Newcastle University

Aims

The states in eastern Europe have faced fundamental changes with the fall of socialism. These changes were political and economical but impacted, and continue to impact, in unprecedented ways on people's everyday lives: from changing notions of the person, senses of identity, collective values, to experience of time. Moreover they have caused a continuous re-shaping of memory and remembering for individuals, groups and nations which need to build new senses of nationality and national history in the aftermath of one of the greatest political transformations of this century. Twenty years after the ‘fall of socialism’ these processes are ongoing and allow us insights into the creation of history, memory and nostalgia – as well as insights into what it means to be eastern European and, in reflection, western European (if those categories really do exist).

The module seeks to explore the making of new and old states, nations and cultures, after this monumental transformation, anthropologically; focusing on aspects of culture, identity, social structure, nation-building and memory. Simultaneously, the module casts a critical eye on developments in the discipline itself that arose from the fall of socialism and the meeting of academics from East and West.

The module introduces students to the anthropology of eastern Europe. It seeks to provide an overview of the various ways in which these momentous changes have been explored and issues currently at the forefront of the academic literature on this region. It further introduces students to the critical reading of ethnographic texts and widens their understanding of the discipline of anthropology.

The main objectives are:

To develop students' knowledge and awareness of current anthropology through an exploration of the literature that focuses on eastern Europe.
To introduce students to the study of rapid social and cultural change.
To explore, through case studies, anthropological concepts of memory, remembering, nostalgia and nation-building in particuar.
To develop students' abilities in reading ethnographical texts critically, to apply knowledge from different sources to inform their reading, and to develop skills to argue logically and analytically, both orally and in writing.

Outline Of Syllabus

The module begins with introductions to anthropology and ethnography, and some fundamentals on socialism and communism as economical, political and social systems in eastern Europe; a seminar introduces students to the critical reading of ethnographic texts.

The second part of the module explores the question of change and continuity during the transformation in the early 1990s using examples of the ‘fast-track transition- East Germany’, of changing notions of self and society, and consumption and ritual in lectures and in seminars (the notion of time, film discussion). This content will be exemplified with a film showing (Good Bye Lenin). The seminars will continue to focus on critical reading which also functions as preparation for assignment one.

In the third part the module focuses on questions of nation-building with regard to the memory of socialism and nostalgia, casts a critical eye on developments in the discipline of anthropology itself as eastern and western ethnographers meet. Lectures will explore the question of nation-building and memory through considering the development of museums and memorials, policy responses to the ‘legacy’ of surveillance and oppression in socialism, life-stories of ordinary citizens and ‘victims’ of socialist regimes and thus the ‘politics of memory’ that are now unfolding. Two film showings will exemplify some of the issues and seminars will enable in-depth discussion of examples. The final lecture serves as a feedback and Q&A session.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module is structured into three parts. The first two lectures and first seminar introduce students to the study of postsocialist change in eastern Europe. The following four lectures, three seminars and one film showing seek to explore particular aspects of this change through particular examples from a range of countries. The film exemplifies the taught content, the seminars also exemplify the content but furthermore allow the development and practice of critical reading skills and the practices of the synthesis of learned content with the literature. The third part of the module is the longest and in four lectures, two seminars and two film showings it explores questions of nation-building, memory and identity. The seminars again serve to practice the critical reading of ethnographic texts and critical viewing of films through discussion, they help clarify concepts in discussion, and practice analytical skills with regard to different materials. Student presentations during one seminar in preparation of assignment one will be used to ensure that learning outcomes are met as well as to consolidate learning and skills outcomes.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The literature review asks students to review an ethnography critically and to situate it within the context of a wider literature. This assignment tests and enhances critical and analytical reading skills as well as literacy (synthesis of texts), it also requires students to become acquainted with one case-example and thus one country in depth, enhancing cultural and gobal awareness.

The essay allows for in-depth exploration of themes covered by the module thus testing learning outcomes with regard to both knowledge and skills.
Both assignments are preceded by formative assessment plans which are optional for students.

Reflecting moves to standardise a resit assessment strategy within GPS, the resit will be 100% formal examination, length 3 hours.