Author Archives: marrowb

I am interested in analyzing this passage from Kataev’s “Time Forward”: Nalbandov was deaf. He refused to hear. Amortization and quality, he thought to himself. His glance glided carelessly over the room. Everywhere-newspapers, newspapers, newspapers … Newspapers spotted with portraits … Continue reading →

For class on Monday, we read Irina Paperno’s succinct summary of Symbolist aesthetics during the beginning of the 20th century in Russia. While focusing primarily on the literary methods and theories of the symbolists, Paperno also contextualizes the historical views … Continue reading →

On page 337, Saunders uses a citation to summarize The Peoples Will’s philosophy on force and violence: Their prime concern was the acquisition of force. ‘Is terror necessary? Are newspapers necessary? Is a change of programme necessary? Is activity among … Continue reading →

I am curious as to how one might consider Stalin’s creation of a new Communist elite a fulfillment of some of the points Lenin outlines in his 1902 pamphlet “What is to be done?” Did Lenin have in mind the … Continue reading →

I could not help but notice a serious divide among the men’s and women’s etiquette laid out in The Honorable Mirror for Youth. Men were encouraged to abstain from hooliganism, nose-picking, fish soup splattering etc. and partake in a “vigorous” … Continue reading →

I cannot help but notice a contradiction in Lenin’s outlining of his ideal revolutionary party–namely that Lenin simultaneously depends upon and shuns nationalism. On pages 293-95, for example, Lenin outlines the need for an “All-Russian” newspaper which will serve as … Continue reading →

So far, we have read texts providing for a governmental “revolution” written by emperors themselves. The texts we have read for Monday’s class are thus unique in that they were written by members of a “military intelligentsia” who lacked the … Continue reading →

I am interested in how Catherine articulates her relationship to Peter the Great in her legislative document. As a ruler, and especially as a “reformer,” historical narrative is vital to pushing through political reforms. At first, she casts Peter as … Continue reading →