TIER II – Slavic Folklore (Individuals and Societies)

Slavic Folklore: Vampires and Werewolves
RSSS 315 (Tier 2)
Fall 2008
TTh 3:30 – 4:45 pm      ML 311

Professor George Gutsche
Department of Russian and Slavic Studies (621-7341)
LSB 328. Office hours: 10:30 - 12:00, TTh or by appointment
My office phone and email: 621-7342 (gutscheg@u.arizona.edu)
Course Web Page: http://russian.arizona.edu/courses/vampires
Teaching Assistant: Glen Grover (groverg@u.arizona.edu)
LSB 305. Office hours: Th 1 - 3pm

Course Description

This course will examine two supernatural figures with clear connections to East European folklore – the werewolf and the vampire. Through folklore (historical accounts, recorded testimony, and stories), novels, and films we will investigate the representation of these figures as they develop and migrate from culture to culture in different historical periods. In each society they function differently, taking on different looks, characteristics, and roles that reflect their new settings in complex ways. The scope of the course includes consideration of early folklore accounts, literature from the end of the 18th century to the present, and film representations from 1900 to the present. Class discussions and assignments will help to contextualize the works in the eras and cultures that produced them and will encourage the development of critical reading and writing skills.  Attention will be given to the questions of why we are drawn to such figures, why they are so productive in our society (engendering so many films and novels and televisions series), and how they reflect our social problems relating to identity, violence, sexuality, gender roles, adolescence, ethnicity, and religious belief.

Desired outcomes of the course include: (1) knowledge about Eastern European cultures, in particular vampire and werewolf lore; (2) development of reading and film-viewing skills (which in turn will enhance appreciation for literary and cinematic works); (3) basic familiarity with the terminology and concepts of folklore, literary study and film study; (4) an increased awareness of the ways in which social problems are reflected in popular culture and art; and (5) a better understanding of how beliefs are acquired.

Required Materials

The following are all available at the UA Bookstore:

Bram Stoker, Dracula

Anne Rice, The Vampire Armand

ClassNotes course packet *Readings are to be completed by the date indicated on the schedule of topics.

*Excerpts from films and several complete films will be shown in class for discussion and analysis.

Students will be added to D2L, which is accessible through Student Link.

Important Note: Some of the material in this course (in films, readings, and lectures) presents adult situations with content, language and images that some may find objectionable. Such material relates to unconventional belief systems, violence, and sex. If you are offended or upset by such material, you should not take this course.

Course Requirements and Distribution of Grades

Exams: Two Hour Exams = 30%

Writing Assignments = 30%

Final Exam (Thursday, December 18 2pm - 4pm) = 30%

Attendance and Participation = 10%

Attendance Policy

Each student is allowed ONE unexcused absence for the semester with no penalty. Additional unexcused absences will result in a reduction of the “Attendance and Participation” portion of the final grade.

Honors Credit

Honors students will be accommodated by being asked to explore additional primary and secondary sources which they may be asked to present in the form of a paper or report at a separate meeting. Please contact me by email or see me during office hours if you wish to receive Honors Credit.

Academic Integrity

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).

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.

For policies against threatening behavior by students: http://policy.web.arizona.edu/~policy/threaten.shtml

The website syllabus is the syllabus of record for this course. Information may be changed with reasonable advance notice. I will inform all students of changes with announcements in class and a notice on D2L.

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.

Students with Disabilities

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.

Writing Assignments

Students will be expected to complete a number of (5-8) short writing assignments and to write a term paper (8-10 pages) on a relevant topic. Each topic must be cleared with me in advance. I will provide sample topics. All writing assignments are designed to develop your critical and analytical skills; in many cases the short assignments will be responses to questions or issues raised in class and concerning specific reading or required films.  They should incorporate ideas treated in lectures and discussions as well.

Exams

Exams will consist of some or all of the following components:

1. Short answers: brief factual definitions, significance of works, periods.

2. Identification of: work and artist, periods and dates.
3. Short essays: brief analyses of works based on a statement or question.
4. True or False
5. Multiple Choice

*No books, notes or aids of any sort will be used during the exams
*All exams will be handwritten unless special arrangements have been made in advance.
*NO makeup examinations unless circumstances are extenuating.