SCAND 345 A: Baltic Cultures

Instructor: Guntis Šmidchens, guntiss@uw.edu
[pdf copy of syllabus]

Course Objectives

• Encounter Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian culture:
  • two books;
  • about thirty poems and songs;
  • a bunch of movies and musical recordings
• Learn historical context useful to interpreting these Baltic cultural texts
• Cross the cultural divide—bring Baltic culture to life in  "performance"
  (during class meetings, for example, read & give voice to Baltic poems). 

Required Readings

• Andrus Kivirähk, The Man Who Spoke Snakish
• Žemaitė, Marriage for Love
  
• Other readings and videos, available on this Canvas website

Grades:

33% Contributions to discussions:

• 5x (at least) online posts about books we’re reading [Literary Arts = VLPA]
• 5x (at least) online posts about films or artworks we’re watching [Visual Arts = VLPA]
• 3x lead, in-class poetry discussion [Performative Arts = VLPA]

33% Baltic cultures content

• 3x VLPA response essays/book reviews/creative responses: written, audio or video
• 3x peer reviews of classmates’ essays
• 10x weekly quizzes

33% Final presentation (Thursday Dec 17, 10:30-12:20).

• Present one of your responses orally in-class, and
• Submit a portfolio of your three favorite essays online.
• variations to this final assignment are possible. Talk to the instructor.