Russian and East European Jewish Culture: Before and After the Holocaust
Russian 435
Fall 2014
SH-216
Department of European Studies SDSU
Professor Veronica Shapovalov
Office hours T 1:00-2:00 : TH 6:40- 7:30 or by appointment
My office is in SH-228C
594-5111/594-7147
e-mail: veronica.shapovalov@sdsu.edu
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course we shall
 explore the relationship between art and Jewish identity
 explore how the 20th century literature written in Russian, Polish, Czech,
Hungarian, Romanian, Serbian and Lithuanian by writers of Jewish origin
reflects the changing problem of Jewish identity
 make connections between works of Jewish artists (writers, painters, filmmakers)
of different national backgrounds
 explore history as represented by Jewish artists (writers, painters, filmmakers)
 discuss the tradition of Jewish prose writing/fiction in Russian and Eastern
Europe questioning all of these terms (“tradition,” “Jewish,” “prose,” “fiction”).
 make connections between Jewish art in Russia and Eastern Europe and our
own lives/issues
 explore the issues of sustainability of Jewish culture in Eastern Europe
Our goals are
 to discuss literary works, films and art in their historical, sociological and
geographical contexts
 to analyze and compare a theme or issue in literature, film and other arts
 to make comparisons between the home culture and Russian and East European
Jewish culture
Readings—Required
Isaak Babel, Red Cavalry; How It Was Done in Odessa (available in the bookstore)
Vasilii Grossman, The Commissar (In the Town of Berdichev) (Blackboard)
Liudmila Ulitskaia March 1953; Barley Soup (Blackboard)
David Markish, The Jesters (excerpts) (the book is available on
Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Jesters-DavidMarkish/dp/0805004440/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346137106&sr=11&keywords=Markish+Jesters)
Icchokas Meras, Stalemate (available in the bookstore or Amazon)
Bruno Schultz, The Streets of Crocodiles (available in the bookstore or Amazon)
Stanislaw Benski, The Tzaddik’s Grandson (Blackboard)
Janusz Korczak King Matt the First (excerpts) (available on Amazon)
Stanislaw Wygodski, Blessed Be the Hands (Blackboard)
Hannah Krall, Briefly Now (Blackboard)
Frantz Kaflka, The Metamorphosis
Irzi Weil, Mendelssohn Is On the Roof (available in the bookstore)
Karoly Pap, Blood (Backboard)
Akos Molnar, Incident on a Trip in 1937 (Blackboard)
Danylo Kys, The Tomb for Boris Davidovich (time permitting)
George Konrad, Invisible Voice (excerpts) (Blackboard)
Structure of the course and grading
 At each class meeting you are responsible for that day’s reading, for asking good
question and answering questions, and leading the discussion when asked to. I
hope to keep lecturing to a minimum and 30% of your class grade will be for
participation in class discussion. Regular attendance is expected. (More than one
absence will lower this part of your grade). Keep a notebook for reading notes
and notes you make for preparing for class. The idea behind keeping these notes
is to encourage you to formulate questions about the texts, (e.g. what issues do
the texts focus on? What strategies do the respective authors use to make their
points?) The notebooks will help you to lead the class discussion and participate
in the discussion.
 Two academic papers (4-6 pages each) on assigned topics will be due during the
semester. Each will count as 15 % of your grade. (The list of topics will be
discussed in class and posted on Blackboard.) You can write on a topic of your
choice. If you design your own topic, please discuss your topic with me before you
start writing.
 One in-class presentation on Jewish artists and art —10% (the list of topics will
be discussed in class posted on Blackboard)
 Take-home essay final exam—30%. The exam will be handed out on December 9
and is due to my office BA-310 Thursday, December 16 by 3:00 pm.
You are welcome to discuss readings, course content, exams and other academic topics
with me.
Attendance policy
You are allowed one unexcused absence without penalty this semester. Additional
unexcused absences will result in lowering your final grade.
Policy on reading, homework, and late assignments:
All assigned readings should be done prior to the class. Late assignments (homework,
papers, and projects) will receive lower grades: one day late = one grade lower, two days
late = two grades lower, etc. Exception: pre-approved or approved late submission or
lateness in connection with an excused absence. Being overworked, forgetting, having
too little time, tests/exams in other classes etc. are NOT reasons that would qualify.
All written work must be turned in as a typed hard copy, double-spaced in 10- or
12-point font, and stapled.
Please do not e-mail your papers unless you have made arrangements with me before
the day it’s due.
Academic Integrity
College of Arts and Letters expects the highest standards of academic excellence and
ethical performance from students. It is particularly important that you are aware of
and avoid plagiarism, submitting a paper to more than one instructor, or submitting a
paper authored by anyone other than yourself. All incidents of cheating or plagiarism
will be reported to the Judicial Procedures Office as required by CSU Policy.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is using others’ ideas and words without clearly acknowledging
the source of that information. DO NOT DO IT. Please visit the link
http://infotutor.sdsu.edu/plagiarism/word.cfm?p=graphic Tutorial Services page on
plagiarism if you have any questions
Classroom policy regarding the use of electronic devices:
The use of ANY electronic devices during the classroom for note taking or any other
purposes is not permitted. If you absolutely have to use your lap-top for note taking—
you have to sign the promise NOT to surf the Internet, send messages, do homework,
etc. If you break your promise I shall ask you to leave the room and you will get one
unexcused absence for this class.
Please note
All students are welcome to discuss readings, course content,
exams, and other academic topics with the instructor.
If you are having trouble with an assignment or with a concept,
please let me either know during class or e-mail me your
question. Questions are always welcome.
The course is conducted in English, all the readings are in English.
Russian and East European Jewish Culture: Before and After the Holocaust
Russian 435
Fall 2014
August 26
Syllabus
Introduction.
Jews of Russia: the search for identity.
From Anatevka to Odessa, Moscow, and St. Petersburg.
The road to the revolution.
Reading: Babel, Red Cavalry
September 2
The historical map of Red Cavalry.
Discussion of Red Cavalry
Jewish Gangsters and Supermen.
Reading: How It Was Done in Odessa.
Paustovsky, On Isaak Babel
September 9
Discussion of How It Was Done in Odessa.
Reading and discussion of In the Town of Berdichev
Screening The Commissar
Reading: Bruno Schults, The Streets of Crocodiles
September 16
Discussion of The Commissar
Myth and reality in Bruno Schultz’s world.
Discussion of The Streets of Crocodiles
Birds and flying people. Fantasy and Symbols: Marc Chagall
Screening Marc Chagall
Reading: Kafka, The Metamorphosis (The Internet)
September 23
September 30
Jewish, German, or Czech? Identity, fantasy and symbols in Kafka’s
works. Discussion of Kafka
Film clip: The Metamorphosis
Reading: Caroly Papp, Blood
Akos Molnar, Incident on a Trip in 1937
The end of the world?
Approaching the catastrophe. Discussion of Papp and Molnar.
Reading: Icchokas Meras, Stalemate
October 7
Screening Wajda, Korczak.
Reading: Icchokas Meras, Stalemate
October 14
Discussion of Stalemate
Presentations
October 21
Screening A Gift for Stalin
Discussion of A Gift for Stalin.
Reading: Ulitskaya, March 1953, Barley Soup
October 28
First Paper Due
Discussion of Ulitskaia.
In retrospect: Jews and Peter the Great.
Reading: David Markish, The Jesters
November 4
Living in Kafkaesque Prague
Screening: Divided We Fall
Read: : Irzi Weil, Mendelssohn is on the Roof.
November 11
Veterans Day ( no class)
Read: : Irzi Weil, Mendelssohn is on the Roof.
November 18
Discussion of Mendelssohn is On the Roof.
Reading: Hanna Krall, Briefly Now; Stanislaw Benski,
The Tzaddik’s Grandson, Jan Gross, Jedwabne
November 25
Screening Aftermath or Ida
Discussion
Jewish revival? Post-communist Eastern Europe.
Cinema, visual arts, music.
December 2
December 9
Second paper due.
Note: This schedule is subject to change. All weekly specific assignments will be
posted on Blackboard. In this class we shall have three guest lecturers. The dates
of their presentations will be finalized by September 6.
You are responsible for any changes in the syllabus and assignments that
are announced in class, whether you were present or not.
.