Students will become experts in one of the overarching themes of Russian and Ukrainian culture, the city of Odessa, a free port on the Black Sea, called the "Pearl by the Sea," the "Southern Palmyra," "Odessa-mama," and "The Humor Capital." We will explore the cultural history of Odessa in the Russian Empire, in the Soviet Union, and as part of Independent Ukraine. We will use Diverse Russian: A Multicultural Exploration, a free, online, interactive textbook supplemented by additional readings including poetry by Pushkin and Akhmatova, short stories by Babel and Zhvanetsky, and children’s literature written by Odessans Chukovsky, Oster and Mukha. We will examine the representation of Odessa in film, including Eisenstein's The Battleship Potemkin, as well as in songs and the visual arts. Students will present a final project on a topic of their choice in the context of the cultural history of Odessa from 1700 to the present. Taught in Russian.

Units: 1

Max Enrollment: 15

Prerequisites: RUSS 202 or permission of the instructor.

Distribution Requirements: LL - Language and Literature

Typical Periods Offered: Every other year

Semesters Offered this Academic Year: Fall

Notes: