SCAND 345 A: Baltic Cultures

Instructor: Guntis Šmidchens, guntiss@uw.edu
Class meets Mondays and Wednesdays 12:30-2:20, Benson Hall 115

Course Objectives

• Encounter Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian culture:
  • Read three popular books, watch three acclaimed movies
  • and numerous songs & poems from the long tradition of Baltic national identities.
• Learn historical context useful to interpreting these Baltic cultural texts
• Cross the cultural divide—interpret Baltic culture and bring it to life in your own words

This course satisfies the General Education requirements for Arts & Humanities or Social Sciences; Writing Credit is also available. 

Grades & Assignments

50% Contributions to discussions:

• Graded discussions online and in-class

40% Baltic cultures content

• 3x reviews/response essays/creative responses (written, audio or video).
  Drafts due during the quarter; then revised & resubmitted in your final portfolio
• (short quizzes for readings content/prompt for class discussion)

10% Final presentation of one essay

Required Readings (please bring your copy to class, for discussion!)

• Andrus Kivirähk, The Man Who Spoke Snakish (on sale at UW Bookstore)
• Žemaitė, Tofylis. Or, the Marriage of Zosė (on sale at UW Bookstore)
• Augusts Bels, The Cage (used print copies available at various booksellers; backup digital copy will be available)

Required movies (rent online)

• Flow (if it's still running in Seattle theaters)
• Blizzard of Souls (rent or watch for free on Amazon Prime) 
• How We Played the Revolution (rent on Vimeo, $1.99)
• Smoke Sauna Sisterhood (rent on Amazon Prime $4.99 or Vimeo $4.42)

Schedule of Lecture topics will be posted before the first class meeting.