RUSS 16
Russian Spies in DC: FX's The Americans Winter 2020

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Class Details

From the beginning of the Cold War to the present, the presence of Russian intelligence operatives in the nation’s capital has been the subject of fascination and speculation. In this course, we will examine the FX Channel’s series The Americans, in light of both the popular imaginary about Russian spies in the United States and the actual history of intelligence wars in Washington. How does the series represent the lives of Russian political and intelligence operatives during the Reagan presidency, and how does it interpret the larger events of the Cold War in its final decade? Readings will draw from accounts on both side of the Cold War, focusing on signature developments such as Jewish immigration from the Soviet Union, the covert biological weapons programs, and Soviet attempts to build relations with progressive movements in the United States. Prior to the beginning of the course, students are expected to view the first two seasons of the series. Adjunct Instructor Bio: Alexandar Mihailovic has taught at Bennington College, Williams College, and Brown and Columbia Universities. His books include *Corporeal Words: Mikhail Bakhtin’s Theology of Discourse,* *Mitki: The Art of Postmodern Protest in Russia*, and the edited volume *Tchaikovsky and His Contemporaries: A Centenary Symposium.” He has also published articles about cultural relations during the Cold War, African-American studies, art history, and cinema studies.
The Class: Format: lecture
Limit: 20
Grading: pass/fail only
Requirements/Evaluation: 10-page paper and final project or presentation
Prerequisites: none
Enrollment Preferences: discretion of the instructor
Materials/Lab Fee: $22

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