Spotlight

Russian Tea

Liberty after Liberalism: Emancipatory Struggles in Ukrainian Journalism, 1998-2021

April 9, 2024

TIME CHANGE: April 8, 2024, 5:15pm

March 25, 2024

March 18, 2024

Ukraine's Patronal Democracy and The Russian Invasion

Women as Sexual Beings Under Communism

How the State Interest in Reproduction Inspired Research on the Female Orgasm and How the Pro-Family Policies Fueled Divorce

December 11, 2023, 5:30pm

Russian Policy Towards Belarus after 2020: At a Turning Point?

November 8, 3:30pm, Claire Fagin Hall Auditorium

The Temptation of Saint Tony - A Movie Screening

A Fall Quizz

REES Majors and More Dinner

RSVP by October 11.

ERASE THE NATION, a Film Screening

A Talk by Jengishbek Karagulov on Community Activism in Refugee Communities

Secret Documents in Soviet Ukraine and the Making of The Face of Fire

The Baltic Gothic and the Russian Imperial Imagination

REEES Working Group and Penn REES Colloquium present:

Valeria Sobol

Slavic Department, University of Illinois

REEESne 2023

REEESNe 2023 Student Conference and Slavic Bazaar

Open Mic Party

A party to celebrate the end of the Fall semester with food, singing, dancing, and other fun activities.

The Newest Book by Dr. Ghodsee

The Newest Book by Dr. Ghodsee

Slavic Bazaar

April 15 in Max Kade Center at Penn

The Soviet Issue: A Jewish Currents Reading and Release Party

April 5, 6pm

Stiteler Hall B6

Poland's Constitutional Breakdown, a Book Talk

April 1, 2022, 12pm - postponed from February 25

Cheburashka Collective

Kentomania: A Black Basketball Virtuoso in Communist Poland

The Polish Heritage Speakers Class and The Polish Club at UPenn are organizing a Zoom Talk with Kent Washington based on his recently published memoir. Register HERE

Yellow Star, Red Star: Holocaust Remembrance After Communism

March 18, 12noon

How to Make Verse According to Professor Joseph Brodsky

Info Session on Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

February 25, 2022, 12pm, Perry World House

Russian Conversation Hour

Kvartirnik: Open Mic Night

December 8, 6pm

Houston Hall, Bistro Room

Cold War or Cold Peace? Russia, America, & the New World Disorder

December 1, 5pm, College Hall 200

Blue Shield Georgia and Its Work with the Heritage Community

More info here

Слухи, байки и фейки о коронавирусе в России - New Date: Oct 6

Dr. Alexandra Arkhipova (Research Center for East European Studies at the University of Bremen, Center for Typological and Semiotic Folklore Studies Russian State University for the Humanities)

New Date: October 6

THE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN POST-SOCIALIST EUROPE - Omnia Magazine Interview with Dr. Ghodsee and Dr. Orenstein

Kristen Ghodsee and Mitchell Orenstein, professors of Russian and East European Studies, discuss their new book, Taking Stock of Shock.

The Lost World of Socialists at Europe's Margins: Imagining Utopia, 1870s-1920s

A book discussion with author Maria Todorova

June 14, 10:30am EST

Slavic Bazaar 2021

Socially Mediated Visibility in Socially and Politically Authoritarian Societies

The Poetry of Moscow Conceptualism / Translations and Roundtable

Simon Schuchat and Ainsley Morse read DMITRI PRIGOV; Yelena Kalinsky and Brian Droitcour read ANDREI MONASTYRSKI; Philip Metres reads LEV RUBINSTEIN

Discussion moderated by Kevin M.F. Platt and Matvei Yankelevich

RESS453 Fathers and Sons - a literature course for heritage students

Portraits of Russian Society - Humanities & Social Sciences Sector

Danube River

The Danube is Europe's second longest river, after the Volga. It is located in Central and Eastern Europe, flowing through 10 countries.

Grand Theatre, Warsaw, Poland

The Grand Theatre was originally inaugurated in 1833, after eight years of construction led by architect Antonio Corazzi.

Baikal Lake, Russia

Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest and deepest freshwater lake, situated in the mountainous region of Siberia north of the Mongolian border. It trails for nearly 400 miles and its average depth is 744.4m (2,442 ft), while its maximum depth is 1,741m (5,712 ft).

Spotlight: Russian Monuments: The Other Kremlin

The "Kremlin in Izmailovo" is a cultural complex founded by Aleksandre Fedorovich Ushakov and Marina Viktorovna Alekseeva in 2003. It was established as a cultural center and marketplace mad in the image of traditional Russian architecture and fairytale depictions of Old Russia. 

Russian Language Courses / Spring 2021

Mondays with Margarita Lappa, FLTA

Посиделки по средам--Advanced Russian Conversation Hour

Life in Space Poetry Reading: Galina Rymbu, Joan Brooks and Friends

More info HERE

Field Reports w. Dan Perjovschi (Bucharest, Romania)

Tuesday, November 17, 2020 - 1:30pm to 2:15pm

Slought Foundation: Field Reports (w. Viktoria Draganova/Swimming Pool)

Intended as a series of casual talks for local students and Slought's expanded network, these intimate, midday sessions will provide an informal platform for thinkers to share and discuss their practices, reflect on how their work has been impacted by the pandemic, what is transpiring in their co

Courses and Majors Fair - Russian and East European Studies

October 30, 2 - 3pm

https://canvas.upenn.edu/courses/1548290/pages/welcome-to-the-college-co...

Slought Foundation: Field Reports (w. Dmitry Vilensky)

"Field Reports," informal conversations on contemporary aesthetics and democracy during the pandemic. Today we will be speaking with artist and educator Dmitry Vilensky (St. Petersburg, Russia).

Queer Art & Censorship in Russia Today

Register on Eventbrite for the Zoom call details.

Russian Gestures - a Zoom talk with Margarita Lappa, FLTA

REES026: Behind the Iron Curtain: Art & Culture in Eastern Europe

Summer Session II: Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict in Film

SUMMER SESSION II: REES155 - MASTERPIECES OF 20TH-CENTURY RUSSIAN LITERATURE

Summer Session I: REES145 - Masterpieces of 19th-Century Russian Literature

Virtual Russian Tea, March 25

Please see the event listing for more details.

ROMANTICISM'S LONGUE DUREE: 1968 AND THE PROJECTS OF THEORY

A public lecture by Professor Galin Tihanov on February 10, 2020

University of Pennsylvania, 155 S. 36th Street, Williams Hall, Room 543 (Cherpak Lounge)

Central European University: The EU’s University in Exile

February 7, 2020, 2pm - 4pm

Tilla-Kori Madrassah, Uzbekistan

The Tilla Kori was built on the north side of the Registan Square in Samarkand, between 1646 and 1660. Yalangtush Bakhadur, the ruler of Samarkand at that time, ordered the Tilla Kori's construction but died before it was completed.

Hotel Ještěd, Liberec, Czechia

Rising over 300 ft above the majestic Ještěd mountain, the Hotel Ještěd dominates the skyline of the Liberec region in the northern Czech Republic.

Velka Amerika, Czechia

Velka Amerika quarry is located outside the village of Mořina, Czech Republic. Formerly a center for calcium mining, what was once the refuse land of industry has now blossomed into a beautiful natural scenery.

Yzmykşir Fort, Turkmenistan

Remains of the Yzmykşir Galasy adobe-walled fort in the desert near Tashauz, Turkmenistan. 
These days this fort is known more for the fact that in 1075 a Turkmen scientist, Mutazili theologian, Arabic philologist, and Quran exegete.
 
Photo credit: ©Annette Johnson 2018

Kyrgyz National Philharmonic, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz National Philharmonic is situated in the heart of Bishkek, accompanied by fountains and a large statue of Manas (an early Buddhist hero, as legend has it).

Independence Monument, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The Independence Monument is located in the center of Tashkent city, on the Independence Square. During the Soviet time, the square was named Lenin Square and a monument of Lenin was erected in the middle of it.

Ships Graveyard, Moynaq, Uzbekistan

Moynaq used to be a bustling fishing community in Uzbekistan made up of tens of thousands of residents, but with the Aral Sea having dried up, the city has become a ghost town, also known as the ships graveyard.

Chess City, Elista, Kalmykiya, Russia

Elista is the largest Buddhist city in all of Europe and lies in the steppes of southwestern Russia. The town is home to giant monasteries and Buddhist sculptures, as well as kings and queens - but not in the traditional sense.

A Soviet Dacha Home Museum, Moscow, Russia

Russian Tsars in the 17th century started to reward loyal landholders with small estates named “dachas” in the country, a word that translates from old Russian to "something given".

Najmeddin Kubra Mausoleum, Uzbekistan

The Najmeddin Kubra Mausoleum is considered the holiest spot in Kunya-Urgench. Najmeddin Kubra was a famous Khorezm Muslim teacher and poet, as well as the founder of the Sufic Kubra order, from the 12-13th century.

The Seven Bulls of Jeti-Oguz, Kyrgyzstan

Jeti-Oguz Canyon (Seven Bulls Rocks) is one of the most famous landmarks of Kyrgyzstan, made up of several impressive natural sandstone formations. It is featured in many poems and paintings, as well as music videos.

Global Cities versus Rustbelt Realities: The Dilemmas of Urban Development in Russia

a talk by STEPHEN CROWLEY, Professor of Political Science, Oberlin College
December 5, 12pm, College Hall 200

Book Talk with Mitchell A. Orenstein The Lands in Between: Russia vs the West and the New Politics of Hybrid War

December 5, 2019
5pm

Movie screening: LETO (Лето) with the screenwriter Michael Idov

This film needs no introduction for the Russian speakers, but the Western synopsis goes like this:A love triangle emerges around a rock `n' roll musician, his protege, and his wife in 1980's Russia.

The Humorist: MOVIE Screening with the Writer/Director Michael Idov

This is a wonderful event for all the cinema and Russian culture aficionados. All are invited.The Humorist is a film about a week in the life of Boris Arkadiev, a fictional Soviet stand-up comedian.

November 7- 8, 2019: Social Impacts of Post-Socialist Transition and Policies for the Future

 a 2-Day Conference
 
More details will follow.

Russian Youth Culture Through Short Films

An evening of Russian youth culture through Russian short films! Our Russian FLTA, Elena Goinova, fresh from Hanty-Mansiysk, will host the event.
Pizza and beverages will be provided.

The Lands in Between: Russia vs. the West and the New Politics of Hybrid War

Dr. Mitchell Orenstein presenting: “The Lands in Between: Russia vs. the West and the New Politics of Russia's Hybrid War”

SECRETS WITHOUT AGENTS: From Big Brother to Big Data

The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication invites you to attend
 
The 2019 Distinguished Lecture in Global Communication
Secrets Without Agents: From Big Brother to Big Data
 
Featuring Anikó Imre, University of Southern California
 

April 30: A Talk and Q&A with Russian Ambassador to the US, Mr. Antonov

Russia’s Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Ivanovich Antonov will visit Penn to discuss Russia-US relations in a conversation with Professor Mitchell Orenstein. 
 

Ostentatious Feasts: Performing Gender at the Late Soviet Table

Monday, April 22, 1pm.
Max Kade Center, 3401 Walnut Street, Room 329A, Philadelphia, PA 19104
A lecture by Maria Pirogovskaya
The presentation will be accompanied by abundant typical Russian food—please come with an appetite!

"Spacewalker", A Russian Movie Screening

Join Penn Russian Program for the screening of the 2017 Russian blockbuster "Spacewalker" in celebration of a popular Soviet/Russian holiday,  Cosmonautics Day.
Out-of-this world pizza awaits the Cosmonautics supporters who will come.

RUSS/REES/ECES Majors and Minors Career Counseling with Dr. Mitchell Orenstein

Are you a RUSS/REES/ECES major or minor? If yes, please come to the career counseling session with Dr. Mitchell Orenstein this Friday. This is your chance to ask questions about your career and get answers in an information setting.
 
April 12, 2:30 - 4pm, Williams Hall 307

Slavic Bazaar

The Department of Russian and East European Studies will host its 16th annual Slavic Bazaar, our undergraduate conference for students to present their work on any aspect of Russian or Eastern, Central, or Southern European society, history, literature, language, politics. 
 
 

The Outsiders: Refugees in Modern European and Western History

A lecture by Professor Philipp Ther

Your Language My Ear 2019

Music, Youth Culture, and Protest in Russia

Free admission. All are welcome.

Brother 2 (Брат 2) Discussion with Mikhail Kozyrev

Free admission. All are welcome.

The Crooked Forest, Poland

Blending science fiction and ecological abnormality, a group of 400 trees in Poland’s Krzywy Las or “Crooked Forest,” are mysteriously bent. The trees strangely buckle out at 90 degrees and form an odd J-shape with a potbelly hovering just above the ground.

Harangház Bell House, Hungary

In the 1980s, a Hungarian artist Edit Oborzil and her husband Tibor Jeney filed a patent for a bell with a distinct sound that they had been perfecting for decades. 
 

Froggyland, Split, Croatia

ABOUT THE COLLECTION 
 

Nokhur Cemetery, Turkmenistan

The cemetery of Nokhur, a village amidst stranded mountains in southern Tukrmenistan, contains tombstones decorated with mountain goat horns.

Alex Vekker, a Specialist on Soviet and Post-Soviet Economy

Alex Vekker is a specialist in Soviet economics and economic consulting. He has his own business, Vekker Consulting, which provides expert witness and economic and statistical consulting services.

Penn Alumna and Russian major Olivia Route Appointed 2018 Luce Scholar

Olivia Route, a summa cum laude Penn graduate of class of 2015 and a Russian major, appointed 2018 Luce Scholar.
Olivia, we are so very proud of your accomplishments!

"Red Hangover: Legacies of Twentieth-Century Communism", Kristen Ghodsee's New Book

Dr. Kristen Ghodsee's latest work titled Red Hangover: Legacies of Twentieth-Century Communism is now available for purchase.

Kaindy Lake, Kazakhstan

Kaindy Lake is an idyllic mountain lake in Kazakhstan’s portion of the Tian Shan Mountains, close to the country’s largest city, Almaty. The lake was formed after an earthquake in 1911, which caused a major landslide, effectively creating a natural dam.

Perperikon, Bulgaria

Perperikon was once an ancient Thracian city located in the Eastern Rhodopes in the South of Bulgaria. Human activity in the area dates back to 5000 B.C. and is thought to be the location of the famous Temple of Dionysius, the ancient Greek god of wine, celebration and fun.

Russian Tea

A weekly conversation hour for all students of Russian. Tea and cookies provided. All levels welcome!

Slavic Bazaar - Call for Papers

The Department of Russian and East European Studies invites applications from students to present a 15-minute paper on any aspect of Russian or Eastern, Central, or Southern European society, history, literature, language, politics, and culture at the annual undergraduate research conference.

Salina Turda Theme Park, Romania

With over 2,000 years of history, highly preserved galleries, and a futuristic underground attraction, Salina Turda is the largest salt mine museum in the world, and easily the most incredible.
 

Tash Rabat, Kyrgyzstan

Today, we picture the caravans traveling along the Silk Road from China to the Middle East as a rather romantic image.

Castle of Childhood, Moscow, Russia

For a hundred and fifty fortunate preschoolers in Moscow, Russia, every working day is a fairy tale.

Seven Rila Lakes, Bulgaria

The Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes in the northwestern Rila Mountains in the Southwest of Bulgaria. The lakes are situated between 2,100 and 2,500 metres elevation above sea level. Each lake carries a name associated with its most characteristic feature.

Contested Bodies: Identities and Spaces in Post-Soviet Territories

March 15-16,2018 (University of Pennsylvania)
 
Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 9:00am to Friday, March 16, 2018 - 8:00pm
 
MArch 15: MAx Kade Center, March 16: ARCH108
 
 

The Last Wild Apple Forests, Kazakhstan

It might seem strange to think that the common apple was not originally a universal fruit, but in fact it has its roots in one specific region of the world. The ancestor of the domestic apple is the Malus sieversii, which grows wild in the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan.
 

Kaplica Czaszek: The Chapel of Skulls, Poland

In 1776, while America was declaring its independence from England, and bodies were piling up in the American revolutionary war, a priest and grave digger in the small Polish town of Czermna, (a kilometer to the north of Kudowa Zdroj) were also busy piling up bodies, but for a very different purp

Tuhala Witch's Well, Estonia

Located in the tiny village of Tuhala, the Witch’s Well is a naturally occurring geyser that has been known to flood the entire area after heavy rains. Clearly the work of witches. 

Lama Itigilov, Ivolgin Datsan, Buryatiya, Russia

A New York Times article by By STEVEN LEE MYERSOCT. 1, 2002 (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/01/world/ivolginsk-journal-a-russian-lama...)
 

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city and has been recognized as one of the oldest settlements in Europe, with evidence of habitation reaching as far back as the 6th millennium BC.

Linor Goralik Book Presentation (w. Maya Vinokour)

Linor Goralik will present her book. Found Life: Poems, Stories, Comics, a Play, and an Interview, and answer questions.
Penn Book Center, February 15, 6:30pm

Multilingual Poetry: Alexandra Petrova (at Kelly Writers House)

The Multilingual Poetics series, created by Ariel Resnikoff, is part of an ambitious effort to mitigate the gap between poetics and multilingualism in the literary community where scholarliness often focuses too much on being rooted in one language, one persuit, and one culture.

Merzbacher Lake, Kyrgyzstan

A strenuous multi-day trek is necessary to reach Merzbacher Lake, a lake so far away from anything, that even the label “remote” would be an understatement.

Dargavs Village: City of the Dead, North Ossetia

Reaching this mystifying destination requires a three-hour drive, taking you down a dangerous and hidden road befitting a journey to the City of the Dead.

Temple of All Religions, Kazan', Tatarstan, Russia

Located in the Russian city of Kazan, the colorful Temple of All Religions, or Universal Temple is a mish-mash of architectural flourishes culled from most of the major world religions to create an uber-complex where all religions can come together in harmony. 

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia, Bulgaria

As one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, located in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia serves as one of the nation’s primary tourist attractions.

Merry Cemetery, Săpânţa, Romania

When someone dies, their memory generally enters a kind of idealized state in the minds of those who loved them. Their flaws are forgiven and forgotten, and the way in which they passed (especially if it was unpleasant) often goes unspoken. Only the sweet stories about the person are retold.

Faculty Profile: Vladislav Todorov

Senior Lecturer

Korcula Island, Croatia

The sixth largest island in Croatia, Korcula is 20 miles long and rather narrow, between 4 and 5 miles wide on average. This island is known for its dense forest and the ancient Greeks called the island Black Korcula (Kerkyra melaina) for this reason.

Door to Hell, Turkmenistan

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, scientific pursuits don’t always go according to plan. And sometimes, a pit to hell may open up right beneath your feet.

Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia

There are few places in the world that can enthrall quite like Kamchatka, easily Russia's most scenically dramatic region. A vast volcanic peninsula that is almost entirely wilderness, Kamchatka is a place of extraordinary primal beauty, rushing rivers, hot springs and snow-capped peaks.

Church of St. George, Smederevo, Serbia

The church of St. George is one of the largest churches of the 19th century in Serbia, and in an architectural sense, the church of St. George is the first reminiscence of the mediaeval Church of the Holy Trinity of the monastery Manasija. The church of St.

The Media, Putin, and Trump; A Lecture by Masha Gessen, December 14, 5pm

Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC)

Russian Tea - A weekly conversation hour

A weekly Russian conversational hour for students of Russian of all levels. Come and hone your Russian skills in a friendly environment with your fellow students and faculty. Authentic Russian treats and tea are provided.

Bahouddin Naqshband Memorial, Uzbekistan

The architectural ensemble of Bahouddin, located kilometers north-east of Bukhara, in the old village Qasr-i Arifan arose from the mazar of this sufi. He had been forming for five hundred years, but it is known very little about its early history.?

Aftershock: A Journey into Eastern Europe's Broken Dreams

A talk by John Feffer
Thursday, November 30, 2017 - 5:00pm to 6:30pm
Perry World House, Global Policy Lab

Revolution Redux: How the October Revolution is Still Shaking Our World

A Centennial Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution Discussion
November 29, 4:30pm
University of Pennsylvania, Stiteler Hall, Room B26
Discussants:
Dr. Kevin M.F. Platt
Dr. Djamilia Nazyrova
Dr. Kristen Ghodsee
Dr. Benjamin Nathans

"Finding Babel" Film Screening at International House Philadelphia, Ibrahim Theater, November 14

"A film of great sensitivity and rather unfortunately, significant modern relevancy."​

-  J.B. Spins

​"makes you want to read Babel's writing"

- Ben Kenigsberg, NY Times

"The best proof of documentary's relevance ..." 

- Pravda

Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin is a fortified complex in the center of Moscow, overlooking the Moskva River to the south, Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square to the east, and the Alexander Garden to the west.

Prohodna Cave, Bulgaria

Prohodna is a cave in northern Bulgaria near Lovech, which lies northeast from the capital city of Sofia.

Alexander Pushkin

Alexander Pushkin(1799-1837) is considered by most to be Russia's greatest poet. Pushkin, the Russian national poet, is famously descended from an African slave.

Nur Astana Mosque, Astana, Kazakhstan

The Nur-Astana Mosque (Kazakh: Нұр-Астана мешіті, Nur-Astana meşiti), is a mosque located in the city of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. It is third largest mosque in Central Asia.

The Post-Communist Mafia State?

A Talk by Mr. Balint Magyar, October 12, 5 pm, Annenberg 111
 

FPRI's Conference Report: Does Democracy Matter? The United States and Global Democracy Support

This conference, Does Democracy Matter?

A Performance by ALASH, Tuvan Throat Singing Ensemble, October 3, 8pm, The Rotunda

Bowerbird and The Rotunda are pleased to welcome back a Philadelphia favorite: The Alash Ensemble - a FREE concert at the Rotunda! 

Budapest, Hungary – Parliament Buildings

The Parliament Buildings are the seat of the National Assembly of Hungary, a famous landmark of Hungary and a well-known tourist destination of Budapest. It lies in Lajos Kossuth Square, on the bank of the Danube.

Jeti-Ögüz, Kyrgyzstan

Picturesque Jeti-Oguz gorge is located 28 kilometers to the south-west of the town of Karakol. Its name is translated from Kyrgyz language means “Seven bulls”.

Peterhof (Petrodvorets), Saint Petersburg, Russia

One of St.

Spotlight: Kristen Ghodsee

Kristen Ghodsee earned her Ph.D. at UC Berkeley and is a Professor of Russian and East European Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests include the gendered effects of post-Cold War transformations and the ethnographic study of memory and nostalgia in Eastern Europe.

Kristen Ghodsee in New York Times: 'Why Women Had Better Sex Under Socialism'

Dr. Ghodsee's Sunday Review article can be found here.

Jennifer Wilson's article in New York Times: 'When the Harlem Renaissance Went to Communist Moscow'

The article in the Opinion Pages can be found here.

Does Democracy Matter? The United States and Global Democracy Support

This half-day conference explores the issues in the debate as to whether or not the support of democracy abroad should remain a significant component of American foreign policy.