russian House hosts a Thursday night tea for students to polish their language skills.
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Center for Russian Culture:
We are closely tied with the College’s nationally recognized Center for Russian Culture, which features an archival and rare book collection and a 20,000-volume Russian reference library.
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Whitney Collection of Russian Art
Amherst holds more than 750 works of Russian art, the majority of which date from 1900 to 1950.
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After Amherst
Our majors have gone on to graduate study in Russian literature, comparative literature and international affairs at leading universities, and to law, medical and business schools. A good number have worked or are now working in Russia.
Russian Courses
Current Courses
RUSS 122
Love and Death: The Big Questions of Russian Literature
Description
Who is to blame? What is to be done? How can we love, and how should we die? We will read Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Anton Chekhov and other writers works in order to explore these larger-than-life questions.
RUSS 245
Sergei Eisenstein's Cinema and Thought
Description
This course focuses on Sergei Eisenstein (1898–1948), whose seminal works in the history and theory of cinema are the subject of our sustained examination.
RUSS 345
Living the Revolutionary Utopia
Description
Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, the matter of what Soviet life would look like and how the Soviet multiethnic empire should be built became highly contested projects. This seminar introduces students to the new research into the elaboration, implementation, domestication, taming, or overcoming of revolutionary utopianism and futurism.