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Russian Culture and Language Flashcards - Coggle Diagram
Russian Culture and Language Flashcards
Lecture One: Between East and West
How did Russian's national identity form in the early 19th century?
How has Russian identity evolved?
15th-17th century
:
Medieval stronghold of Christianity to European aspirations under Peter the Great in the 17th-18th century.*
Inroads of Western culture prompted a return to national roots in the 19th century.
Renewed belief in Russia's uniqueness led to the rise of the Slavophile movement.
Eurasianism
(1920s and after 1991): appreciation of the 'eastern' (Asian) element in Russian culture and the idea of Russia as a multi-ethnic, strictly governed empire.
What is Eurasianism?
Debate over Russia's cultural identity: Is it European or Asian?
Want to bring back the Soviet Union as a geopolitical space rather than as a political system.
Reject globalisation and advocate for regional empires.
Embraced Russia's multi-ethnic nature, and reject Westernisation.
What are Eurasianists in favour of?
Restoring the Soviet Union as a geopolitical space rather than as a political system.
A multipolar world -- regional empires as an alternative for globalisation.
Eurasian Economic Union (2014)
: Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan.*
Probably their biggest political achievement.
What do Eurasianists resent?
Globalisation, old style Soviet patriotism,
liberalism, representative democracy
What are common traits of neo-Eurasianists?
Asserted cultural unity among Russian and non-Russian peoples
Adovcated for imperial forms of government
Maintained a rhetoric of national diversity while centralising control
There was a frustration over the '
slavish imitation
' of Western culture and a growing national awareness.
The notion of Russia's
unique cultural identity
and destiny emerged.
What was the impact of Napoleon's defeat in 1812?
The defeat of Napoleon in 1812 led to a growing national consciousness, boost in national self-esteem and
encouraged a return to Russian national roots.
Fuelled a sense of pride and resilience amongst Russians.
Who was Piotr Chaadaev?
Writer who wrote
philosophical
letters criticising Russia's historical role and seeking to explain its lack of historical contributions.
Believed the Russian reliance on tradition was harming its overall progress and international position.
Criticised various aspects of Russian society like the autocracy, lack of intellectual freedom and the dominance of the Orthodox Church.
Was a Westerniser, and believed Russia needed to align itself more with the West in order to succeed.
Ignited debate between Slavophiles and Westernisers/
Was declared insane by the authorities.
Sparked an ongoing discourse between Westernisers and Slavophiles.
Westernisers
: Believe that Russia should align itself more with Europe in order to commit to progress and criticise Russia's traditional institutions.
Slavophiles
: Champion Russia's unique and distinct identity,
unique destiny and spiritual superiority.
What are Slavophile beliefs?
Believe the West is technologically more advanced, but Russia is spiritually superior.
Advocate for Russia's traditional institutions like the Orthodox Church.
Reject and criticise Western materialism in favour of Russia's '
unique mission'
and the bourgeois culture of the West.
Proponents of a Sonderweg - not like the West.
Famous Slavophiles
Fyodor Dostoevsky
- believed in Russia's spiritual superiority to the West.
Nikolai Gogol
- believed in Russia's cultural uniqueness and distinctiveness.
Fiodor Tiutchev poem
Wrote a poem that argued that Russia could not be comprehended by the Western mind, nor measured with a common yardstick.
It is culturally unique.
What is the essentialist way of looking at national/cultural identity?
The belief that identity is something fixed, unchangeable and inherent to us.
What is the constructivist way of looking at national/cultural identity?
Postmodern view
: The idea that identity is
a construction
subject to change.
It is not a 'given' that exists apart from or prior to language
. This is the cultural studies perspective of identity.
What is the difference between Western and Russian colonisation?
Western colonisation colonised countries overseas (eg. Britain and India). Russian colonisation colonised countries on the same landmass - it was a terrestrial empire.
How was colonisation viewed by Russia?
Colonisation was rejected by Russia as an evil Western phenomenon - this view has been revised in recent years, with most scholars now agreeing that Russia also colonised.
What was the Russian state's cultural policy in this period?
Conceived Russia as a unique and original civilisation that cannot be reduced to 'East'. 'West', or 'Eurasia'. Viewed itself as an original entity not entirely belonging to either Asia or Europe. This is an essentialist view of Russian civilisation.
What was the colonisation of Siberia driven by?
The need for resources, primarily fur. Was enabled by the forced labour of many peasants who were driven eastwards.
Began with Peter the Great in the early 18th century: migrant peasants began to settle in the region and cultivate the land.
Early Perceptions of Russia
What was Adam Olearius' view of Russia?
Travelled in the 1630s - observed that they cared very little for the Enlightenment, their own history, or the civilisations of foreigners.
'Othered' them: a tendency to define other cultures as different from 'us'
What was Charles de Montequieu's view of Russia?
1689-1755 - 'The colder the climate, the less susceptible one is to external impulses'
This is a romantic cliche, not a 'fact'
Argued Russians are incapable of experiencing subtle emotions
Russia is a land of extremes: conquerors and the conquered.
Russia is dominated by a spirit of servitude: belongs to Asia (institution of serfdom).
What do these early perceptions of Russia tell us?
There has long been a tendency to 'other' Russia, which continues to influence our perceptions of it today.
How did Russia perceive itself in the 17th century?
Isolated position of the Grand Duchy of Moscow after the Great Schism.
Was reluctant to engage with Western Europe.
Muscovy was seen as the last stronghold of pure Christianity.
Secular knowledge was considered less important than piety - explains Olearius' observation that 'they are ignorant of the praiseworthy sciences'
.
What did Peter the Great do?
Visited Holland on two occasions and founded Saint Petersburg. Moved the capital here (gave Russia access to an ice-free port year round which was seen as synonymous with success).
Led top-down modernisation efforts in order to catch Russia up with the West and make it a more serious player on the international stage.
End of 17th-18th century: considered it time to integrate more with Europe.
What was the deeper significance to Peter's cultural revolution?
The Pope at the time,
Clement XI
, gifted him a
naked
statue of Venus.
His contemporaries were shocked
, with many believing she represented a
pagan goddess
and promiscuous woman.
Was displayed in the palace in summer 1720.
These were symbolic measures which created an antithesis between the 'dark' and 'backward' Russia of the past, and the 'new', 'civilised' Russia of the present.
Showed the beginning of the Enlightenment in Russia.
Led to a foundational myth about Saint Petersburg being created.
What was Russia's wish in the 18th century?
Wished to establish greater equality with the West and
showed acceptance of foreign standards.
Recognition of the superiority of the foreign model.
The more European Russia became, the more advanced it would be.
What were the consequences of this?
A small, well-educated and Westernised elite vs the masses (peasants) who remained rooted in Russian indigenous culture.
Lecture Two: The Myth of Saint Petersburg in Russian Culture
What is the strategic significance of Saint Petersburg?
What was the significance of Pushkin's death and 'The Bronze Horseman'?
.
What was Leibniz's view of Peter's reforms?
Was initially sceptical, believing Russians were akin to 'Turks of the North', but eventually became more optimistic, viewing Russia as a
tabula rasa
; a blank slate upon which Peter the Great's reforms could make a huge difference.
Peter was impressed by Leibniz's perspective, leading to the creation of a foundation myth for Russia's transformation
.
What was Peter the Great's foundation myth?
The narrative constructed around Peter the Great's transformation of Russia, particularly the establishment of Saint Ptersburg as the new capital.
The mythological narrative helped shape Russia's national identity and provided a symbolic framework for understanding its modernisation and Europeanisation efforts.
How can we understand myths?
Myths as narrative stories explaining phenomena without providing rational or scientific explanations.
Example: Adam and Eve myth explaining imperfections in the world.
Relevance to Saint Petersburg through eschatological myths tied to the city's fate and floods.
His death elevated him to martyr and '
tragic hero
' status in Russia.
'The Bronze Horseman' is a narrative poem set during the flood of 1824, reflecting on the city's vulnerability.
The poem explores themes of individual fate vs. the state's vision - a recurring theme in Russian literature
What was 'The End of Saint Petersburg'?
1927 film commissioned to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution.
Draws on the eschatological myth of Saint Petersburg's fate, but also presents a new foundation myth of its transformation into Leningrad.
Reflects the changing ideology and narrative of the city's identity.
What was the Soviet Montage School?
A style of cinematography that emerged in the 1920s. Used low angle and high angle framing to convey power dynamics.
Emphasised revolutionary subject matter and collective heroism over individual heroes.
Characterised by innovative and experimental filmmaking techniques.
Gave Russia access to an ice-free port year-round.
Part of Peter the Great's larger plan to modernise Russia and align it with European nations.
Chosen as the capital of new Russia, not just for strategic reasons, but also due to its symbolic significance