Reading Dovlatov in Wartime: Text, Context, Intertext

To understand the reasons and motivations behind Russia’s actions in the world and particularly in the war against Ukraine, it is essential to know Russian culture and literature. Sergey Dovlatov’s literary works are ideal in this endeavor. The goal of this course is to develop students’ skills in reading and interpreting Dovlatov’s works. Students will learn how to comprehend the background of the text, to grasp the meaning of the context, and to parse intertext. Students will read The Zone, Pushkin Hills, and other works. In class, students will discuss the assigned readings and gain practice in examining and interpreting texts. They will also write essays on a range of topics. Counts as a course in literature or culture and civilization.