Contextualization

The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a landmark episode in the history of humanity. It was the first time that the proletariat, the lowest class in society, took power and implemented a socialist system. This happened in a country that was considered backward by European standards of the time, which leads to a series of questions about how and why this happened.

The Russian Revolution was not just an isolated event, but the result of a complex historical process of class struggles, economic crises, wars, and violence of all kinds. Studying this Revolution is not only to understand Russia's past, but also to shed light on many aspects of the contemporary world.

In addition to the political issue, the Russian Revolution brought profound changes in culture, art, and literature, whose repercussions are felt to this day. Therefore, the study of the Russian Revolution is interdisciplinary: it crosses History, Politics, Economics, Sociology, Literature, Art, and many other disciplines.

To deepen your knowledge on the subject, you can consult the following resources:

1. Figes, Orlando. "The Tragedy of the Russian Revolution". Paz e Terra Publisher, 2017. Available in all good bookstores.

2. Service, Robert. "History of Russia in the 20th Century". Paz e Terra Publisher, 2014. Available in all good bookstores.

3. Trotsky, Leon. "History of the Russian Revolution". Sundermann Publisher, 2007. Available in all good bookstores.

4. YouTube Channel "Terraço Histórico". Playlist "Russian Revolution". Available here.

5. Film "Battleship Potemkin", directed by Sergei Eisenstein, 1925. Available on streaming platforms.

6. Virtual exhibition "Russian Revolution: Art and Action", held by the Virtual Museum of the Russian Revolution. Available here.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Russian Revolution: from theory to practice"

Project Objective:

Engage students in understanding the events and contexts that led to the Russian Revolution and its consequences. The activity aims to equip students with skills to analyze, synthesize, and criticize complex historical events.

Detailed Project Description:

Groups must produce a theatrical piece lasting 15 to 20 minutes about the Russian Revolution. The play should focus on the main events that led to the Revolution and the changes that occurred in Russia after the Revolution, as well as its impacts on the world stage.

The presentation of the play can follow various formats, such as a historical drama, a satirical comedy, a modern and innovative play, or even a musical operetta. It is important that the play reflects the students' understanding of the Russian Revolution and that it is simultaneously informative and engaging.

Required Materials:

• Texts and other resources about the Russian Revolution
• Clothing for costumes
• Materials for set design
• Video recording equipment (a cell phone can be used)

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying Out the Activity:

1. Students should first study about the Russian Revolution, using the provided resources and others they find relevant.

2. After the research, the group should meet to discuss and plan the play. Here, they should decide on the format of the play, the narrative, the characters, and how to represent the events and concepts.

3. Each group member should have at least one role in the play. Roles can range from actors to technical team members (set designer, costume designer, scriptwriter, director, etc.).

4. After planning, the group should write the script for the play. The script should include all the characters' lines and scene descriptions.

5. With the script in hand, students can start rehearsals. They should familiarize themselves with the characters' lines and actions, and practice the play until everyone is comfortable with their roles.

6. When they are ready, students should record the play. They can use a cell phone to record and a video editing app to edit the recording, if necessary.

7. After recording, students should review the play and make any necessary adjustments. Once they are satisfied with the result, they can submit the video for evaluation.

At the end of the project, students should write a document reporting on the creative process and the learnings acquired during the preparation and execution of the play. This document should reflect the students' understanding of the theoretical concepts related to the Russian Revolution and demonstrate the practical application of these concepts. The report should be organized into the following topics: Introduction, Development, Conclusions, and Bibliography used.

In the Introduction, students should contextualize the theme of the Russian Revolution, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.

In the Development, students should explain the theory behind the Russian Revolution, detail the activity (from the research process to the play recording), indicate the methodology used, and finally present and discuss the results obtained.

In the Conclusions, students should outline the learnings acquired, revisit their main points, and draw conclusions about the project.

In the Bibliography, students should indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project, whether for studying the Russian Revolution or for the preparation of the theatrical piece.