Lewiston Auburn Senior College

IN PERSON AT AUBURN-LEWISTON AIRPORT

For many people, Russia remains a “riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” (as Winston Churchill put it). This course will provide you with an introduction to this huge and complex country, beginning with its vast geography and continuing through an exploration of its political structures, private lives and vibrant culture. What did it mean to be a serf? Why did Peter the Great want to open a window to Europe? What role has revolution and war played in shaping Russian civic life? How have Russian rulers used propaganda, and why does it work? What was it like to live through the end of the Soviet era – and how did that experience shape people’s attitudes toward Putin. We’ll explore these questions with lots of power points, film clips and short readings.  

Jane Costlow taught Russian and Environmental Humanities for over 30 years at Bates College. She has a Ph.D. in Russian literature, and has lived and travelled extensively (solo, with students and with her family) in Russia and Siberia.