Russian Folklore: Ballads, Romances, Tales, Proverbs, Anecdotes

4.0 credits

The objective of this course is to explore Russian Folklore in all the wealth and the variety of its forms. We will study Russian Folklore from different perspectives, such as its development in time and space; its social and economic dimensions in Russia; and the historical changes that it underwent. We will explore the full range of folkloric forms, from the riddle to ancient Russian rituals and beliefs to the jokes and folk songs which are an integral part of contemporary social networks and TV shows. Analysis of these narratives and behaviors will allow the students to familiarize themselves with Russian fairy tales and to find their way in the maze of patterns and meanings in the Russian magic world. We will study the oral, visual, musical and folk architectural heritage in contemporary Russia, as well as ways in which Russian Folklore is collected, documented and interpreted by scholars. In English.