Winners and Losers in Chess, Literature and Film

RUSS449

Dr. Zubarev

602 LEC W 5:30-8:30PM

                                                                                  SYLLABUS

13 WEEKS

WEEK I.  Introduction to the course. Screening of Elizabeth.

WEEK II.  Styles and methods of decision making. Positional and combinational styles. Discussion of Elizabeth.

WEEK III.  The role of the relational parameters. Discussion of Elizabeth (continuation). Screening and analyzing excerpts from Survivor - season one. 

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WEEK IV.  Positional and combinational styles in literature. The enrichment of the positional style through the artistic means. Screening and discussion of Adaptation.

WEEK V.  Structure of values. Screening of Katsenelinboigen’s video. Moral and laws. Strategic thinking. Screening: The Man For All Seasons.  

WEEK VI.  Positional and combinational sacrifice. Viewing of Katsenelinboigen’s video.  Discussion of The Gifts of the Magi.

                    Screening and discussion of Who Killed Julius Cesar?

WEEK VII. Positional and combinational thinking. Winners and losers in Financier.

WEEK VIII. Space of action and the implied space. Winners and losers in Titan.

WEEK IX.  Winners and losers in The Song of Prince Igor’s Campaign. Screening of Poor, Poor Pavel.

WEEK X.  Message versus information. Discussion of  The Queen Of Spades by Pushkin.

WEEK XI.  Mistakes and unexpected outcomes. Probability versus predispositioning. Discussion of The Last Leaf by O’Henry.

                    Creation of a predisposition an unexpected outcomes in The Usual Suspects.

WEEK XII. Quasi-strong potential. Discussion of Balzac’s Old Goriot.

WEEK XIII.  Students’ presentations.