Russian Culture Week 20233/8/23 - 3/16/23
"The East Slavic languages and their speakers: Socio-cultural history and contemporary status of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian," Lecture by Prof. Curt Woolhiser
6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 | Mandel Reading Room 303
This lecture will provide an overview of the historical evolution and contemporary status of the three major East Slavic languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian. With their roots in the medieval state of Rus’, the three countries share an important common linguistic and cultural heritage, which, in light of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and support for the repressive Lukashenka regime in Belarus, is now, more than ever before, being reevaluated by many Ukrainians and Belarusians. Extensive language shift toward Russian in the Soviet period among both Ukrainians and Belarusians led to a situation in which many citizens of Ukraine (especially in the east and south) and a majority of Belarusian citizens speak primarily Russian rather than the “titular” national language. This situation led to post-Soviet government and grassroots efforts in Ukraine and Belarus to promote the Ukrainian and Belarusian languages as important components of national identity, which, in turn, generated resistance on the part both of some segments of the Russian-speaking Ukrainian and Belarusian population, as well as the government of the Russian Federation, which has made defense and promotion of the Russian language in what it calls the “Russian World” an important component of its foreign policy in relation to former Soviet republics.
Curt Woolhiser is а Lecturer in Russian and Slavic Linguistics at Boston College and an Associate of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. His research interests include comparative Slavic linguistics, sociolinguistic approaches to the study of language variation and change, structural and socio-pragmatic aspects of bilingualism, language policy and language conflict in post-Soviet Eastern Europe and Eurasia, language attitudes and language ideology, language and identity, and language and political borders. In 2013 and 2019 he conducted focus group interviews in a number of cities in Ukraine and Belarus with young “new speakers” of Ukrainian and Belarusian – individuals from Russian-speaking urban families who have consciously switched from Russian to Ukrainian and Belarusian as their primary languages of intra-group communication.
Eastern Slavic Songs Concert
7-8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15 | Mandel Atrium
The Boston-based ensemble ‘Grunya’ performs traditional songs from different regions of Russia, as well as from Ukraine and Belarus. The members of the ensemble are not professional singers; among them are people of different occupations, backgrounds, and ages. Through singing, ‘Grunya’ develops a language environment for the families, supports language skills for the children, discovers the Slavic people's culture and history, and practices a joyful way of celebrating holidays and important life events.
‘Grunya’ will present seasonal ritual songs and spiritual verses from Russian, Ukrainian, and Belarusian traditions. Comic songs will accompany the play of puppets (made by an artist Ksenia Litvak). Spectators will be able to participate in round dances called khorovods and games while listening to the balalaika and gusli tunes.
Русский чай (Russian Tea) Spring 2023
Русский чай will be taking place on Wednesdays and Thursdays during the Spring 2023 semester, from 6-8 p.m. in Shiffman 121. Each event will be themed, with those themes including:
- St. Valentine's Day
- Crafts Night
- April Fools Day
- Board Games Night
and more...
"Broken Ties" Film Screening and Conversation with Andrei Loshak
6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, Mandel G11, and 12:30-1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, Online
The Russian Studies Program is screening the film "Broken Ties," a portrayal of families divided by the current war in Ukraine, on Thursday, October 6. The next day, you will have the opportunity to speak with the film's creator, Andrei Loshak, over Zoom. Please see the separate page for these events (link located in the sidebar) in order to register to attend.
The Hunter and His Game: Seeking Nature in Turgenev's Stories
2:30-3:50 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, Shiffman 123
Fall 2022 Lemon Cake Lecture
Featuring Thomas P. Hodge, Chair of Russian Studies at Wellesley College
"Tango with Putin" Film Screening and Discussion
From 6:30-9 p.m. onday, Sept. 19, the Russian Studies Program hosted a screening of "Tango with Putin" aka "F@ck This Job," followed by a conversation with Natalya Sindeeva, the founder of independent channel "Rain TV" (now banned in Russia), and Vera Krichevskaya, the film's director.
Русский чай (Russian Tea)
Russian Teas will be taking place at 6 p.m. Thursdays during the Fall 2022 semester (with the exception of Nov. 16, which is a Wednesday). As usual, each Русский чай will have a theme, and they will take place in Shiffman 121.
