Russian Folklore: Myth, Rumor, and Cultural Memory

Faculty:

Fall 2025: October 22, 2025 – November 21, 2025
Schedule
Subject: LIT
Level: 200
Credits: 1 US / 2 ECTS
Max Enrollment: 22
Language of Instruction: Russian
Prerequisites: No
This course investigates Russian folklore as a living and evolving cultural phenomenon, spanning from traditional fairy tales and oral narratives to urban legends, internet memes, protest songs, and grassroots rituals. Folklore will be treated as a key to understanding national character, collective memory, and forms of resistance. We will examine the links between Russian folk traditions and broader global folklore, including prison songs, revolutionary chants, and colonial myths. Readings will include classical and contemporary sources, along with theoretical approaches (Propp, Jung). Throughout the semester, students will experiment with creating their own folkloric texts and stylizations, exploring both the structure and the subversive potential of vernacular creativity.

 

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Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. Your statement’s clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course’s Language of Instruction.

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Smolny Beyond Borders

A Liberal Arts Initiative
Introduction and Application Instructions

Use the Latin alphabet for all entries on the portal, including your name. If the Language of Instruction is Russian, you may use Cyrillic only within the Statement of Purpose.

Refrain from using email addresses in domains ru or by or associated with Russian or Belarusian educational or state institutions.

Consider drafting your motivation letter ahead of time

Пожалуйста, используйте латиницу при заполнении всех полей на портале, включая имя и фамилию.

Даже если язык обучения на курсе - русский, кириллицу можно использовать только в тексте мотивационного письма.

Просим не использовать адреса электронной почты в доменных зонах ru или by, а также адреса, связанные с российскими или белорусскими государственными или образовательными учреждениями.

Рекомендуем заранее подготовить мотивационное письмо.  


Completing the Application

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Smolny Beyond Borders

A Liberal Arts Initiative




Afghan Female Student Outreach, Al-Quds Bard, Al-Quds University, AltLiberalArts, American University of Afghanistan, American University of Beirut, American University in Bulgaria, American University of Central Asia, Ashesi University, Bard College, Bard College Berlin, BRAC University, Central European University, European Humanities University, Haitian Education and Leadership Program, Hubs for Connected Learning Initiatives, Institute for Philosophy, Belgrade, Kyiv School of Economics, National Sun Yat-sen University, Parami University, Rift Valley Institute, Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, Tuskegee University, Universidad de los Andes, University of the West Indies, Wits University




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Craft a reflective statement of purpose explaining your interest in the Smolny Beyond Borders online course. The file should be saved with your name and course title as the filename and uploaded accordingly. Your statement's clarity and substance will significantly influence our selection. Convey your motivations and aspirations for this course succinctly but thoroughly. Kindly write your statement in the course's Language of Instruction.
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