German, Russian, and East Asian Languages and Literatures

The material on this page is from the 1996-97 catalog and may be out of date. Please check the current year's catalog for current information.

Associate Professors Sweet, Decker, Chair, Costlow, Browne, and Strong; Assistant Professor Yang; Ms. Neu-Sokol, Ms. Miao, Ms. Ofuji, Mr. Strukov, and Mr. Lewin

Students of German, Russian, and East Asian languages gain particular insight into peoples whose lives are in the process of unprecedented change. The curricula in Chinese, Japanese, German, and Russian emphasize the interconnections of society, culture, and language. They assert the vitality of traditions challenged and invigorated by change, and the importance of attaining fluency not just in language but in the nuances of cultural understanding.

The Department offers majors in German and Russian language and literature and in East Asian languages and cultures. A secondary concentration can be pursued in all languages offered. See page 17 for a description of this option.

All students, and especially majors, are strongly encouraged to spend an extended period of time abroad prior to graduation. Opportunities to do so include participation in the Bates Fall Semester Abroad programs in Japan or Germany, Junior Year or Junior Semester Abroad programs, summer sessions, and the various off-campus Short Term units sponsored by the Department.

Entering students are assigned to the appropriate level in language courses according to the following criteria: their performance on an Achievement or Advanced Placement Test of the College Entrance Examination Board taken in secondary school, relative proficiency based on length of previous study and/or after consultation with an appropriate member of the Department.

Foreign Literatures and Cultures in Translation. While the Department emphasizes the importance of acquiring the fluency needed to study literature and culture in the original, the following courses are offered in translation. See listings under individual languages for detailed descriptions of these courses.

Chinese 207. Masterworks of Chinese Literature.
Chinese 209. Modern China Through Film and Fiction.
Chinese 261. Chinese Culture and Civilization.
Chinese s25. New Chinese Cinema.
Chinese s30. Chinese Calligraphy and Etymology.

German 260. Germany and Its Others.
German 365. German Nation/Jewish Identities.
German s25. The German Cinema.

Japanese 240. Japanese Literature: A Survey.
Japanese 250. Modern Japanese Women's Literature.
Japanese s20. Kawabata and Mishima.
Japanese s25. Haiku Poetry.
Japanese s32. Appreciation of Japanese People and Society Through Films.

Russian 240. Women and Writing in Russia.
Russian 261. Russian Culture and Civilization.
Russian 270. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy.
Russian 271. Topics in Modern Russian Literature.
Russian 272. Drama and Society in Russia.
Russian 273. Country Life in Russian Literature and Culture.

East Asian Languages and Cultures
The Department offers a major in East Asian languages and cultures. The candidate for the major must follow either a Chinese track or a Japanese track. The major consists of a minimum of ten courses that must include: a) Chinese 201, 202, 301, 302, or Japanese 201, 202, 301, 302; b) Chinese 207 and Japanese 240; c) History 171 and 172; d) two courses from the following: Chinese 209, 261, 360, s24, s25, s30, Japanese 250, 360, 401, 402, s20, s25, s30, s31, Economics 227, s32, History 274, 275, 276, 374, s23, or Religion 208, 209, or any equivalent course on a relevant topic with the approval of the Department.

The candidate for the major may choose to write a senior thesis or take a comprehensive examination on the language, literature, and culture of China or Japan. The candidate who chooses to write a thesis must enroll for Chinese or Japanese 457 and/or 458 in his or her senior year. A prospectus with a working bibliography must be approved by the Department in the semester prior to the semester in which the thesis is written.

457, 458. Senior Thesis. An extended research or translation project on a topic in East Asian literature, culture, or language. Before registering for either 457 or 458, the student must submit to his or her advisor a concise description of the proposed project and a tentative bibliography. Students register for East Asian Languages and Cultures 457 when completing thesis in the fall semester, and for East Asian Languages and Cultures 458 when completing thesis in the winter semester, unless the Department gives approval for a two-semester project. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both East Asian Languages and Cultures 457 and 458. Written permission of the instructor is required. Staff.

Chinese
101. Beginning Chinese I. An introduction to spoken and written modern Chinese. Conversation and comprehension exercises in the classroom and laboratory provide practice in pronunciation and the use of basic patterns of speech. S. Yang.

102. Beginning Chinese II. A continuation of Chinese 101 with increasing emphasis on the recognition of Chinese characters. By the conclusion of this course, students know over one quarter of the characters expected of an educated Chinese person. Classes, conducted increasingly in Chinese, stress sentence patterns that facilitate both speaking and reading. Prerequisite: Chinese 101. S. Yang.

201-202. Intermediate Chinese. Designed to enable students to converse in everyday Chinese and to read simple texts in Chinese (both standard and simplified characters). Classes conducted primarily in Chinese aim at further development of overall language proficiency. Prerequisite: Chinese 102. Open to first-year students. L. Miao.

207. Masterworks of Chinese Literature in Translation. An exploration of Chinese literature through reading and discussion of some of its masterworks of poetry, drama, fiction, and belles-lettres prose pieces from the ancient times through the pre-modern era. Open to first-year students. S. Yang.

209. Modern China Through Film and Fiction. This course explores modern China through a number of short stories and feature films produced in the twentieth century, from Lu Hsun's fiction written around 1920 to recent films directed by such world-famous directors as Zhang Yimou and Ang Lee. The focus of the course is on ways of interpreting different cultural products of modern China. Students thereby also gain a general knowledge of the history of modern Chinese fiction and film. All readings, lectures, and discussions are in English. S. Yang.

261. Chinese Culture and Civilization: Interaction of Elite and Popular Traditions. An introduction to Chinese culture and civilization through reading and discussion of a number of classical texts of Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist thoughts, as well as traditional tales, popular stories, and legends in which these basic Chinese thoughts are reflected. Readings and lectures are all in English. Open to first-year students. S. Yang.

301-302. Upper-Level Modern Chinese. Designed for students who already have a strong background in spoken Chinese, the course gives an intensive review of the essentials of grammar and phonology, introduces a larger vocabulary and a variety of sentence patterns, improves conversational and auditory skills, and develops some proficiency in reading and writing. Extensive use of short texts (both literary and nonfictional) and some films. Classes are conducted primarily in Chinese. Prerequisite: Chinese 202. Open to first-year students. L. Miao.

360. Independent Study. Independent study of individually selected topics. Periodic conferences and papers required. Permission of the Department is required. Students are limited to one independent study per semester. Staff.

365. Special Topics. Designed for the small seminar group of students who may have particular interests in areas of study that go beyond the regular course offerings. Periodic conferences and papers are required. Permission of the instructor is required. Staff.

401. Advanced Chinese. This course is designed to further enhance students' ability to understand and speak idiomatic Mandarin Chinese. Included are readings of modern and contemporary literary works, journalistic writings and other non-literary texts. A few classical texts may also be studied upon students' request. Prerequisite: Chinese 302. Recommended background: three years of Chinese or more. Open to first-year students. S. Yang.

Short Term Units
s24. Chinese Language and Culture in Beijing, China. This unit involves intensive work for five weeks at Renmin University in Beijing, China, as well as excursions to some famous historical sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Tiananmen Square. This unit is offered at two levels: 1) for students who have had no Chinese, and 2) for students who have completed one or more years of college-level Chinese. Recommended background: one year or more of Chinese. Open to first-year students. Written permission of the instructor is required. Enrollment is limited to 20. L. Miao, S. Yang.

s25. New Chinese Cinema. A study of some representative films from China (P.R.C.), with a focus on the conflicts between the avant-garde and the traditional groups of film-makers in their different thematic and stylistic approaches. Topics of discussion include the interrelation between film and literature, the role of the film in culture, and the representation of sex and gender in the cinema. Readings include translations of modern Chinese fiction from which some of the films are adapted, and Western theoretical texts by such writers as Bela Balazs, Roland Barthes, and Susan Sontag. Lectures, discussions, and readings in English; films in Chinese with English subtitles. Enrollment is limited to 20. S. Yang.

s30. Chinese Calligraphy and Etymology. A study of Chinese calligraphy through practice in the use of the brush-pen and through analysis of the aesthetics as well as the historical development of this graphic art. Calligraphy or brushwriting (shufa in Chinese and shodo in Japanese) is considered in East Asia as a spontaneous yet premeditated act of self-expression, which embraces philosophy, religion, culture, and an artistic tradition thousands of years old. Conducted in English. Prerequisite: Chinese 101 or Japanese 101. Recommended background: some knowledge of Chinese characters or kanji. Open to first-year students. Enrollment is limited to 20. S. Yang.

Japanese
101-102. Beginning Japanese I and II. An introduction to the basics of spoken and written Japanese as a foundation for advanced study and proficiency in the language. Fundamental patterns of grammar and syntax are introduced together with a practical, functional vocabulary. Mastery of the katakana and hiragana syllabaries as well as approximately one hundred forty written characters introduces students to the beauty of written Japanese. S. Strong.

201-202. Intermediate Japanese I and II. A continuation of Japanese 102, the course stresses the acquisition of new and more complex spoken patterns, vocabulary building, and increasing knowledge of cultural context through use of role play, video, and varied reading materials. One hundred sixty written characters are introduced. A range of oral as well as written projects and exercises serve to provide a realistic context for language use. Prerequisite: Japanese 102. Open to first-year students. K. Ofuji.

240. Japanese Literature: A Survey. This course examines major trends in the history of Japanese literature from its beginnings up to the Tokugawa period. Particular attention is paid to thematic and cultural issues such as class, gender, and the role of women as producers of literary culture. Through selected readings and discussion, students consider a range of genres including popular tales, poetry collections, diaries, narrative fiction, and drama. Japanese 240 is conducted in English. Open to first-year students. S. Strong.

250. Modern Japanese Women's Literature. In its beginnings, Japanese literature was considered a female art; the greatest writers of the classical period were women, while men at times assumed a female persona in order to write. After a brief introduction to the classical tradition, this course examines how twentieth-century writers have positioned themselves with regard to this female literary legacy. In addition, students consider issues such as family, power, gender roles, selfhood, and the female body that have been of primary concern to women writers working both within and without the traditional female canon. Authors may include Yosano Akiko, Enchi Fumiko, Tanizaki Junichiro, Ohba Minako, Tsushima Yuko, and others. The course is conducted in English. Open to first-year students. S. Strong.

301-302. Intermediate Japanese III and IV. The course completes the introduction of essential Japanese syntactic forms and sentence patterns. Students continue development of oral skills while emphasis is placed on increased competence in the written language. Two hundred new characters are introduced. Prerequisite: Japanese 202. S. Strong, K. Ofuji.

360. Independent Study. Independent study of individually selected topics. Periodic conferences and papers are required. Permission of the Department is required. Students are limited to one independent study per semester. Staff.

401. Advanced Japanese I. Through the discussion and study of contemporary literary texts and other journalistic modes, the course seeks to utilize, develop, and integrate skills acquired in the earlier stages of language learning. Particular emphasis is placed on reading and writing, and on the acquisition of written characters. Prerequisite: Japanese 302. K. Ofuji.

402. Advanced Japanese II. Through the discussion of materials in Japanese such as newspaper articles, television news, and other media material, the course seeks to utilize, develop, and integrate skills acquired in the earlier stages of language learning. Particular emphasis is placed on increasing the student's range of oral and written competency and on the acquisition of written characters. Prerequisite: Japanese 302. K. Ofuji.

Short Term Units
s20. Kawabata and Mishima. Mishima Yukio and his mentor, Kawabata Yasunari, stand out as conspicuous yet contrasting talents in the field of modern Japanese fiction. Through an examination of representative works, the unit traces the artistic development of both writers, paying particular attention to their handling of theme and image. Film renditions of several of the novels are viewed and discussed. Conducted in English with some chance for guided reading in Japanese for students proficient in the language. Enrollment is limited to 25. S. Strong.

s25. Haiku Poetry. Matsuo Basho (1644 to 1694) is one of Japan's most celebrated poets. As a haikai master he led group compositions in linked verse (renga), in addition to writing the seventeen-syllable hokku for which he is best known. His travel diaries represent a landmark in the history of Japanese literature. This unit explores the background and nature of the haikai genre, with particular attention to Basho's outstanding achievement. The unit is taught in English. Students of Japanese language are encouraged to do some guided reading in the original. Recommended background: Japanese 240 and History 172. Enrollment is limited to 25. S. Strong.

s31. Japanese Culture: Japanese Aesthetics in Everyday Life. The unit invites students to watch slides, read, discuss, and practice Japanese artistic works, and consider several aesthetic propositions, such as "A work of art and crafts is the product of some particular intention" and "There are elements common to all forms of art and crafts." The unit considers both traditional and contemporary theories and works of art and crafts. An extended off-campus field trip to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston may be included. Conducted in Japanese and English. Prerequisite: Japanese 302. Recommended background: Japanese literature, history, and religion courses. Enrollment is limited to 12. K. Ofuji.

s32. Appreciation of Japanese People and Society Through Films. This unit examines aspects of both traditional and contemporary Japanese society through that society's depiction in film. Topics of discussion include the family as a social institution, parent-child relationships, education, friendships, and representations of minority groups. Lectures, discussions, and readings in English. Films in Japanese with English subtitles. Additional class sessions may be arranged for those students with sufficient language proficiency who would like to discuss these issues in Japanese. Recommended background: at least one course in Japanese literature, history, or religion. Open to first-year students. Enrollment is limited to 20. K. Ofuji.

s50. Individual Research. Registration in this unit is granted by the Department only after the student has submitted a written proposal for a full-time research project to be completed during the Short Term and has secured the sponsorship of a member of the Department to direct the study and evaluate the results. Students are limited to one individual research unit. Staff.

German
The major consists of nine courses beyond the intermediate level or eight courses beyond the intermediate level and one Short Term unit. Required are German 233, 234, and at least one course from each of the following four groups: 1) 241, 242, 302, 303; 2) 243, 244; 3) 357, 358; 4) 270, 356. In addition, majors must complete at least one of the following: History 226, 227, 229, English 172, 295, Philosophy 241, 273, Music 242, 243, 244.

Majors also choose either to (a) write a senior thesis or (b) pass a series of comprehensive examinations in the second semester of the senior year. Students choosing to write a thesis must register for 457-458.

101-102. Fundamentals of German I and II. This course introduces students to the German language and its cultural contexts. By emphasizing communicative skills, students learn to speak, act out real life situations, build vocabulary, and develop their listening comprehension. German 101 is not open to students who have had two or more years of German in secondary school. R. Lewin.

201-202. Intermediate German. Open to first-year students who enter with at least two years of German. A continuation of German 101-102, with added emphasis on the development of reading strategies and composition skills. Prerequisite: German 102 or the equivalent. D. Sweet.

233-234. German Composition and Conversation. Topical courses designed to develop linguistic and cultural competency. Through reading and discussing a variety of texts, working with multimedia, and completing weekly writing assignments, students attain greater oral and written proficiency in German while deepening their understanding of the culture of German-speaking countries. Open to first-year students. D. Sweet, C. Decker.

241. German Literature of the Twentieth Century I. A study of German literature and society from 1890-1933, with emphasis on the aesthetic and sociohistorical underpinnings of Naturalism, Impressionism, Expressionism, and selected works of Mann, Kafka, and Brecht. Prerequisite: German 234. C. Decker.

242. German Literature of the Twentieth Century II. A continuation of German 241, focusing on post-World War II literature and emphasizing such authors as Böll, Brecht, Frisch, Dürrenmatt, Bachmann, and Wolf. Attention is given to contemporary women writers and poets whose works center on utopian visions and the search for peace. Prerequisite: German 234. G. Neu-Sokol.

243. Introduction to German Poetry. A study of poetry in German-speaking countries since 1800. The course focuses on four or five well-known poets, to be chosen from among the following: Hölderin, Novalis, Mörike, Heine, Droste-Hülshoff, Rilke, Trakl, Brecht, Celan, and Bachmann. Attention is also given to the poetry of Lasker-Schüler, Kolmar, Bobrowski, Lavant, Enzensberger, and Kirsch. Students make oral presentations and write short interpretations. Prerequisite: German 234. G. Neu-Sokol.

244. The Development of German Drama. A study of major issues in German dramaturgy from the Enlightenment to the present, explored through texts that dramatize problems relating to marriage. Authors include Lessing, Büchner, Brecht, Horváth, and Kroetz. Prerequisite: German 234. C. Decker.

250. Reason and Revolution. The Enlightenment, with its emphatic belief in reason and education, is surely a topic central to the college and university today. This course focuses on the German Enlightenment and its legacy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with reference to its limits, the rhetoric of revolution, and romantic subjectivity. We discuss and analyze a variety of material, including literature by Goethe, Lessing, and Schiller, philosophical texts by Kant, Marx, and Nietzsche, and music by Beethoven and Wagner. R. Lewin.

260. Germany and Its Others. This course investigates the mechanisms used to construct German identities that privilege some and negate the "others." Some of the "others" in Germany have been women, "foreigners," Jews, lesbians, and gay men. What mechanisms are implemented to make them "other," and what movements are developing in Germany today that take stock of and value a "multicultural" society? In English. Open to first-year students. D. Sweet.

270. Living with the Nazi Legacy. A study of contemporary works from Austria, East Germany, and West Germany that articulate the experiences of children of Nazis. Texts, which include autobiographical writings, novels, films, interviews, and essays, are analyzed in terms of their representation of the Nazi past and its continuing impact on the present. Prerequisite: German 234. C. Decker.

301. The Enlightenment in Germany. The Enlightenment was a formative force of modernity. Its adherents promulgated tolerance and universality, new forms of education, and social utopias. This course is an interdisciplinary investigation of the movements, protagonists, and ideas of the Enlightenment in Germany and includes a postscript to the project of enlightenment at the end of the twentieth century. Readings by Kant and Goethe, Lessing and Mendelssohn, Wieland and Herder. Contemporary writers include Horkheimer, Adorno, and Michel Foucault. Prerequisite: one 200-level literature course taught in German. D. Sweet.

303. German Romanticism. Profoundly affected by the French Revolution, Germany's young generation sought to create a philosophical literature (German Romanticism) to reform human consciousness. To achieve this, they posited new forms for sexuality and gender relations and sought to renew spirituality and consciousness of the supernatural. This course examines key philosophical and literary writings by the early German Romantics, including Friedrich Schlegel, Novalis, Wackenroder, and Tieck. Prerequisite: one 200-level literature course taught in German. D. Sweet.

356. Representing Austrian Fascism. Official state documents and popular historical imagination frequently present Austria as the "first victim of Nazi aggression," thus discounting the active role that Austrians played in the Anschluss and the Third Reich. This course explores the myth of Austria's victimization through analysis of government documents, literary texts, and documentary films that represent Austrian involvement in and response to the Nazi past. Prerequisite: one 200-level literature course. C. Decker.

357. Austrian Literature. A study of Austrian fiction that emerges from and responds to three important periods in Austrian political and cultural history: the restorative and revolutionary period of the mid-nineteenth century; fin-de-siècle Vienna and the impending collapse of the Habsburg empire; and the post World War II Second Austrian Republic. Prerequisite: one 200-level literature course. C. Decker.

358. Literature of the German Democratic Republic. Reading and discussion of selected prose and poetry of the German Democratic Republic. Topics include the theory of Socialist Realism, the role of the GDR Writers' Union, GDR authors now living in the West, and the recent emergence of younger, independent writers. Works by Schneider, Becker, Wolf, Heym, and Wander are among those examined. Prerequisite: one 200-level literature course. Written permission of the instructor is required. Recommended background: German 242. D. Sweet.

365A. German Nation/Jewish Identities. According to popular conception, the Jews of Germany and Central Europe always obeyed German orders, ultimately marching silently to their own destruction. This course questions this thesis by analyzing several texts produced by Jewish authors, from the Enlightenment through the Third Reich to the present, against the backdrop of German efforts to create a national identity. Cultural topics include anti-Semitism, nationalism, assimilation, resistance and self-hatred. In addition to literary genres, students discuss painting, music, political essays and film. Authors include Mendelssohn, Lessing, Heine, Wagner, Herzl, Schnitzler, Schoenberg, Lubitsch, Adorno and Arendt. Class discussions conducted in English; students may read texts either in German or in English translation. R. Lewin.

457-458. Senior Thesis. Research leading to writing of a senior thesis. Open to senior majors, including honors candidates. Students register for German 457 when completing thesis in the fall semester, and for German 458 when completing thesis in the winter semester. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both German 457 and 458. Staff.

Short Term Units
s25. The German Cinema. An introduction to methods of filmic analysis and to major issues in German film history from the 1920s to the present. Special attention is devoted to representations of the Nazi past in recent German films. Discussions and readings in English; films in German with English subtitles. Enrollment is limited to 25. C. Decker.

s30. German Language in Germany. Intensive work for eight weeks at the Goethe Institute in Germany. This unit is offered at three levels: (1) for students who have had no German; (2) for students who have completed one year of college German; (3) for students who have completed two or more years of college German. Permission of the Department is required. Staff.

s32. Austria: Its Language(s) and Culture. The unit combines intensive study of German with cultural immersion in Austria. Students attend the Deutsch-Institut Tirol in Kitzbühel, which offers instruction in the German language and in the geography, history, and culture of Austria. Open to first-year students. Written permission of the instructor is required. Enrollment is limited to 15. C. Decker.

s33. German Writing Workshop. A workshop for mastering effective expression in written German, this unit hones writing skills. Through frequent and varied assignments, students write critical essays, creative stories, and a radio play. This workshop also comprises a review of grammar, the building of a differentiated vocabulary, and the analysis and emulation of literary and non-literary models. Conducted in German. Prerequisites: German 201-202 or the equivalent. D. Sweet.

s34. Literature of Post-Reunification Germany. Who are the writers and what are the themes emerging in the new literature of post-reunification Germany? What has become of the old east/west divide? Who are the non-German (immigrant) writers writing in German? Is their writing a "dialog between the cultures." This unit investigates current literature by contemporary writers--short stories, novels, plays, poetry--that elucidate the human condition in the Germany of post-reunification in all its contradictions. These include multiculturalism side by side with racism and xenophobia, east-west mistrust, and the attempt to come to terms with the legacy of socialism in the former German Democratic Republic. Recommended background: one 200-level literature course. D. Sweet.

s50. Individual Research. Registration in this unit is granted by the Department only after the student has submitted a written proposal for a full-time research project to be completed during the Short Term and has secured the sponsorship of a member of the Department to direct the study and evaluate results. Students are limited to one individual research unit. Staff.

Russian
The major consists of a minimum of ten courses which must include: a) Russian 201, 202, 301, 302; b) two courses from Russian 240, 270, 271, 272, 273; c) one course from Russian 261, History 221 or 222; d) two courses from Russian 365, 401, 402, and 451. A student may request the Department to substitute a Short Term unit in Russia for one of the courses in group d).

Students have the option of writing a senior thesis or taking a comprehensive examination on the language, literature, and civilization of Russia. Majors choosing the thesis option should enroll for either Russian 457 (fall semester) or Russian 458 (winter semester) in their senior year. A detailed outline and bibliography must be approved by the Department in the semester prior to the semester in which the thesis is written. Majors electing the comprehensive examination must fulfill this requirement during the fall semester. Honors candidates must register for Russian 457-458.

101-102. Elementary Russian I and II. Reading, understanding, speaking, and writing modern Russian, with emphasis on oral work, basic grammar, and vocabulary. Regularly scheduled language laboratory sessions. D. Browne.

201-202. Intermediate Russian. Continuation of Russian 102, emphasizing vocabulary acquisition, firmer control of grammar, and oral fluency through readings and drill sessions. Prerequisite: Russian 102 or placement examination. Open to first-year students. A. Strukov.

240. Women and Writing in Russia. This course focuses on how written and oral culture in Russia has depicted woman and the feminine, and on the ways in which Russian women have described their own senses of self and experience in words. Reading includes texts crucial to Russian imaginations of femininity, women's writing in various genres, and theoretical essays that raise issues of women's writing and their representation in culture. Conducted in English. Open to first-year students. J. Costlow.

261. Russian Culture and Civilization. A topical survey of Russian civilization as manifest in a number of cultural institutions such as the family, the church, the educational system, the popular media, and the arts. Slides, videotapes, and audio recordings supplement the readings and lectures. Conducted in English. Open to first-year students. D. Browne.

270. Nineteenth-Century Russian Literature. An introduction to the nineteenth-century novel and short story, with readings from such authors as Pushkin, Gogol, Turgenev, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and Chekhov. Open to first-year students. Reading and discussions are in English; students proficient in Russian are urged to do some reading in the original. J. Costlow.

271. Topics in Modern Russian Literature. This course is a thematic survey of modern Russian literature. Through the works of Bulgakov, Furmanov, Akhmatova, the Strugatsky brothers, and others, students examine specific topics such as literary representations of Russian history, visions of the future and the fantastic, and the idea of the émigré. Selections from earlier periods of Russian literature are included when appropriate to a given theme. Required readings are in English, supplementary materials such as films and music are in Russian with translations provided. Open to first-year students. D. Browne.

272. Drama and Society in Russia. This course examines major works from the Russian dramatic tradition, and pays particular attention to the roles which drama and the theater have played in Russian social and political life. Reading includes works by playwrights of the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. We examine the political and cultural significance of drama as revealed in pre-Petrine and popular traditions (skomorokhi and puppet theater); the institution of serf theaters; stigmatization of women on the stage; and Bolshevik and Stalinist appropriations of theater. Open to first-year students. J. Costlow.

273. Country Life in Russian Literature and Culture. Why are "Mother Russia" and the "Rodina" ("Motherland") so deeply associated with the world of nature? How has the geography of the steppe--boundless and undifferentiated--affected the Russian psyche? How have pre-Christian nature religions co-existed with official beliefs in Russia? How have serfdom, collectivization, environmental degradation and the "spirituality of the village" helped to shape Russian prose, poetry, and film? The course focuses primarily on the twentieth century, exploring the meanings of "nature" in Russian "culture." Open to first-year students. J. Costlow.

274. Women's Autobiography. What empowers the voice of the self? What is the self for women in different cultures? How do women conceive of the relationship between private and public lives? What kinds of chronology shape their stories? Why might autobiography be the privileged genre for women in some traditions? This course focuses on women's autobiographical writing in Russia and the United States in order to raise questions about the ways in which women make sense of their lives and create forms to express that meaning. Contemporary critical essays introduce us to theoretical perspectives on women's autobiography. Prerequisite: any course listed in the women's studies program or Russian literature. Open to first-year students. J. Costlow.

283. From Chekhov to the Revolution. The early twentieth century is a period of unprecedented experimentation and energy in Russian culture: symbolists, marxists, god-builders, futurists, and neo-realists envision Russia in crisis, on the eve of momentous political and social changes. We trace some of those visions in the work of Bely, Bunin, Chekhov, and Gorky, and in Russia's first generation of great women writers; some attention will be given to visual and musical culture and to experimentation in the theatre. Texts, lectures, and discussions in English. Students proficient in Russian are encouraged to do some reading in the original. Open to first-year students. J. Costlow.

301-302. Advanced Russian. Continuation of Russian 202, concentrating on the subtleties of Russian grammar, building vocabulary, improving oral skills, and developing students' awareness of various styles of spoken and written Russian. Extensive use of short texts (fictional and nonfictional), music, and film. Classes are conducted in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 201-202. J. Costlow.

401-402. Contemporary Russian. The course is designed to perfect students' ability to understand and speak contemporary, idiomatic Russian. Included are readings from Aksyonov, Dovlatov, Shukshin, and Baranskaya, and viewing of contemporary Soviet films. Conducted in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 302. D. Browne.

451. Seminar in Russian Poetry and Prose. This course introduces students to the intensive study of the Russian literary tradition in the original. Students read major works of prose and poetry from the nineteenth century; prose readings focus primarily on the short story, but include one novella-length work. All reading is in Russian; written work and discussions will be in either Russian or English, depending on the proficiency level of the students. Prerequisite: Russian 301. J. Costlow.

457, 458. Senior Thesis. Open only to senior majors, with departmental permission. Students register for Russian 457 when completing thesis in the fall semester, and for Russian 458 when completing thesis in the winter semester. Before registering for 457 or 458 a student must present to the Department an acceptable plan, including an outline and a tentative bibliography, after discussion with a Department member. Majors writing an honors thesis register for both Russian 457 and 458. Staff.

Short Term Units
s23. Russian Language and Culture in Russia. Language study with Russian instructors in Oryol. Excursions to points of historical and cultural interest, and the opportunity to become familiar with Russian life through home stays. Prerequisite: at least one year of Russian. Enrollment is limited to 12. J. Costlow.

s24. Rock: The Triumph of Vulgarity. "America has perfected the rites of vulgar Romantic pantheism. It gives them to an astonished world. And the music of its ritual is rock." (Robert Pattison, The Triumph of Vulgarity) Through individual and collaborative work, students in this unit test Pattison's hypothesis that the aesthetic of rock is that of vulgar Romanticism triumphant. We also examine the nature of rock in the non-English-speaking world: is rock the MacMusic of the late twentieth century? Materials for the unit include texts, documentaries, fiction films, and ear-splitting rock-n-roll. Knowledge of a foreign language and culture is desirable, but not a requirement. Open to first-year students. D. Browne.

s35. The Short Fiction of Russia's "Silver Age." This unit introduces students to short fiction by major figures of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including Anton Chekhov, Ivan Bunin, Maksim Gorky, and Fyodor Sologub. The unit also gives some attention to the literary, cultural, and philosophical contexts of the period, in particular to the aesthetics of symbolism and the neo-realists. All reading, writing, and discussion are in Russian. Prerequisite: Russian 302. Recommended background: at least one course in Russian literature in translation. J. Costlow.

s50. Individual Research. Registration in this unit is granted by the Department only after the student has submitted a written proposal for a full-time research project to be completed during the Short Term and has secured the sponsorship of a member of the Department to direct the study and evaluate results. Students are limited to one individual research unit. Staff.

Other Foreign Languages
141-142-143-144. Self-Instructional Program in Less Commonly Taught Languages. Learning languages through the use of tapes, textbooks, and conventional classroom procedures, with consultants proficient in the language, under the supervision of a member of the Department. Where appropriate, final testing is by a visiting examiner of recognized qualifications, who consults with the Department Chair on the testing. One course credit is granted upon completion of two consecutive semesters. Written permission of the Chair is required. For the academic year 1996-1997 no languages will be offered. C. Decker.

360. Independent Study. Individual study, under the direction of a staff member, of a language not included in the regular course offerings. Permission of the Department is required. Students are limited to one independent study per semester. Staff.

365. Special Topics. Designed for the small group of students who wish to study, under the direction of a staff member, a language not included in the regular course offerings. Staff.

370. Practicum in Foreign-Language Teaching. This course is intended for foreign-language students who are interested in teaching at the secondary-school level or above. The course focuses on current issues in foreign-language pedagogy, with emphases on oral proficiency, authentic texts, and learner-centered instruction. Students design course syllabi and daily lesson plans, compose exams, review textbooks and related instructional materials, observe various levels of instruction at Bates and other schools, and teach practice sessions to other members of the practicum. This course is the same as Education 370. Prerequisite: at least one year of a foreign language at Bates beyond the second-year level. Recommended background: at least two years of college-level foreign language. D. Browne.

s50. Individual Research. Registration in this unit is granted by the Department only after the student has submitted a written proposal for a full-time research project to be completed during the Short Term and has secured the sponsorship of a member of the Department to direct the study and evaluate results. Students are limited to one individual research unit. Staff.