HIST 283 - Area Studies Intensive: Arts, Film, and Ideas in Central Asia

Semester Offered: Fall
0.5 unit(s)

This intensive course offers an exploration of the arts, cinema, and ideas in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Muslim regions of Russia. In the first part of the semester, participants explore artists and genres and view films in their historical context. Examples include Caucasus mythology, Kyrgyz film, Uzbek textiles, topics that involve arts and ideas in the region. In the second part, integrating aspects of students’ previous studies, participants form groups to focus on themes and topics like revolution, decolonization, gender, religion, and newly emerging national identities, and work on research projects. These could involve public film showings, exhibits, travel to exhibits and festivals, and other activities, depending on the group’s unique interests and initiative. The intensive involves non-traditional, flexible scheduling and activities (painting, cooking) and offers deeper learning in parallel with ongoing courses on Russian, Soviet, and Eurasian history. This includes HIST 386/INTL 386 Central Asia and the Caucasus: Nation Building and Human Rights, HIST 242 The Russian Empire to 1812, HIST 243 Russia and the Soviet Union, 1861-2000, courses on Russia, and courses on Muslim cultures offered at Vassar. Michaela Pohl.

Both first and second six-week course.

One 2-hour period.

Course Format: INT