Russian Program News (From copy submitted by Mark Leiderman)

In fall 2008, we have had record enrollments in RUSS 1010 classes - 87 students (75 in 2007) and in “Introduction to Russian Culture” (Dr. Vicki Grove) – 160 students in two sections. We are also offering a new course – Russian for heritage speakers. This course, designed and taught by Prof. Artemi Romanov, is a part of the new major/minor track for heritage speakers, i.e. students from Russian-speaking families who usually possess some knowledge of oral language but lack reading and writing skills. In spring 2009, we will offer two new courses: “Slavic Folk Culture: Ideals and Values in the Contemporary World” (designed by Prof. Laura Osterman) and “American-Russian Cultural Relations” (Prof. Artemi Romanov). Both new courses belong to the Core Curriculum representing such categories as Ideals and Values and Historical Context/United States Context respectively. In summer 2009, another new course will be offered: “Intensive Beginning Russian” (designed by Elena Kostoglodova) which will combine Beginning Russian 1 and Beginning Russian 2 into one intensive course. Other important news: we have begun the work on a proposal for an M.A. program in Russian Studies, which we hope to complete and submit to the Graduate School in spring 2009.

Russian Club News (From copy submitted by Elena Kostoglodova)

The Russian Club has already had four activities this semester. We started off with our traditional mushroom hunt at the CU Mountain Research Station, where, despite the unpropitious weather conditions this year, we managed to find a good variety of small mushrooms to introduce the club members to this wonderful Russian pastime. Twenty- one members of the club participated in the hunt! Tatiana Mikhailova and Mark Leiderman acted as our guides, helping the students to distinguish between the edible and poisonous varieties and making our hike safe and enjoyable.

We also went to the Russian area of Denver -- attendance was again in the 20s! We stopped by M&I market, looked at all the traditional Russian foods there and bought many to sample. We also visited our usual haunt, California Bakery, where students had a chance to try authentic Russian pastries with poppy seeds, real butter cream and many other staples. Our final destination in Russian Denver was the book and souvenir store, where students browsed a vast collection of Russian cds, dvds and books and were shown around by the talkative, delightful hostess.

Our third event so far has been a trip to the Boulder Dushanbe Tea house, where we participated in the traditional afternoon tea ceremony. The department has generously contributed funds towards the students' enjoyment!

We also hosted a Russia/Georgia debate at the Russian Tea, where two sides presented arguments and defended the actions of both countries in the conflict. Many students have enjoyed participating in or observing the debate and expressed a desire to see more debates on various topics in the future.

On Saturday, October 18, the Russian Club hosted a giant food hike, during which various Russian dishes, prepared by the student teams, were enjoyed during a picnic lunch in the wilderness.

Our plans for this semester also include going to a Russian film (Alexandra) at the International Film Series, traveling to Denver to have lunch at an authentic Russian restaurant, going cross-country and downhill skiing, attending the traditional holiday favorite Nutcracker, and participating in the Total Learning Fun Film Festival.

Russian Tea (From copy submitted by Elena Kostoglodova)

The Russian Tea is still continuing on Wednesdays every week. The students enjoy conversation in both Russian and English and exchange opinions on a variety of topics, as well as discuss current news.

Russian Cultural Week

Russian Cultural Week in April 2008 was a big success. Its events were attended by more than two hundred students and it most effectively combined education and entertainment. It began with a lecture by the Honorary Council of Russia, Dr. Deb Palmieri (a CU alumni) organized by Professor Romanov. It continued with the Russian Food Festival and the Russian Idol competition with students singing Russian songs. Both events were organized by Tatiana Mikhailova with the help of Vicki Grove. The competition was judged in the best traditions of “American Idol” by a strict team of witty experts consisting of Professor Rima Salys, Karen Hawley, and Senior Instructor Vicki Grove. This was followed by an avant-garde theatrical production of a famous Russian children’s tale about a charming fly, an evil spider, and a brave mosquito performed by students of the second-year language classes (instructor and director of the production – Tatiana Mikhailova). Actors had also translated this heart-stopping poem in English so that the audience could simultaneously enjoy the Russian poetry and read the English poetic translation. The week ended with a broad open-air celebration of Russian Spring Festival organized by Vicki Grove. During this colorful and elaborate event, students of our Russian Fairy Tales classes conducted various competitions and participated in them, simultaneously demonstrating their deep understanding of Russian cultural tradition, while guests of the festival enjoyed Russian pancakes with and without fillings.

Russian Spring Festival (From copy submitted by Vicki Grove)

The Russian Spring Festival, which was the final event of Russian Culture Week in late April, was a tremendous success. Although the weather had been cold—with snow!—earlier in the week, the day of the event was beautiful and sunny. More than one hundred students from RUSS 2231, Fairytales of Russia, participated in the event: preparing (and eating!) traditional Russian foods, organizing (and playing!) games and activities, making effigy dolls, and dressing in costumes. It is a fun and interactive way for students to really engage themselves with what they study about Russia, its traditions, entertainments, and cuisine, beyond the walls of the classroom. An estimated 200 visitors from campus and the Boulder community attended the festival, which has become an annual event. We look forward to doing it again in 2009!

Russian Film Series (From copy submitted by Mark Leiderman)

Russian Film Series has begun its fourth season. This time we decided build the semester series as a sequence of filmic reflections upon different periods in Russian history of the 20th century: “There Were Two Comrades in the Army” represents the time of the revolution and the civil war; “Moscow Parade” – the Stalinist Terror; “Freeze, Die, Come to Life” – a post-war decade; “Ivan Vasilievich Changes Occupation”; “The Errors of Youth” – 60s and 70s; while a controversial and experimental film “4” corresponds to the beginning of the 21st century. Films are screened every other Tuesday at 8 pm in HUMN 135. The series is coordinated by Instructor Tatiana Mikhailova and graduate student, Meghan Vicks. The schedule of screenings is available on the departmental webpage, click here.

Slavic Studies Discussion Group (From copy submitted by Rima Salys)

The Slavic Studies Discussion Group is an interdisciplinary body with faculty and graduate student membership from both CU-Boulder and nearby colleges and universities. The Group was funded by grants from the CU Center for the Arts and Humanities until 2007 and is now supported by GSLL. The Discussion Group typically meets once a month during the academic year to hear informal presentations from our faculty and faculty from the Denver area on their research followed by discussion, as well as presentations by visiting speakers from Russia and Europe. The Discussion Group seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue among faculty and students. To that end, we plan meetings around speakers from varying fields with an interest in some aspect of Eastern Europe.

The Slavic Studies Discussion Group (Rima Salys, coordinator) presented two invited speakers during the spring semester:

"21st Century Russian Film: New Heroes and Post-Imperial Space," Prof. Vida Johnson, Tufts University, March 13, 2008.

"Conserving Russia's Wilderness," lecture with slides on the Russian wilderness and ecological concerns, Laura Lynne Williams, April 29, 2008.

Our New Russian Volleyball Team (From copy submitted by Artemi Romanov)

Russian Club has formed a volleyball team which practices every Tuesday and Thursday to play in the CU coed intramural open league (the most competitive). GSLL has contributed funds toward registering the team for the intramural competition. Nine players from different Russian classes signed up to practice and play. They put their minds together to come up with a good name for the team. One of the initial suggestions for the team’s name “Putin’s friends” was voted down. The team is now called “Siberian Tigers.” In an interview with the local media, Siberian Tigers’ coach (Artemi) claims that the team has many talented players who are ready to fight for the title in the open league. Tigers’ players and coaches will make calls in Russian during the games which might give them a fair advantage over other teams in the league. Go Siberian Tigers!

How to Write (Russian) History? Putin, the Annales School, and the Intimization of History



Dr. Konstantin Bogdanov from the University of Constance (Germany) & Institute of Russian Literature, Russian Academy of Science (St. Petersburg) presented a joint colloquium on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 sponsored by the Department of Germanic and Slavic Languages and Literatures and the Department of Comparative Literature and Humanities. Dr. Bogdanov compared the cultural rhetoric displayed in present discussions about how Soviet history should be presented in new textbooks with the concept of ideal history as exemplified by Lucien Febvre of the French school of Annales. The discussion on post-Soviet history textbooks is closely connected with the ongoing process of the “restoration of national pride” launched by Putin’s cultural politics.

And last but not least….

Laura Olson Osterman and David Osterman are parents to twin babies Mira and Daniel Osterman, born Feb. 6, 2008. Imagine how busy they are! Congratulations to the entire family!!