Course Description:
This
course provides a cultural-historical overview of the peoples of
the Balkans, e.g., Bosnians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenians, Macedonians,
Bulgarians, Albanians, Romanians, Greeks, and various others (Roma and Vlachs).
Consideration will also be given to Turks and Hungarians because of the role
they have played (and continue to play) in Balkan culture and political life. Several crucial
issues will occupy the center of our attention: identity (ethnic, national,
linguistic, and personal), nationalism, religion, disintegration, conflict,
conflict resolution, and war crimes.
One focus will be on the development of national identity as seen by the peoples themselves and by others. We will explore the various social, historical, and cultural factors that influence a group's concept of themselves as a nationality as well as the means by which that self-concept is expressed. Another focus is the meaning of the term "Balkanization" which is currently used as a negative term to refer to the fragmentation of peoples according to nationality, religion, and ethnicity. The term could also be used less pejoratively for describing common developments and characteristics unique to the languages of the Balkan Peninsula, particularly in the fields of linguistics, literature and anthropology. There will be a special emphasis on reconstruction efforts in the Balkans following the conflicts of the 1990s (in Bosnia, Kosovo/a, Croatia and Serbia), and social disorientation following the replacement of Communist governments at the end of the 1980s. In addition, much attention will be devoted to the current cultural and political situation in these areas.
Here is a summary then of topics that will be included in the reading
and class discussion. It is subject to change depending upon the developments in
the Balkans. Basic terms relating to identity, ethnicity, and nationality
Historical and geographic overview of the Balkans Empires and the Balkans
(Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian) Mythology, fiction, and history
Religious Identity The arts: literature and film Linguistic Identity and
Languages of the Balkans Cultural Identity: Music, Dance and Food The Problem of
Kosovo (Kosova) The Macedonian Question Identity and Civil War The US, European
Union and NATO in the Balkans Current economic, political, and cultural issues
(tourism, European Union membership).
Course Format and Requirements:
This course will be in a lecture/discussion format with a significant media component. Several films will be shown during the semester; students will be expected to view these films, and to do the required reading. Regular attendance and active participation is required and will play a role in the semester grade. Approximately four or five writing assignments (some in class) will be given.
Grading:
First
hour exam: 25%; second hour exam: 25%; writing: term paper and writing
assignments 20%; final exam (Th, May 14, 2-4pm): 30%
Note: the
"writing" component above (20%) includes a relatively short term paper, in-class
or email assignments, and one take-home topic question to be written out at the
time of the final exam.
Exams. The purpose of the exams is to help you acquire a basic factual knowledge and improve your memorization skills. The writing assignments are designed to ensure that you keep up with the lectures and readings. There is too much information here to cover in an all-night cram session.
Major writing assignment:
a 10-page paper on a relevant topic of your choice. The topic must be cleared
with me and you must have at least one meeting with me during office hours to
discuss what you plan to do. I may ask you to do a draft and submit it by a
deadline in early April. A list of topics will be posted on the class website.
For help with your writing, click here.
The papers are
designed to help you develop your critical reading and analytical skills, and to
help you learn to articulate your thoughts and express them effectively. Papers
also encourage your engagement in the course and your interest in the subject
matter.
Required Books:
Kaplan, R. Balkan Ghosts.
Andrić,
I. Bridge on the Drina.
Drakulić,
S. S. A Novel about the Balkans.
Drakulić,
S. They Would Never Hurt a Fly.
Kadare, I. Three-Arched Bridge
Additional
reading (recommended but not required):
Mazower, M. The Balkans.
Hupchik, D. Concise Historical Atlas of Eastern Europe.
Kadare, I. Broken April
Class schedule and important class information will be posted on the course website (here): http://russian.arizona.edu/courses/balkans. All students will be added to D2L; grades and other information will be posted here.
Each student is allowed 2 unexcused absences for the semester with no penalty. Occasionally I will ask students to write a paragraph about assigned reading or a film we have been viewing. It is important to be in class for this exercise (which will constitute part of the "writing" grade); no make-up will be given. Make-up exams may be given if conditions are extraordinary. Students must contact me before the exam.
Honors students will be accommodated by being asked to explore additional primary and secondary sources which they will present to each other in separate discussion sessions. Honors students will be expected to write a more extensive research paper (15 typed pages) which ideally incorporates these additional sources and ideas developed in discussion sessions.
The
following misconduct is subject to disciplinary action: all forms of student
academic dishonesty including cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic
dishonesty, and plagiarism (Student Handbook, 1991092, pp. 53-4).
Refer to the Code of Academic Integrity, copies of which are available in the
Office of the Dean of Students and on the web.
For Policies against threatening behavior by
students:
http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml
Plagiarism will be avoided if you use this statement as a guide: “Whenever you consciously borrow any important element from someone else, any sentence, any colorful phrase or original term, any plan or idea – say so, either in a footnote, a bibliography, or parentheses (Academic Honesty in the Writing of Essays and Other Papers, Carleton College, 1990). It is best to express the ideas you use in your own words but words and ideas that some from someplace or someone else must be cited.
Students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations to fully appreciate in course activities or meet course requirements must register with the Disability Research Center at 621-3268 (V/TTY). If you qualify for services through DRC, please bring your letter of accommodations to me as soon as possible.
Holidays
All holidays or special events observed by organized
religions will be honored for those students who show affiliation with that
particular religion.
Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean's designee) will be
honored.
The website syllabus is the syllabus of record for this
course. Information may be changed with reasonable advance notice. I will inform
all students on the listserv and in class of all changes.
Note: some of the material in this
course (in films, readings, and lectures) presents adult situations and contains
content that some may find objectionable (relating to language, violence, and
sex). If you are offended by such material, you should not take this course.
Keeping up with current developments in the Balkans: click HERE for the news.
Schedule:
Week 1
Introduction. Terminology; geography. PPT. Map of the Balkans (blank).
Week
2
More geography; overview of Balkan history; begin reading Kaplan (Prologue)
More history: Byzantine, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian Empires; begin reading Andrić's Bridge on the Drina. PPT PPT2
Week 3
History continued; timelines and periods; read Kaplan, Chapter One (Croatia); Maps of Croatia. PPT, PPT2
Kaplan, Chapter Two (Old Serbia and Albania); continue with Bridge (53-101). Film: Tito and Me
Week 4
Kaplan, Chapter Three (Macedonia) and Chapter Four (Serbia: Beograd); map of Serbia.
The Balkans in the 20th century: the first Balkan
wars and World War I. Continue with Andrić, 102-153.
PPT pptb
Week 5
History continued; check out NYTimes article on Sarajevo: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/travel/05sarajevo.html (printer link); Andrić 154-199 this week. ppt5 ppt5b
The Balkans between the wars; more on Yugoslavia. PPT Film: Before the Rain
Week 6
The Balkans during World War II; study guide for first exam. Andrić, 200-56. PPT (Assassination clip)
Yugoslavia after the war. Review for exam. PPT Summary (as Web Pages); Film and Andrić Summary; writing assignment: outline of Kaplan, Chapter 3 (due Thursday).
Week 7
First Exam (on Tuesday); be sure you have finished Andrić. See links page for BBC on Kosovo.
Ulysses' Gaze (finish); Bosnia issues; film: Welcome to Sarajevo. Begin reading Kadare for next week. PPT
Week 8
More on Bosnia. Breakup of Yugoslavia; Sarajevo article on BBC site. PPT
Background on Kosovo/a and Albania. Read Kadare. PPT
Week 9
The Wars of the 90s: Slovenia vs. Serbia; Kadare: finish. PPT
More on the wars if the 90s. Have you chosen a topic for your paper yet? Click here. NYT article on Belgrade. PPT
Spring Break (3/14-22)
Week 10
Wars of the 90s: Serbia vs. Croatia. Begin reading Drakulić's S. PPT
Quiz on No Man's Land. Return to Kaplan: Romania (Chapters 5-7).
Week 11
Wars of the 90s continued: Bosnia vs. Serbia (and Croatia). Finish Drakulić's S for discussion on 4/9. PPT
Romania continued, Kaplan (Chapters 8-11). SPPT
Week 12
Study guide for second exam. Begin reading Drakulić's They Would Never Hurt a Fly. ppt
NPR interview of Christian Mungiu: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18384538
A.O. Scott on new Romanian films: HERE
California Dreamin' (http://www.californiadreaminendless.com/index.html)
Kaplan on Romania (final remarks); review for exam; read Drakulić through 65. PPT
Week 13
Exam 2 (Tuesday, April 14, 2009)
Read Kaplan on Bulgaria (Chapters 12-14); read Drakulic, pp. 66-83. PPT
Week 14
War crimes in
the Balkans; Kaplan on Bulgaria; Drakulić, 84-121.
PPT PPT2
Finish Kaplan on Bulgaria; Drakulić
continued; Bosnia again.
Possible paper
topics; Roma
topics ; and even more
topics.
Week 15
Kaplan in Greece; Roma and other groups; Migration map; Drakulić, 122-160. Links. ppt ppt2
More on Greece and Greek culture.
Week 16
The future of the Balkans. Drakulić, 161-207. Term paper due Friday, May 9, by 5pm. Final Study Guide will be posted by Wednesday, May 7. PPT
Final Exam: Thursday, May 14, 2-4pm
Films relevant to the course:
Tito and Me*
Father Went Away on Business
Before the Rain*
Shadows
Underground
Pretty Village Pretty Flame
Harrison's Flowers
Welcome to Sarajevo*
No Man's Land*
The Professional*
Savior
Zorba the Greek
Never on Sunday
Z
Ulysses' Gaze*
Rembetiko
4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days*
California Dreamin'*
12:10 to Bucharest
L'America
Excerpts from documentaries and feature films will be shown in class. Films with an asterisk are discussed in class.
Children 2000
