Dostoevsky and Existential Phenomenology: The Role of ‘Epiphany’ in the Post-Siberian fiction by Bilal Siddiqi, and The significance of citizenship for immigrant acculturation: the case of Finland’s Russian-speaking minority by Liisa Tuhkanen

Bilal Siddiqi (UCL SSEES)

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of ‘epiphany’ as a literary tool in Dostoevsky.
‘Epiphany’ is a device that is widespread in the author’s work, yet rarely commented on in depth within existing critical literature.

 The thesis also aims to demonstrate the intellectual kinship between Dostoevsky and 20^th century phenomenology and existentialism, particularly with Martin Heidegger’s Being and Time. Apart from filling these lacunae in critical work on Dostoevsky as an author and as a philosopher, the study will also provide a route to reinforcing a Bakhtinian polyphonic reading of Dostoevsky’s later work.

Liisa Tuhkanen (UCL SSEES)

This presentation examines the importance of citizenship for immigrants’ sense of belonging, ethnic identity and acculturation in the context of Finland’s largest immigrant group, the Russian-speaking minority. Liisa Tuhkanen is an MPhil Student at UCL SSEES. Her thesis, supervised by Dr. Titus Hjelm and Professor Anne White, makes use of interdisciplinary mixed methods approach to uncover the factors affecting acculturation processes of Russian-speakers living in Finland.

A seminar hosted by the UCL SSEES Arts and Humanities Research Student  Seminars.

Student Coordinators: Peter Braga and Liisa Tuhkanen