Module HIST2791: THE COMMUNIST EXPERIMENT: CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN THE USSR, 1917-1991

Department: History

HIST2791: THE COMMUNIST EXPERIMENT: CULTURE AND SOCIETY IN THE USSR, 1917-1991

Prerequisites

• A pass mark in at least ONE level one module in History.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• Soviet History (RUSS3221)

Aims

• To equip students with a knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the cultural and social history of the Soviet Union.
• To provide students with experience of handling a wide range of sources.
• To develop students' ability to evaluate critically various methodological and historiographical approaches to the subject.
• To contribute towards meeting the generic aims of Level 2 study in history.

Content

• The module considers the Soviet attempt to revolutionise its citizens' vlues, culture and identities, to create the New Soviet Man' devoted to socialism and collectivism and free from the prejudices of the capitalist order.
• Part 1 of the module focuses on the period fromthe 1917 revolution up to Stalin's death in 1953. We will consider the Bolsheviks' often contradictory efforts to deal with nationalist and religious worldviews, to shape class identity, to challenge traditional gender stereotypes, and to mould children and adults through education, consumption and housing policies.
• Part 2 considers the period from 1953 to the end of the USSR in the 1980s. The war had a profound effect on Soviet society, as did Stalin's death. As the use of terror declined and the state's revolutionary aspirations became less intense, a variety of different cultures and identities developed around dissadents, young people and national groups. This period also witnessed a limited 'privatisation' of life. We will assess the significance of these developments and examine the state's response to them.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge and understanding of aspects of the cultural and social history of the Soviet Union.

• Subject specific skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/
• Experience of handling a wide range of sources, especially cultural artefacts.
• Ability to evaluate ciritcally various methodological and historiographical approaches to the subject.

• Key skills for this module can be viewed at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/history.internal/local/ModuleProformaMap/

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Student learning is facilitated by a combination of the following teaching methods:
• lectures to set the foundations for further study and to provide the basis for the acquisition of subject specific knowledge. Lectures provide a broad framework which defines individual module content, introducing students to themes, debates and interpretations. In this environment, students are given the opportunity to develop skills in listening, selective note-taking and reflection;
• seminars to allow students to present and critically reflect upon the acquired subject-specific knowledge, methodologies and theories, and to identify and debate a range of issues and differing opinions. The seminar is the forum in which students are given the opportunity to communicate ideas, jointly exploring themes and arguments. Seminars are structured to develop understanding and designed to maximise student participation related to prior independent preparation. Seminars give students the opportunity to develop oral communication skills, encourage critical and tolerant approaches to reasoned argument and historical discussion, build the students' ability to marshal historical evidence, and facilitate the development of the ability to summarise historical arguments, think in a rapidly changing environment and communicate in a persuasive and articulate manner, whilst recognising the value of working with others and, occasionally, towards shared goals.
• Assessment:
• Unseen Examinations test students' ability to work under pressure under timed conditions, to prepare for examinations and direct their own programme of revision and learning, and develop key time management skills. The unseen examination gives students the opportunity to develop relevant life skills such as the ability to produce coherent, reasoned and supported arguments under pressure. Students will be examined on subject specific knowledge;
• Summative essays remain a central component of assessment in history, due to the integrative high-order skills they develop. Essays allow students the opportunity to recognise, represent and critically reflect upon ideas, concepts and problems; students can demonstrate awareness of, and the ability to use and evaluate, a diverse range of resources and identify, represent and debate a range of subject-specific issues and opinions. Through the essay, students can synthesise information, adopt critical appraisals and develop reasoned argument based on individual research; they should be able to communicate ideas in writing, with clarity and coherence; and to show the ability to integrate and critically assess material from a wide range of sources.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

One or more short assignments submitted in writing or delivered orally and discussed either 1:1 or in a group context.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University