Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies Theses and Dissertations

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Open Access
Foreignization and Domestication in Translation on the Example of Alice in Wonderland
(University of Oregon, 2022-10-04) Kostiuchenko, Mariia; Lim, Susanna
In this thesis I would like to compare the principles of domestication and foreignization in translation using the examples of the Russian translations of Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (commonly just Alice in Wonderland) (1865): Аня в стране чудес (Anya v strane chudes/Anya in Wonderland) by a bilingual Russian and American writer Vladimir Nabokov (1923) and Алиса в стране чудес (Alisa v strane chudes/Alice in Wonderland) by a Soviet translator and English philologist Nina Demurova (1966).If Nabokov’s in his translation was guided by the principle of domestication Nina Demurova, on the contrary, used the principle of foreignization in her work. I would like to make a comparative analysis of these two Russian translations and compare them to original in order to find out if the principles used by the translators made a reasonable difference on Russian translations and if they are conveying the original.
Open Access
Maximilian Voloshin between Spirit and Matter
(University of Oregon, 2021-09-13) LEONENKO, ELENA; Presto, Jenifer
This thesis considers in tandem the verbal and visual production of the Russian modernist poet and artist Maximilian Voloshin (1877-1932), whose work, I argue, was polarized between the spiritual and the material realms. This tension between spirit and matter is manifested in his poetry, prose, and visual works, as well as in his life-creation practices (zhiznetvorchestvo). I contend that Voloshin understood his creative task as being to display the true essence of things by purifying ideas or symbols of their material “layers”, thereby recognizing the otherworldly in physical objects. One of Voloshin’s most crucial concepts is the “Apollonian dream”. He understood this as a source of the transcendental that coexists alongside the tangibility and concreteness of his poems and landscapes and his emphasis on form. This spirit-matter dyad is reflective of the profoundly eclectic nature of Voloshin’s creative corpus which emerged at the intersection of Naturalism, Symbolism, and Acmeism.
Open Access
From Aral-Sea to Salt-Soil in Abdizhamil Nurpeisov's "Final Respects". Gender, Kazakh Ecocriticism and the Soviet Modernisation Mirage in the Steppe.
(University of Oregon, 2021-09-13) Zabel, Verena; Lim, Susanna
In my thesis, I am analysing Soviet Kazakh writer Abdizhamil Nurpeisov's novel Final Respects. I argue that Nurpeisov's novel presents both environmentalist criticism and a multivocal description of Soviet Kazakh identity. Nurpeisov's complex social analysis of Kazakh identity is expressed through the narrative style. The narrative structure itself gives voice to multiple points of view through shifting narrative voice(s) and focalisation(s). This reflects the various opinions and worldviews of the Kazakh population, oscillating between traditionality and sovietisation. Neither Soviet influence nor Kazakh identity are depicted as monolithic. Similarly, the novel's ecocriticism and its depiction of women is complex and multifaceted. Women are often essentialised through negative characteristics, but the novel also parallels gender oppression with environmental exploitation. While the juxtaposition of women and nature echoes ecofeminist criticism, the negative essentialisation of women contradicts a direct ecofeminist interpretation.
Open Access
The Networked Public Sphere in Moscow: How Young Adults Navigate Social Media and the Online Space
(University of Oregon, 2020-12-08) Smith, Kyle; Silverman, Carol
In this thesis I examine how social media and the internet function as an alternative to Habermas’ public sphere and their potential to facilitate public discourse in the Russian Federation. Using in-depth interviews conducted in Moscow in 2019, I attempt to show how recent political and social circumstances influence such uses by young adults. To understand actually existing uses of these technologies, I contextualize these interviews within facets of post-Soviet life such as media bias, lack of trust in journalistic institutions and politicians, and political apathy. In this sense, this project has the potential to show how agentive uses of social media and the online space function as an alternative to Habermas’ public sphere within the context of my interlocutors’ lifeworlds.
Open Access
Arcadian Ruins: Remains of the Past in Contemporary Russian Art
(University of Oregon, 2020-09-24) Vikulina, Nadezhda; Presto, Jenifer
This thesis considers the subversive ways contemporary Russian art offers of looking at the ruins left by the recent Soviet past. It focuses on works of poetry and photography that capture the transformation of the landscape of industrial neighborhoods and how the material presence of the remains of the past exist in relation to the space of everyday life and shapes our perception of the present. Galina Rymbu’s poetic depiction of the disintegration of the industrial landscape in the 1990s and the photographic project “Arcadia” by Anastasia Tsayder that captures the abandoned and overgrown Soviet garden cities dwell on these spaces in a way that is utterly non-nostalgic and suggestive of new ways of inhabiting them and weaving them into the plane of the historical now.
Open Access
From Prophecy to Parody: Shamakha in the Russian Romantic Imagination
(University of Oregon, 2019-09-18) Jalilov, Murad; Hokanson, Katya
This thesis seeks to explore the role of the Azerbaijani city of Shamakha and the image of its ruler, the Shamakhan Queen in Pavel Katenin’s "Kniazna Milusha" and Alexander Pushkin’s "Skazka o Zolotom Petushke". In order to interpret these works, it is important to look at the prophetic topos as outlined in Harsha Ram’s book in the Imperial Sublime and see how it was applied to Pushkin’s previous work "Kavkazkii Plennik", which I argue, is being parodied in Katenin’s "Kniazhna Milusha" and takes place in Shamakha, changing the prophetic topos as a result. Pushkin, on the other hand, considers "Kniazhna Milusha" as a literary challenge and writes "Skazka o Zolotom Petushke" as a response, where the character of the Shamakhan Queen reappears and is much more sinister than in "Kniazhna Milusha". Pushkin is successful in inverting the prophetic topos and making it somewhat "demonic" as a result.
Open Access
Akram Aylisli, Village Prose, World Literature
(University of Oregon, 2019-09-18) Orte, Peter; Hokanson, Katya
This thesis takes Akram Aylisli’s Farewell, Aylis as an occasion to dwell on World Literature. Tracing Aylisli’s development as a Soviet writer of Azerbaijani “village prose,” I follow the displacements of the village enacted in his recent works. These displacements reflect Aylisli’s response to the violent events associated with the end of the Soviet Union in the South Caucasus. While carrying on the traditions of “village prose” in a way, Aylisli stands against the chauvinistic forces that conscripted many of its leading figures in Russia. Aylisli’s response rather involves 1) addressing taboo histories of communal violence denied by nationalist mythologies and 2) claiming kinship with authors beyond the established national literature of Azerbaijan. In this sense, he practices a version of the idea—old, yet revolutionary—that “poetry is the universal possession of humankind.” This thesis contains previously published material.
Open Access
Aspectual Prefix Variation in the Novel Russian Verbs
(University of Oregon, 2019-01-11) Gordeeva, Ksenia; Vakareliyska, Cynthia
The study compared prefix variation in novel verbs to prefix variation in standard Russian. Thirty-seven native speakers of Russian participated in the designed experiment. The experiment elicited the perfective verbs formed from the borrowed English nouns. The novel prefixed perfective verbs attested during the experiment were analyzed in comparison with databases for CSR. The analysis revealed significant prefix variation among the novel perfective verbs. It is caused by the broad semantics of the novel verbs and the absence of the restrictions and rules in the language for their formation. The aspectual prefix za- demonstrated dominance over other prefixes in the formation of the perfective forms. The Overlap Hypothesis has proven effective for the prediction of the prefixes used for the perfectivization on the basis of the semantic tie between the prefix and the verb’s base.
Open Access
The Physiology of Literature: A.A. Ukhtomskii and the Principle of the Dominant
(University of Oregon, 2018-09-06) Osadchuk, Svetlana; Hokanson, Katya
THESIS ABSTRACT Svetlana R. Osadchuk Master of Arts Russian, and East European, and Eurasian Studies Program June 2018 Title: The Physiology of Literature: A.A. Ukhtomskii and The Principle of The Dominant Russian physiologist Aleksei Alekseevich Ukhtomskii played exceptional role in the development of Russian humanities in general and Russian literary studies in particular; of special interest is his significant influence on the early works of Mikhail Bakhtin. He discovered and introduced into the scientific circulation the dominant principle that has become a point of departure in developing different important concepts such as dominant, chronotope, dialogue and others. This thesis, in a way, is a genealogical recounting of early 20th century Russian literary theory in light of its associations with the work of Ukhtomskii and a demonstration how his ideas can be used in further literary studies.
Open Access
Russia's Hybrid Warfare: The Prowess and Limitations of Putin's (In)Visible Hand in Estonia and Latvia
(University of Oregon, 2017-09-06) Casselman, Rachel; Hessler, Julie
Russia’s recent increase in acts of aggression against bordering nations is concerning. After Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, many wondered if the world should anticipate a Baltic intervention. This paper seeks to analyze this question through a comparative study of Russia’s recent interventions in Georgia and Ukraine, an analysis of the Estonian and Latvian Russian-speaking population, and an analysis of the NATO alliance’s strengths and weaknesses in deterring a possible Russian threat. From my analysis, I conclude that a conventional Baltic intervention is unlikely. However, I also conclude that the NATO alliance is not prepared to counter non-conventional acts of aggression and that these tactics could become more common in international conflicts. Therefore, I also conclude that a non-conventional Baltic intervention from Russia is possible and, consequently, the alliance should re-examine its framework.
Open Access
Can the United States and Russia Cooperate? Analyzing the results of bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the Syrian conflict
(University of Oregon, 2017-09-06) Ward, Peter; Hessler, Julie
The discourse regarding US/Russia relations focuses intensely on the competitive nature between these two powers. Policy makers echo strategies of the past by making recommendations which embrace competitiveness and mutual mistrust as unavoidable characteristics for future relations. Although these perspectives are not entirely misled, they fall short of illustrating the finer nuances of relations. This paper offers an extensive analysis of three instances of cooperation between the US and Russia in Syria between 2011 and 2017 in order to offer concrete observations about how these antagonistic powers work together. The analysis shows that although the US and Russia are competitive and often have opposing agendas, this does not necessarily prevent them from cooperative engagement that produces substantive results. Their polarity can even contribute to more effective cooperation. This paper also draws conclusions about what circumstances improve the effectiveness of US/Russia cooperation and makes recommendations for future mutual efforts in Syria.
Open Access
Perception of pragmatic appropriateness of Russian Imperatives: The Case of L2 Learners and Heritage Learners of Russian
(University of Oregon, 2016-10-27) Tsylina, Marina; Mikhaylova, Anna
The study compared 10 fluent second language learners (L2Ls) and 10 heritage learners of Russian (HLs) to monolingual controls (n=20) in their judgments of the subtle nuances of aspectual usage in direct positive and negative imperative structures. The participants were asked to rate the appropriateness of pairs of imperative sentences differing in the aspectual form of the verb against the suggested discourse context. The analysis of the ratings revealed assumed deviations from the baseline in L2Ls. The HLs also revealed deviations, but unexpectedly, did not follow the baseline tendencies of the control monolingual group. Frequency and learning experience are some of the possible explanations of these finding and implications for pedagogy.
Open Access
The Paradoxical Interrelationship of Church and State in Post-Communist Russia: The Rise and Manifestation of Power via the Prism of LGBTQIA Rights
(University of Oregon, 2016-10-27) Zhdanov, Alekcander; Hessler, Julie
The Russian Orthodox Church is seeking to reestablish a leadership role in the spiritual health of the citizenry in post-Communist Russia via a concerted effort to forge an alliance with the Russian government, regardless of the secular constitution. Commencing with perceived preferential legislation, the Church has risen to heightened influence that is subsequently being used to disenfranchise non-traditional sexual communities. This paper offers an extensive cross-examination of legislation and intersectionality that highlights the incongruities of this alliance via international, federal, and religious documents, legal case law, polling data and more to purport that the Church encompasses a higher degree of complexity than was previously assumed, including non-religious self-identification. Ultimately, this paper concludes that the Church, in its current form, functions more as an agency of the State than as a religious entity. Lastly, this paper neither defends nor anathematizes the merits of any theological tenet.
Open Access
The Eye in Lermontov’s "A Hero of Our Time": Perception, Visuality, and Gender Relations
(University of Oregon, 2016-10-27) Zagoruyko, Iryna; Hokanson, Katya
This thesis views Lermontov’s novel "A Hero of Our Time" as centered on images, glances and vision. In his text Lermontov conveys a persistent fascination with visual perception. The attentive reader can read this language of the eye—the eye can be seen as a mirror of the soul, a fetish, a means of control, and a metaphor for knowledge. The texts that form the novel are linked together by a shared preoccupation with the eye. At the same time, these texts explore the theme of visual perception from different angles, and even present us with different attitudes towards vision. Some are guided by literature, some—by science and physiognomy, and some—by spiritualism and imagination. Since imagination—the lack of it and more often an excess of it—is a persistent motif of the novel, this thesis also explores metaphorical blindness in "A Hero of Our Time."
Open Access
Orphic Mythologemes in Marina Tsvetaeva’s Oeuvre
(University of Oregon, 2016-02-23) Savenko-Moore, Anastasia; Presto, Jenifer
This thesis explores Orphic mythologemes and tropes in Marina Tsvetaeva’s works in order to identify whether they create a personalized semantic system in her oeuvre. I review such themes as the “supernatural powers” of the archetypal poet, the descent to the underworld, the return from the dead, and the dismemberment and subsequent appearance of Orpheus’s head. I study in detail the trope of the severed head in Tsvetaeva’s poetics and her understanding of poetry as Land with its physical and metaphysical realms. I discuss a question: which persons might Tsvetaeva have associated with Orpheus? I examine the guises of the lyrical “I” and its associations with mythological or literary personae. I argue that Tsvetaeva demonstrated resistance and opposition towards the Orphic/Apollonian paradigms; above the authority of the "archetypal poet Orpheus" she introduced and established the authority of the Genius who leads "poets with a history."
Open Access
"To Rasshcheplennoe Iadro": From Lucretian Swerve to Sundered Core in Shalamov’s Atomnaia poema
(University of Oregon, 2015-08-18) Larson, Kirstin; Hokanson, Katya
Varlam Shalamov's Atomnaia poema addresses a primordial "wish to split" at the core of nature and within the human heart. This wish to split is informed by Shalamov's Gulag experience as well as his reflections on Auschwitz and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Whereas Lucretius interprets an atomic tendency to swerve as an indication of free will, Atomnaia poema posits an atomic proclivity to split, that is, to self-destruct and destroy others. Atomnaia poema weighs the role of science, "its verses and its faith," in this destruction. Neither a treatise nor didactic counsel, Atomnaia poema is a conversation between physics and poetry, human and world, held in a "third language" whose rhyme and rhythm carry an emotional impact rather than a cognitive load. Splitting its own elements as it grieves the splitting atom, Shalamov pursues "Ovid's epiphany," releasing what is "housed in a single verse."
Open Access
Beyond the Feminine in Pushkin's Tatiana
(University of Oregon, 2015-08-18) Spreat, Eric; Hokanson, Katya
Pushkin's Tatiana tends to be pigeonholed by criticism that acknowledges her dynamism and openness to creative possibilities but restricts her intertextual significance to the heroines of the European novelists she herself reads. I argue that only by viewing her as the construction of a narrator who relies heavily on the stylistics of Karamzin and Zhukovsky can Tatiana be pulled out of such narrow confines. By tracing the thread of these Russian texts in the novel in verse, I will show that they often beg comparison not with their predecessors' heroines but with their male counterparts. Tatiana’s ambiguous characterization when read in conjunction with "Domik v Kolomne" (1830) shows the explicit gender parodies that Onegin only hints at. Using this text, I will ultimately consider Tatiana as an example of the ambivalence of Pushkin's heroine-muse in relation to his own participation in the ‘ballad question’ of the early 19th century.
Open Access
Poetics of Lev Tolstoy's Kholstomer
(University of Oregon, 2014-09-29) Forehand, Paul; Hokanson, Katya
This thesis contains an analysis of the ways in which form and content are combined to create significance within a text, as well as an exploration of the ways in which the mechanics of didactic fiction convey this significance to the reader.
Open Access
Gender Assignment of Russian Indeclinable Nouns
(University of Oregon, 2014-09-29) Wang, Qiang; Vakareliyska, Cynthia
This thesis analyzes the grammatical gender assignment of Russian indeclinable nouns. Chapter I focuses on gender and agreement in Russian nouns. Previous assignment models failed to account for the non-neuter gender of a number of indeclinable nouns. Chapter II proposes a gender assignment mechanism of indeclinable nouns, including an Absolute Semantic Criterion, a Morphosemantic Criterion Based on Hypernyms and Synonyms and a Neuter Filter. Chapter III deals with the methodology of the experiment involving ten native speakers on gender assignment of indeclinable nouns. In the experiment subjects were given sentence tokens in which they were required to select gender agreement morphemes corresponding to their perception of the gender of 62 indeclinable nouns, and they were asked to identify the gender of four out-of-context nonce nouns. Chapter IV analyzes the result of the experiment and shows that the gender assignment mechanism accounts for the actual assignment patterns by native speakers.
Open Access
Representations of Revolution and Revolutionaries in Early Twentieth Century Russian Literature
(University of Oregon, 2014-09-29) Moore, Rick; Presto, Jenifer
The representation of Revolution and revolutionaries develops as one of the main themes in Russian literary texts of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It would not be an overstatement to say that most active writers during this time referred to these themes in their works. These themes developed in consort with the historical and political developments occurring within the country. The literature of the twentieth century led to a culmination in the understanding of this complex topic. This thesis will present an analysis of several types of Revolutionary characters and their concepts of what Revolution is and should be. It will present an overview of Revolution's origin and development as a background of early twentieth century Russian literary works. The close reading of the selected twentieth century works will be discussed within the body of this thesis. In particular we will review Alexander Blok's poem The Twelve, Isaac Babel's collection of stories Red Cavalry, Vladimir Zazubrin's The Chip: A Story about a Chip and About Her, and Boris Savinkov's Pale Horse.