Search by tag «Literature» 21 results

  • Neural Networks Predict Future Bestsellers

    ITMO researchers together with a colleague from the University of Oulu in Finland created an algorithm for predicting the success of new books. The algorithm's claimed efficacy is based on the analysis of the emotional fluctuations of a literary text.

    03.02.2021

  • Digging Deeper: Literary Origins of St. Petersburg Metro Stations

    It’s no secret that the St. Petersburg Metro is one of the world’s most exquisite and beautiful underground transit systems. But its interiors aren’t the only things worth noting. While anyone with even a cursory knowledge of the Russian language will probably be able to glean the meanings of most of its stations’ names, there are a few that would require a bit more in-depth knowledge of Russian culture. Today, we’ll look at some of the stations that bear the names of Russian writers, poets, and other masters of the written word.

    04.08.2020

  • Russian Books to Read This Summer

    From timeless classics to easy-reading yet delightful contemporary stories, here are our editorial team’s personal recommendations on summer favorites that will keep you turning pages and learning about Russia in the process.

    20.07.2020

  • Don’t Leave the Room, Don’t Make a Mistake and Run: Poems Every Russian Knows

    Did you know that every Russian child spends their 11 years at school memorizing poems (and sometimes even prose excerpts) for literature classes? And while some might look back on these memories in terror, personally, I found the experience to be rather enjoyable. What’s true for most of us, however, is that we still remember quite a few lines and they’re sometimes all that’s needed to find a key to that mysterious Russian soul of ours. 

    28.04.2020

  • How Reading and Literature Changed in the Digital Age

    What’s been happening to reading habits and literature in the last 15 years? What challenges do publishing houses and authors face in the digital age? How to decide what to read? Galina Yuzefovich, a famous book critic, answered these questions in a lecture as part of a course for the joint Bachelor’s program by New Economics School and Higher School of Economics. ITMO.NEWS prepared a summary of the lecture.

    10.04.2020

  • Do Valentine's Day Like a Single Russian

    Pink hearts flooding everything this week? There’s no rule that says you have to be attached to enjoy Valentine’s Day – or any day, for that matter. Celebrate you! You don’t have to shave, brush your teeth, wonder if you’ve gained a few pounds or whether your date will like your outfit. Zero stress, all the love. 

    10.02.2020

  • Getting to Know Russian Literature: Soviet Sci-Fi, Part 2

    To be honest, I’m not exactly a fan of the Soviet mid-20th century sci-fi; to me, it seems somewhat lacking in style in comparison to its predecessors, and it was the later works that really made a name for the genre. Then again, it certainly is quite unconventional, and is interesting from many a standpoint other than the literary one.

    24.09.2019

  • Getting to Know Russian Literature: Soviet Sci-Fi, Part 1

    In our previous article about Russian literature, we’ve only slightly touched upon the subject that I find the most interesting: Soviet science fiction. As a fan of science fiction in general, I’ve always thought that, despite its name, the science aspect of the genre is often used as merely a background for exploring various contemporary psychological and social issues, and allows the writers to create the perfect setting in which to share their perception of human nature and our common future. 

    30.07.2019

  • Getting to Know Russian Literature, Part 2: the 20th Century

    20th century Russian literature is definitely a topic that’s hard to approach; it’s too vast, too complex, and too controversial for one meager article. Then again, we’re not doing some research that would’ve been interesting to a wannabe critic (which I hope you aren’t); rather than that, our intention is to give you a quick overview of the different strands of Russian 20th century prose so you can pick something to your liking. So, let’s take a look at what it’s about!

    05.02.2019

  • Getting to Know Russian Literature: Part 1

    Remember the Lord of War movie? I really liked the joke about suicide novelists being a Russian export on par with caviar and vodka, and only slightly losing to the ever popular Kalashnikovs. Suicide part aside, we are very proud of our literature, and you don’t get  to really experience Russia unless you’ve read some. Still, there’s one thing that can discourage you from trying, and it’s the “notorious wordiness” of Russian authors – in fact, many school students get terrified by the mere prospect of having to read War and Peace as the book itself is something that you can kill with. For that reason, we’ve decided to come up with a quick overview – and give you some advice on the shorter titles to start with.

    27.11.2018