Gleb Tsipursky
Ph.D. Student (ABD)
tsipursk@email.unc.edu
http://www.glebtsipursky.com
Major Field: Russian and Soviet History
Other Fields: Global and Modern European History
Advisor: Don Raleigh
Research Interests: My current project examines Soviet youth policy and youth culture in the decades following the end of World War II via the lens of an in-depth study of state policies on organizing youth cultural leisure in the 1945-68 period. Since such organized free time constituted a crucial site of activity for many young people, policies on cultural youth leisure had a substantial impact on the lives of youth and their integration into society, and thus shaped the future course of the Soviet Union. My other research examines the post-Stalin Soviet Union, including innovative approaches to social control, conflicts over student self-rule, everyday political practices, the nature of socialist popular culture, and the impact of "western" cultural influence. For more on my research, see my personal website.
Teaching interests: My expertise spans general courses in modern, early modern, medieval, and ancient European history (Western Civilization) and global history (World History). I also offer more specialized courses in Russian, Eurasian (Central Asian), and eastern European history, youth and childhood studies, and the history of consumption and popular culture. My teaching philosophy is informed by a strong belief that a deep appreciation of the discipline of history is fundamental to understanding not only our society's past but also its present, and thus in determining its future. Another important component of my approach is an emphasis on the historical narrative of social groups and global regions which tended to receive less attention from historians in the past. As well, I strive to illustrate that history is less a standardized, fixed account than a dialectical process of exploration and debate. Thus, my teaching methodology is to encourage students to provide their own, individual interpretations of historical events. The most crucial pedagogical goals for me are for students to develop strong analytical reading abilities, sound critical thinking skills, and an in-depth writing proficiency. To achieve this, my objectives include teaching students how to undertake thorough research - including among "new media" sources, to weigh the validity of historical judgments, and to express their own, well-structured and supported arguments in written form. For more on my teaching interests, see my personal website.