B7. A Cultural History of Russia (Flynn) (Tuesday)

This course offers a description and evaluation of the choices that successive generations of Russians have made in attempting to build a good society, meeting the need for security, economic viability, and the ideology that expresses the highest aspirations and values of the society. We will use the interpretation made by James H. Billington (Princeton professor and distinguished librarian of the Library of Congress) as the basis for discussion.  Some of the topics we will cover are the main stages of Russian history; Orthodox religion; Westernization; Democracy and the masses; and present choices.  **The first class will be held at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton.

GROUP LEADER:  James Flynn began his study of Russia in the U.S. Army Language School in 1956. He earned his PhD in Russian history at Clark University in 1964. He taught (happily!) Russian history at the College of the Holy Cross for more than forty years. His professional research and writing focused on the history of universities and churches in Russia. His work as teacher and scholar was supported by appointments in many scholarly institutions, including Russian Research Center Harvard University (Associate 1970-2001), Leningrad University (Fulbright Fellow), Kennan Institute of Wilson Center (Washington DC), and National Endowment for the Humanities (Fellow).  He is currently a docent at the Museum of Russian Icons.

OPTIONAL BOOK:  The Face of Russia, James H. Billington. (New York, 1998). ISBN# 978-1575001043