Synopses & Reviews
This volume offers an introduction to Russian culture in all its rich diversity, including the historical conditions that helped shape it and the arts that express its highest achievements. Newly commissioned essays by leading scholars explore language, religion, geography, ideological structures, folk ethos and popular culture, literature, music, theater, art, and film. A chronology and guides to further reading are also provided. Overall, the volume reveals, for students, scholars and all those interested in Russia, the dilemmas, strengths, and complexities of the Russian cultural experience.
Review
"The Companion is a useful tool... It provides neat introductions to the familiar faces and movements in Russian artistic history..." Susan Costanzo, H-Net Reviews"...these wide-ranging and stimulating essays synthesize modern scholarship, provide useful material for the specialist, and serve as a helpful reference work for the reader already familiar with modern Russian culture." Robert C. Williams, Slavic Review"[The book] will be utterly useful and enjoyable for students and individuals with advanced knowledge of Russia as well as for Slavic scholars." Victoria Richter, Slavic and East European Journal
Synopsis
A comprehensive guide to Russian culture from the end of serfdom in 1861 to the war in Chechenia. There are two main parts to the book - the first examines cultural identity from a number of perspectives - language, religion, ideology, geography (boundaries with Asia and the West), history and politics. The second, headed literature and the arts, covers literature, theatre, music, art and film. All the key figures are included - from Anna Akhmatova to Solzhenitsyn, from Bulgakov to Stanislavsky, and from Ivan the Terrible to Eisenstein.
Table of Contents
Chronology; 1. Introduction: Russian cultural history Nicholas Rzhevsky; Part I. Cultural Identity: 2. Origins (a) language Dean Worth (b) religion - Russian orthodoxy Dmitry S. Likhachev; 3. Boundaries (a) Asia Mark Bassin (b) the West Pierre Hart; 4. Ideological structures Abbott Gleason; 5. Popular culture Catriona Kelly; Part II. Literature and the Arts: 6. Literature David Bethea; 7. Art John Bowlt; 8. Music Harlow Robinson; 9. Theatre Laurence Senelick; 10. Film Nikita Lary; Guides to further reading.