Cultural and Literary history of 20th century Russia:
Block 1: from the Revolution to the end of the 1920s
- Literature and Revolution; the NEP era; 20s-30s;
- E. Zamjatin, Noi.
Block 2: 1929 to 1953
- Stalinism;
- A. Ždanov, Socialist Realism;
- Selection of verses and songs;
- M. Bulgakov, Il Maestro e Margherita;
- film/serial: Cirk, Svetlyj put’, Novaja Moskva (watching movies and tv shows inspired by Bulgakov's novel is optional).
Block 3: 1953 to 1964 (1968)
- The ‘Thaw’;
- A. Solženicyn, Una giornata di Ivan Denissovič;
- film/serial: Stiljagi, Ottepel’, Zastava Il’iča.
Block 4: 1964 to 1982
- The ‘Dissent’;
- Samizdat: poetry, music, prose;
- Ven. Erofeev, La notte di Valpurga
- A. e B. Strugackie, Picnic sul ciglio della strada
- film/serial (optional): Stalker, Tainstvennaja strast’.
Block 5: 1982 to the present day
- Postmodernism;
- V. Pelevin, Omon Ra;
- V. Sorokin, Eros Moskvy;
- film: Moskva, Kopejka oppure Nočnoj dozor, Dnevnoj dozor.
Critical and reference reading
- G.P. Piretto, Quando c’era l’URSS, Milano, Cortina editore, 2018; pp. 1-605 (o, in alternativa, G.P. Piretto, Il radioso avvenire, Torino, Einaudi, 2001, pp. 3-332);
- *G. Manganelli, Leggere i russi;
- *C. Olivieri, Mosca (ieri e) oggi: Sorokin e dintorni, in “Europa Orientalis”, 2006, XXV, pp. 205-236.
Literary and anthological texts
- E. Zamjatin, Noi, Fanucci editore, 2021 oppure Voland edizioni, 2013;
- M. Bulgakov, Il Maestro e Margherita, Milano, Mondadori, 2016 (the student may also opt for an edition of his choice);
- A. Solženicyn, Una giornata di Ivan Denissovič, Torino, Einaudi, 2019 (the student may also opt for an edition of his choice);
- *Ven. Erofeev, La notte di Valpurga, in V.V. Erofeev, Moskva-Petuški, Milano, Feltrinelli, 2004, pp. 211-312;
- A. e B. Strugackie, Picnic sul ciglio della strada, Milano, Marcos y Marcos, 2011 (or 2003);
- V. Pelevin, Omon Ra, Milano, Mondandori, 1999;
- *V. Sorokin, Ėros Moskvy, in V. Sorokin, Moskva, Moskva, Vagrius, 2001, pp. 9-16.
Additional teaching materials
Slides, texts, videos, audio, songs, films, exercises, supplementary readings on Russian language and culture of the 20th century will be provided on STUDIUM during the lessons.
All the texts in the programme are available in the library and/or at the teacher's room; the texts marked with an asterisk will be made accessible on the STUDIUM platform.