RUSSIAN AREA STUDIES COURSES

Here are 5 of the core courses required for Christie's individualized major:

• IS 391 “Senior Project I": Nature Theology: In this course, I wrote a paper, called: Nature Theology, on the interaction between the realms of religion and the natural environment. This was the product of many semesters of asking such questions as: Within Judeo-Christian Scripture, nature is the first thing that God created, therefore, is the natural environment most important? Such inquiry led me to research the role of nature and theology/spirituality within Russian folklore, another area of interest to me, as my second major is Russian Area Studies. During this course, I also spent a lot of time translating the Russian folktale, The Firebird. I then borrowed some of the characters from this story to write an original folktale to be performed as a street theatre puppet production in the spring of 2005. (See how this relates to Christie's Theology studies.)
• Russian Film 256: After watching the movie Heart of a Dog, I wrote a paper about the Soviet idea of domination of nature. (Click here to read it.)
• Independent Research 398: Nature Theology within Russian Orthodox Christianity: With Marc Robinson as my overseer and Bryn Geffert as my reference librarian, I researched the role of the natural environment within Russian Orthodox Christian theology to get a glimpse into Russian Orthodox Christian views of nature and God’s role within it. I explored questions like: Does a nature theology actually exist within Russian Orthodoxy? How does this affect Russian Orthodos Christians’ view of God? Did/do Russian Orthodox clergy authenticate or condemn seeing God in/through nature? Does Russia have an adequate environmental protection plan? Are Russian environmental initiatives formed due to Russian Orthodox Christian belief? What must be done for Russians to become/remain connected with nature? How resilient is nature in Russia? I wrote a Research Paper at the end of the course incorporating all of my findings. The paper addresses the integration of pre-Christian Russian folk belief with modern Russian Orthodox Christianity, this is known as dvoeverie or dual faiths.
• IS 392 “Senior Project II”: Nature Theology Expressions Through Russian Folklore: My goal with this project is to explore the importance of nature and spirituality within Russian folklore This project is a fitting capstone for my major, as the crux of my research has been on the interaction and interdependence of the natural environment with the realm of faith and spirituality. I have continued my research of Russian folklore and Russian environmental initiatives. This course will culminate with a final paper on my findings of the role of nature and spirituality within Russian folklore. The main presentation of my project will be the production of an original folktale I have written in the Russian folk motif. I designed and constructed 4 life-size puppets and 4 costumes for the outdoor production of my folktale. The show is called: Zemlya Govorit (The Earth Speaks). By doing this project, I am continuing the tradition of street theatre puppetry, which is very much embedded into ancient Russian folk culture, originating among the skomorokhi, or "traveling minstrels". Before the production I will give a brief overview of my research done during IS 391, IR 398, and IS 392 about the role of God within nature and the importance of nature within Russian folklore. (See production rehearsals.)
• Education 260: Perspectives on Teaching: As, Ms. Gibbons, I had the opportunity to teach some Russian language and culture to a second grade class at Aspen Ridge Elementary School, in Ishpeming, Michigan, for January of 2004. I also was able to incorporate the other aspects of my major. I taught the class a unit on recycling and other methods of doing our best not to harm the earth. And I spent much time reading stories and folktale so the children. (Below is a picture of Christie in front of a display she made to teach the second graders some Russian culture.)