News

Lecture “Russian Thought in the Context of Global Cultural Space” Successfully Held

date:2024-09-23

On the morning of September 18, Igor Shaytanov, Leading Research Fellow at Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Russia and an expert in comparative literature, was invited by the Institute of Russian Language and Culture to deliver a lecture titled “Russian Thought in the Context of Global Cultural Space”. The lecture, moderated by Associate Professor XUE Ranran, was attended by students majoring in Russian and faculty members from the institute.

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      Professor Shaytanov began his lecture with an overview of the current state of global cultural space, drawing on the historical context of the famous statement by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe that world literature would replace national literature as the major mode of literary creativity in the future. He then discussed Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin’s “The Bronze Horseman”, examining how Peter the Great’s legacy symbolizes Russian culture’s opening to Europe. Professor Shaytanov also dissected the concept of global unity within Russian culture, highlighting its early aspirations toward globalization.

    The professor then elucidated the pivotal role of language in culture dissemination, emphasizing the transformative impact of Pushkin’s literary language. Pushkin’s mastery of multiple foreign languages enabled him to introduce the works of William Shakespeare to Russia. He was also a key figure in modernizing the Russian language, aligning it more closely with world literature.

    During the Q&A session, Professor Shaytanov answered questions from students, providing insights from his professional perspective. He offered advice on gathering information from electronic media, suggesting the importance of developing advanced information literacy skills. He also shared practical advice on learning the Russian language more effectively and delving into Russian literature, encouraging students to use language as a gateway to exploring diverse cultures. Addressing concerns about the potential homogenization of cultural diversity due to globalization, Professor Shaytanov introduced the concept of ‘utopia’ as a guiding principle. He pointed out that pursuing ideals comes with certain risks, and we should not rush this process. Nevertheless, he remained optimistic about the ongoing trend of globalization.

    Professor Shaytanov concluded his lecture by sharing with the students memories of his hometown Moscow, and his experiences of cultural collisions. His lecture deepened the students’ understanding of comparative literature and provoked their reflections on the globalization of cultures. The audience looks forward to Professor Shaytanov’s next visit.

    The lecture is supported by the “Zhejiang Mobile Humanities and Social Sciences Fund”.

 

Institute of Russian Language and Culture

Text: CHEN Yaoqi

Photos: HUANG Wenqing

September 19, 2024

Translated by XIAO Ran, Proofread by XU Xueying


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