Bernadeta Kaminska

Students will study cultural and intellectual history represented in the major works of Polish literature in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

Readings and discussions are in English.  No knowledge of Polish is required.

Students who read Polish are encouraged to do so.

Films will be used to show the media interpretation of the major works of Polish literature.

Course Description:

In this course, we will study Polish national cinema from 1945 to the year 2007.

The different stages of development of Polish cinema are usually related to changing political situation in Poland.  The focus is on full-length narrative films of seven great Polish directors:

Leonard Buczkowski, Andrzej Wajda, Roman Polanski, Krzysztof Zanussi, Krzysztof Kieslowski, Sylwester Checinski, and Wladyslaw Pasikowski.

We will start with the first postwar movie, follow with later movies of the Polish School period paying tribute to the victims of the war.  Next, we will watch “Cinema of Distrust” with series of contemporary films centers around the conflict between individual and the state during communism. The Solidarity movement and the most popular works will follow. We will conclude with movies showing Poland in a process of transition from one political system to another and return to democracy.  We will see a comedy to bring some hope that in Poland it might be finally possible to laugh at matters normally very serious. The conclusion will be a Polish crime thriller whose director draws on formula of American action films, but despite that makes “very Polish” movie.

There is no prerequisite for this course.

Texts:

The following text is required for the course:

            Polish National Cinema, Marek Haltof, Berghahn Books 2002, available at Coop

List of recommended readings for your research essays will be posted on Blackboard.

Requirements and Grading:

The final grade for the course will be cumulative and based upon the percentages indicated.

There will be no final examination.

Attendance                                                                 10%

Class preparation, participation in discussions                      20%

Presentation                                                                20%

Two Research Essays                                                     50% (25% each)

Course Description

The course presents the highlights of Polish literature and culture through the works of internationally recognized Polish directors and selected readings.

Students will study major works of Polish literature in the context of Western and East European/Slavic traditions.  The road will start in the Middle Ages, and continue through Renaissance, Baroque, Enlightenment, Romanticism, Positivism, and literature in the 20th century.

Readings include early Polish poetry, short stories, novels, plays and drama. 

All texts, movies, and discussions will be in English.  Students with good knowledge of Polish may read in the original Polish. 

Texts:

The History of Polish Literature by Czeslaw Milosz

                  Selected readings

                  Movies

Requirements and Grading

10% Attendance

20% Participation

10% Readings Quizzes

10% Movie Quizzes

10% Literary Works Quizzes

20% Project

20% Final Paper

Course Description

Introduction to the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe through each of the major disciplines represented in the program: language, literature, anthropology, geography, history, government, sociology, and economics.  Core course required for a degree in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Meets with SLA 301 and GRG 309. May not be used to fulfill the foreign language requirement for any Bachelor’s degree. Course number may be repeated for credit when the topics vary. 

Texts:

1. Slavenka Drakulic, 1992, How We Survived Communism and even Laughed, Harper-Collins.

2. Heda Kovaly, 1997. Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague, 1941-1968. New York: Holmes and Meier

3. Brigid Pastulka, 2009, A Long Time Ago And Essentially True, Boston, New York, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Requirements and Grading

Attendance                                                   10%

Participation in class discussions                        10%

Book Presentations in class                               30%

Quizzes                                                        30%

Essay                                                           20%

Prerequisite: None

Course Description:

This course is the fifth semester of Polish language studies.

Students will practice and enhance their reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills.

The subjects in this course relate to every day life and illustrate the reality of life in Poland.

This course will increase students’ ability to function in Polish and help them understand and appreciate Polish culture.

Prerequisites: POL 312L or consent of instructor

Readings:”Hurra Po Polsku” Student’s Textbook part 2 and Student’s Workbook part 2

Grading: Attendance and Participation            10%

               Homework                                20%

               Grammar Tests/Quizzes               20%

               Vocabulary Quizzes                     20%

               Project                                     10%

               Midterm Oral                              10%

               Final Oral                                   10%