Course code

SKS6211.HT

old course code

Course title in Estonian

Vene kultuuri paradigmad

Course title in English

Paradigms of Russian Culture

ECTS credits

6.0

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2025/2026 Autumn semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

lecturer of 2025/2026 Spring semester

Not opened for teaching. Click the study programme link below to see the nominal division schedule.

Course aims

The course aims:
- to familiarize students with the major developments in Russian culture and history;
- to discuss the key cultural paradigms that have shaped Russian thought, identity, and artistic expression;
- to examine the recurring themes on the basis of a wide variety of cultural texts;
- to cultivate students’ skills in critical reading, cultural interpretation, and comparative analysis.

Brief description of the course

This interdisciplinary course explores the major paradigms that have shaped Russian culture from medieval times to the present day. Rather than following a strictly chronological survey, the course is organized around core cultural worldviews (religious, philosophical, artistic, and ideological) that have defined Russian identity across time. In the course, the following topics will be discussed: opposition East vs. West, visions of nation and Empire, freedom and lack thereof, social “types” (e.g. intelligentsia), and more. In the seminars, a variety of primary texts will be used, both produced within and outside of Russian cultural sphere. The course will grapple with the problem of how to define “Russianness” today and how it can be critically studied.

Learning outcomes in the course

Upon completing the course the student:
- has obtained general knowledge of Russian history;
- is able to identify and discuss key themes in Russian culture;
- can analyze Russian cultural texts;
- can reflect critically on the complex narratives that continue to define Russian culture today.

Teacher

Ksenia Shmydkaya

Study programmes containing that course

Russian Philology (SKVB/22.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/22.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/21.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/21.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/20.HT)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/00.HR)
Primary School Teacher (KAKLI/18.HR)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/20.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/19.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/19.HT)
Liberal Arts in Humanities (KKLHB/18.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/18.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/17.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/16.HT)
Russian Philology (SKVB/00.HT)