Mar 18, 2024  
2022 - 2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022 - 2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

RUSN 395 - The Enemy Among Us: the Spy Genre in Russia and the West


Credits: (3)
College Curriculum: COLL 200
Domain (Anchored): ALV
Domain (Reaching Out): CSI
Serving as an introduction to spy fiction in Russia and Western Europe, this course examines major Russian, British, and American contributions to the spy genre in literature, film, and culture. It traces the development of the spy story from its early classical manifestations in works by John Buchan and Eric Ambler, to the present day, represented by bestselling authors Boris Akunin and John Le Carré. Course materials include short stories, novels, films, internet sites, and critical readings. Our discussions will focus on the basic elements of the spy genres, including structure, setting, the spy, the criminal/villain, and the resolution. We will trace the development of the spy from how the earlier practitioners of the genre envisioned the special agent to the complex figure today. Judging by the popularity of espionage thrillers, televised spy dramas, and the daily mention of espionage and hacking in the news media, readers and viewers continue to be fascinated by stories of deception and clandestinity. Through our investigation, we will attempt to determine the reasons behind the global popularity of this genre.