Vicki Grove's research is focused on areas of interest related to her teaching. Because of the breadth of subjects of the courses she teaches, she has interests in diverse areas, such as Russian folk belief and its relevance to fairy and folk tale narrative and the representations of superstitious belief and customs in 19th and 20th-century Russian literature; she is also interested in significant literary figures of the 19th century, particularly Lermontov and Dostoevsky. In concert with new curriculum development Vicki Grove has also energetically researched space and climate in Scandinavian and Russian literature. Her recent research includes Nordic studies in folklore, culture, mythology, and Icelandic sagas, and humanistic geography.
keywords
russian history and culture, the medieval period, pre-and post-petrine period, imperial russia, the stalinist era, russian romanticism, realism, and the avant garde, russian folk belief and superstitions, russian fairy tales, russian literature, dostoevsky, tolstoy, norse mythology, nordic cultures, nordic folk belief, icelandic sagas, humanistic geography, nordic film
Teaching
courses taught
FYSM 1000 - First Year Seminar
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2020
Provide first year students with an immersive experience in an interdisciplinary topic that addresses current issues including social, technical and global topics. Taught by faculty from across campus, the course provides students with an opportunity to interact in small classes, have project based learning experiences and gain valuable communication skills. Seminar style classes focused on discussion and projects.
HUMN 4811 - 19th Century Russian Literature
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2024
Surveys background of Russian literature from 1800 to 1900. Russian writers and literary problems in the 19th century emphasizing major authors: Pushkin, Lermontov, Gogol, Dostoevsky, Turgenev, Tolstoy, and Chekhov.
REES 2211 - Russian Culture and Art Under Tsars Great and Terrible
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2023
Explores the cultural history of Russia from the 9th century through 1917. Using visual presentations and reading of primary sources, we will examine closely those rulers whose actions had a significant impact on the development of Russian life, art, and architecture, such as Ivan the Terrible, and Peter I and Catherine II, the �Greats.� No knowledge of Russian required. Taught in English.
REES 2221 - Introduction to Modern Russian and Soviet Culture
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2024
Introduces students to major trends in Russian and Soviet culture from the 1890's to the present, through the study of literature, art, architecture, music and film in an historical context. Addresses such questions as: how have past events affected Russian and post-Soviet society? How can we use knowledge about the past to understand social and cultural forces today? Taught in English. Degree credit not granted for this course and LIBB 2100. Formerly RUSS 2221.
REES 2241 - Death and the Undead in Slavic and Nordic Cultures
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Focuses on the study of beliefs and practices related to the dead as represented in popular culture. This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to representations of the vampire/revenant and other denizens of the undead in Icelandic sagas, Russian epic song, folktales, folklore, literature, and film from the medieval period through contemporary popular culture. Through close analysis of these various sources, this course will focus on the metaphoric usefulness of the �restless undead� in explaining its relentless appearance in cultural artifacts, and pursue the question of why the vampire will not �die,� but instead continues to appeal to modern and post-modern imaginations. Taught in English. Same as SCAN 2241.
REES 3251 - Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2024 / Summer 2024
Explores 19th- and 20th-century Russian and Nordic literature, film and television with a special emphasis on the role of extremes of geography and climate and physical space on the development of plot and character. Taught in English. Same as SCAN 3251.
REES 4811 - Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature
Primary Instructor
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Spring 2024
Explores Russian literature of the 1800s, a remarkable period in literary and political history that witnessed the emergence of nationalism, socialism, and feminism. Reading classic texts by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov alongside lesser-known works that speak to urgent social issues of our own time (identity, class disparity, environmental degradation, and the struggle for civil rights), students will learn interpretive skills that are relevant to a wide range of disciplines today. No knowledge of Russian culture required. Taught in English. Formerly RUSS 4811.
RUSS 2211 - Russian Culture and Art Under Tsars Great and Terrible
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Fall 2020 / Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Explores the cultural history of Russia from the 9th century through 1917. Using visual presentations and reading of primary sources, we will examine closely those rulers whose actions had a significant impact on the development of Russian life, art, and architecture, such as Ivan the Terrible, and Peter I and Catherine II, the �Greats.� No knowledge of Russian required. Taught in English.
RUSS 2221 - Introduction to Modern Russian and Soviet Culture
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Introduces students to major trends in Russian and Soviet culture from the 1890's to the present, through the study of literature, art, architecture, music and film in an historical context. Addresses such questions as: how have past events affected Russian and post-Soviet society? How can we use knowledge about the past to understand social and cultural forces today? Taught in English. Degree credit not granted for this course and LIBB 2100. Formerly RUSS 2221.
RUSS 2231 - Fairy Tales of Russia
Primary Instructor
-
Summer 2018 / Spring 2019 / Summer 2019 / Spring 2020 / Summer 2020 / Fall 2020 / Spring 2023
Provides a general introduction to fairy tales including various theoretical approaches to classifying and interpreting them; introduces students to a wide selection of Russian folk and fairy tales. Examines the cultural, social and political values they reflect, as well as the continuing influence of fairy tales and folk beliefs in Russian literature, music, folk art, and film, and in the political propaganda of the 20th century. Taught in English.
RUSS 2241 - Death and the Undead in Slavic and Nordic Cultures
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
Focuses on the study of beliefs and practices related to the dead as represented in popular culture. This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to representations of the vampire/revenant and other denizens of the undead in Icelandic sagas, Russian epic song, folktales, folklore, literature, and film from the medieval period through contemporary popular culture. Through close analysis of these various sources, this course will focus on the metaphoric usefulness of the �restless undead� in explaining its relentless appearance in cultural artifacts, and pursue the question of why the vampire will not �die,� but instead continues to appeal to modern and post-modern imaginations. Taught in English. Same as SCAN 2241.
RUSS 2471 - Women in Russian Culture: From Folklore to the Nineteenth Century
Primary Instructor
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Fall 2019
Explores the changing role and cultural images of women as reflected in Russian folklore, historical documents, costumes, icons, paintings and literature from medieval times to 19th century. Focuses on the way Russian women have transgressed boundaries of patriarchy and secured powerful positions in society and culture. Taught in English. Approved for GT-AH2.
RUSS 3251 - Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Summer 2022 / Fall 2022 / Summer 2023
Explores 19th- and 20th-century Russian and Nordic literature, film and television with a special emphasis on the role of extremes of geography and climate and physical space on the development of plot and character. Taught in English. Same as SCAN 3251.
RUSS 4811 - Seeds of Revolt: 19th-Century Russian Literature
Primary Instructor
-
Fall 2018 / Spring 2019 / Spring 2020
Explores Russian literature of the 1800s, a remarkable period in literary and political history that witnessed the emergence of nationalism, socialism, and feminism. Reading classic texts by Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov alongside lesser-known works that speak to urgent social issues of our own time (identity, class disparity, environmental degradation, and the struggle for civil rights), students will learn interpretive skills that are relevant to a wide range of disciplines today. No knowledge of Russian culture required. Taught in English. Formerly RUSS 4811.
SCAN 1202 - Tolkien's Nordic Sources and the Lord of the Rings
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021
Examines the Nordic aspect of J.R.R. Tolkien's work, especially The Lord of the Rings. Concentrates on the Nordic saga tradition, mythology, folklore and fairy tales Tolkien used as his sources. Students will explore the transformations of these sources from prehistoric times to contemporary cinematic adaptations, while paying special attention to cultural appropriations, national revisions and political alterations. Taught in English.
SCAN 2241 - Death and the Undead in Slavic and Nordic Cultures
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2023 / Fall 2023 / Fall 2024
Focuses on the study of beliefs and practices related to the dead as represented in popular culture. This interdisciplinary course will introduce students to representations of the vampire/revenant and other denizens of the undead in Icelandic sagas, Russian epic song, folktales, folklore, literature, and film from the medieval period through contemporary popular culture. Through close analysis of these various sources, this course will focus on the metaphoric usefulness of the �restless undead� in explaining its relentless appearance in cultural artifacts, and pursue the question of why the vampire will not �die,� but instead continues to appeal to modern and post-modern imaginations. Taught in English. Same as REES 2241.
SCAN 3251 - Arctic Thrillers: Environment, Landscape and Literature of the Far North
Primary Instructor
-
Spring 2021 / Spring 2022 / Summer 2022 / Fall 2022 / Summer 2023 / Spring 2024 / Summer 2024
Explores 19th- and 20th-century Russian and Nordic literature, film and television with a special emphasis on the role of extremes of geography and climate and physical space on the development of plot and character. Taught in English. Same as REES 3251.
