Profile of the Department

The department focuses on cultural studies from a contemporary, cultural-historical and didactic perspective. Special attention is paid not only to contemporary and Soviet Russia, which is clearly in focus, but also to Russian-speaking post-Soviet states. This allows Russian Studies to be pursued in all its breadth and diversity. The analytical examination of cultural phenomena follows the communication practices and popular visual media of the pre-digital and digital era. In this process, Russian culture is invariably seen in the context of politics and society, and its social and political orders, urban and regional developments, cultural institutions, and everyday practices are examined accordingly.

Both research-oriented and practice-oriented teaching are of particular importance. Students are involved in current research projects and cooperations with Dresden cultural institutions. International tandem seminars at our partner universities as well as excursions in Russian-speaking countries provide them with a better understanding of Russian culture.

Didactics is characterised by the emphasis on theory-based teaching, in which processes of acquiring and imparting competences in the use of language and culture are key. Here, disciplinary perspectives of linguistics and cultural studies converge and are at the same time put into practice.