Russian

“Russia is broader and more diverse, stranger and more contradictory than any idea of it.” —Tatyana Tolstaya, author of On the Golden Porch and The Slynx

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

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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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

Description

Who is to blame? What is to be done? How can we love, and how should we die? This is an introduction to the daring, contradictory visions of life and art that forever changed how we do things with words.

RUSS 123

Century of Catastrophe

Description

We will trace particular moments of catastrophic change in Russian history, including the Revolution, the Civil War, Stalin’s purges, World War II, urbanization, and the collapse of the Soviet empire.

RUSS 252

Representing Race

Description

This course focuses on the modes by which race has been represented in Russian and Soviet culture.

Meet Our Faculty

Each professor and lecturer in our department has achieved distinction as a published scholar in a different aspect of Russia’s literary and cultural history. Meet the entire department.