This course offers an historical outline of Russian perceptions of Europe. It examines Russian travel narratives of Europe from the 18th to the 20th century and discusses Westernizing, Slavophile, and Eurasianist strains in Russian thought. Course readings include texts by such major Russian cultural figures as Princess Dashkova, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Joseph Brodsky and many more. This is an intensive course of eight seminars (two per each session) with each session including a lecture and discussion about course readings.
The course is organized in cooperation with Aleksanteri Institute's Russian and East European Master's School.