"Garden of the Empire:" History and Myth in Crimea

Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 precipitated the most severe geopolitical crisis of the early 21st century, and the effects are still reverberating in the news. This is not the first time, however, that Crimea has been the site of contention. By looking at history, literature, politics, and environmental studies, we will achieve greater understanding of the complexity of discourses—documentary and imaginary—that make up the fabric of Crimea. We will read selected poetry and fiction by Pushkin, Mickiewicz, Tolstoy, Twain, Chekhov, Tsvetaeva, Aksyonov, and Pelevin, and we will also engage with movies, photography, academic articles, as well as news reports. This course will count as an elective towards the Russian Major and the IGS/REES Major.