Department of Germanic & Slavic Studies

SLST 210: Special Topics. Ways of Seeing: Virtual Tour of Russia and Eastern Europe
Preliminary Course Outline and Schedule
Spring 2016
Time: TWF 11:30-12:20
Room: CLE A314
Instructor: Dorota Lockyer
Email: dlockyer@uvic.ca
Office hours: TBD
There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign. Robert Louis Stevenson
Russia and Eastern Europe has long been a source of fascination both attraction and repulsion
across the world, particularly in the West. These conflicting emotions and perspectives towards
Eastern Europe has been documented by many tourists and expats in the form of diaries, travel
memoirs and travelogues. Travel writing is not a new phenomenon, and its increasing popularity
has contributed to new forms of travel writing, such as the travel blog. What have English travellers
written about Eastern Europe in the 20th and 21st centuries and why? How do their views conflict or
agree, and how can their accounts help us understand and get excited about Eastern Europe today?
As arm-chair travellers, we will adopt a tour route starting from Vladivostok, travelling across
Siberia to St. Petersburg, and then travelling across Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, and
Slovakia before turning to Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bulgaria. The
overarching theme of this course will be to consider travel writers descriptions and attitudes
towards pivotal literary (e.g. famous poets and authors), visual (e.g. fashion, comics and postcards),
audio/linguistic (e.g. musicians and language) and historical (e.g. the Holocaust) influences. We will
explore a variety of representations of Eastern Europe and examine the techniques writers have
used to describe physical characteristics of Eastern European landscape, architecture, and art;
customs and manners; and cross-cultural connections and failures. In order to frame our own
perspectives, we will also look at and listen to some of these media, such as film, songs, art, and
architecture. In addition, you will learn some survival language, learn to differentiate between the
Slavic alphabets, and explore practical aspects of travelling which will prepare you to confidently
travel in any Slavic country.
The various perspectives offered by guest speakers, interesting lectures and readings in this course
will broaden your understanding of this large and multifaceted part of Europe whether you have
never travelled to Eastern Europe or visited many times, or whether you study Slavic Studies,
Literature, Linguistics, Political Science, History, and/or even outside the Social Sciences and
Humanities.
Those of you who complete this course will:

Recognize key features (e.g. customs, major authors) of each country

Identify ways that Russia and Eastern Europe has been represented by travel writers
Identify the traditions of travel writing and its influences

Discuss the pivotal socio-historical and current issues that have changed, and are changing,
Russia and Eastern European countries
Learn basic survival language and practical ways of travelling across Eastern Europe

Classes will use a combination of lecture and discussion formats. To participate actively it is
essential that you come to class prepared by reading texts (as will be posted on CourseSpaces).
Lectures will provide the socio-cultural and historical backgrounds; class discussions will
concentrate on readings and main ideas about each topic.
The written work for the course comprises two in-class multiple-choice/short answer tests that
will assess your comprehension of the readings and ideas discussed in class, five short written
responses on a film or topic discussed in class, and one research project (usually either a paper or
presentation). There is no final exam for this course.
Tentative grade breakdown:
Two in-class multiple-choice/short answer tests 30%
Five written responses 25%
Research paper or presentation 30%
Participation and attendance 15%
*Note on participation: Unless you are sick, it is beneficial for you to attend class prepared
so that you get the most out of discussions, pair/group work and lectures. I understand that
many of you may feel uneasy about speaking in class. I will do my best to facilitate
discussions in a way to put you at ease; however, if you feel uncomfortable with speaking in
class, let me know and we can find an alternate way for you to achieve full participation
marks.
Course Materials
Coursepack (available at the UVic Bookstore), which contains excerpts from several travel
narratives, including:

Against the Flow: Wading through Eastern Europe by Tom Fort

Me, Myself & Prague: An Unreliable Guide to Bohemia by Rachael Weiss
A Russian Journal by John Steinbeck
Midnight in Siberia: A Train Journey into the Heart of Russia by David Greene
Black Earth: A Journey Through Russia After the Fall by Andrew Meier
Ashes and Miracles: A Polish Journey by Irena Karafilly
Times Magpie: A Walk in Prague by Myla Goldberg

I will make other materials available during the course.

Tentative schedule (subject to change)
This schedule and topics listed are tentative and currently reflect my interests; however, ultimately
the schedule depends on you as a group. On the first day of class, we will review the proposed
topics based on all of your interests. If most of you are interested in a particular topic or country
(e.g. fashion or Poland), we may alter the schedule slightly to maximize your experience and
interests as a class. Feel free, at any point before classes start, to email me with a topic that you
would like to see.

Do not panic about the readings; they are typically short excerpts that may be skimmed for a close
reading of the relevant points and/or paragraphs.
Several guest speakers are still to be confirmed.
Week Date

Topic

Introduction to Russia and Eastern Europe

Text and Travel: Images Framing the Travelling
Experience
Cross-cultural communication and Travel Literature:
Slavs vs. Us

Jan. 5
Jan. 6
Jan. 8

Jan. 12

The East Slavs: Midnight in Siberia

Jan. 13

St. Petersburg and Moscow: Black Earth

(Guest speaker: Dr. Megan Swift)

Jan. 15

The Russians are like Us?: A Russian Journal

(Guest speaker: Dr. Julia Rochtchina)

Jan. 19

The Russian Soul, Communicating and Smiling:

Expressing Emotions in Russia and Eastern Europe

Jan. 20
Jan. 22

Jan. 26
Jan. 27
Jan. 29

Feb. 2

Readings

Excerpts from: David

Greene, Midnight in
Siberia [Coursepack]
Excerpts from:
Andrew Meier, Black
Earth: A Journey
through Russia after
the Fall [Coursepack]
Excerpts from: John
Steinbeck, A Russian
Journal [Coursepack]

Due: written response

1

Belarus: TV and Media: Influences from America, The

Theorists: Big Bang Theory's Belarusian Rip-Off
Education in the Ukraine
(Guest speaker: Dr. Serhy Yekelchyk)
Ukrainian Folk Songs & Poetry; Summing up East
Slavs
(Guest speaker: Dr. Olga Pressitch)
The West Slavs: Introduction to Poland
What Not to Say: Cultural Taboos

History and National Character the Holocausts

Impact on Polish Society
(Guest speaker: Dr. Helga Thorson)
(Film: Ida)

Test 1
Excerpt from Tom
Fort, Against the Flow
[Coursepack]
Excerpts from: Tom
Fort, Against the Flow
[Coursepack]

Feb. 3
Feb. 5

(Contd: Ida)
TBA

Feb. 9
Feb. 10
Feb. 12

Feb. 16

Ashes and Miracles: Making Friends and Attitudes to

Foreigners

Feb. 17
Feb. 19

Chivalry or Sexism?: Attitudes to Women

Hospitality: A Guest in the House is God in the House

Feb. 23
Feb. 24

Silesia: Between Poland and the Czech Republic

Introduction to Czech Republic: The Chucks

Feb. 26

Me, Myself & Prague

Mar. 1

Times Magpie: Bribery and Corruption, Attitudes to

Rules, and Sweeteners

Mar. 2
Mar. 4

Comics and Graphic Novels: Visual Relics of Culture

Introduction to Slovakia: The Land and its People

10

11

Due: written response

2

READING BREAK (NO CLASSES)

Mar. 8
Tourism and the EU
Mar. 9
Up High and Down Low: The Tatry (Tatras) and Caves
Mar. 11 Urban vs. Village Life, Summing up West Slavs

Mar. 15 Going South: Introduction to Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia,

Bulgaria, Macedonia, Montenegro
Mar. 16 Does Hotter Mean Happier? Wars, Assassinations,
Revolutions, and Language Issues

Excerpt from: Irena

Karafilly, Ashes and
Miracles: A Polish
Journey [Coursepack]
Excerpt from: Tom
Fort, Against the Flow
[Coursepack]

Excerpt from: Rachael

Weiss, Me, Myself &
Prague [Coursepack]
Rachael Weiss, Me,
Myself & Prague
[Coursepack]
Due: written response
3
Excerpt from: Myla
Goldberg, Times
Magpie [Coursepack]
Test 2

Excerpt from: Tom

Fort, Against the Flow
[Coursepack]
Due: written response
4

Mar. 18 Traditional Holidays and Events: The Influence of

Religion(s)
12

13

Mar. 22 On Display: Fashion and Art

Mar. 23 Language, Music and Poetry
Mar. 25 Good Friday- No Class

Due: written response

5

Mar. 29 Practically Travelling: Tips, Hotels, Transport

Mar. 30 Wrapping Up, Summing Up Slavs
Apr. 1
Last Day of Class

Take a note of UVics grading scheme, below:

A+
A
AB+
B

90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
77-79%
73-76%

BC+
C
D
F

70-72%
65-69%
60-64%
50-59%
0-49%

Important Information
It is your responsibility to attend to ADD/DROP dates as published in the Calendar and the
Undergraduate Registration Guide and Timetable. You will not be dropped automatically from a
class that you do not attend. Students who miss substantial amounts of class and assignments
without documentation will be asked to withdraw, or will receive an N at the end of the semester.
Even when the reasons for failing to meet course requirements are valid, it is not academically
sound to allow students missing significant amounts of work to continue in the course.
A Note on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Actions such as plagiarism, multiple submissions, falsifying materials used in academic evaluations,
cheating or aiding others to cheat violate University policies on academic integrity and are
considered serious offence. You must inform yourself about the university regulations (see UVic
Policy on Academic Integrity).
Accessibility Statement
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. In particular, if you
have a disability/health consideration that may require accommodations, please feel free to
approach me and/or the Resource Centre for Students with a Disability (RCSD) as soon as possible.
RCSD staff members are available by appointment to assess specific needs, provide referrals and
arrange appropriate accommodations. The sooner you let us know your needs the quicker we can
assist you in achieving your learning goals in this course.
Withdrawals and Deferrals
Students who miss substantial amounts of class and assignments without documentation will be
asked to withdraw, or they will receive an N at the end of the semester. Even if the reasons for

failing to meet course requirements are valid, it is not academically sound to allow students missing
significant amounts of work to continue in the course. Please familiarize yourself with the
withdrawal dates in the current academic calendar.
Im looking forward to working with you over this coming term!