Pussy Riot Trials In Russia Cultural Studies Essay

prick insurrection Trials In Russia Cultural Studies EssaySources related closely to kitty Riot will be taken online and from newspaper articles as information on the subject is still fresh in peoples minds and non yet in book form.Mankind has incessantly been eager to be the strongest, largest, more or less powerful, fundament exclusivelyy the finest in e actuallything. This statement is clear for the Russia who is deemed the largest country in the world. Russia manages to cover one 6th of the whole globes land mass and has played a signifi micklet role in modern history. Although, in order to comprehend how a country has veritable into what it is now, one must(prenominal) reflect at its society. A countrys society reflects not only its people only also its expectations of the future and history.Many things reflect Russias alter culture but two of the main factors ar of art and the church. Like numerous other countries, religion has definitely played an immense role in the structure of Russian society and its values towards success. Their main place of worship is kn receive as the Russian Orthodox Church, this holy place being virtually one thousand years old and in the region of half of the countrys population belonging to it. This being said, the vast majority of Orthodox believers do not attend church on a regular basis. Russians nourish also turned to various new beliefs, parties, and religious denomi demesnes. However, the Russian Orthodox Church is very often valued amongst advocates and agnostics, who see it as an icon of Russian tradition, heritage and culture. Since bozo Riot formed they have made numerous headlines with a serial of illicit guerilla performances that included performing a morsel aptly named Revolt in Russia on the symbolic Red Square in January 2012. at last they were arrested under Russia stern illegal protest laws, but at the fourth dimension all eight band mates were released to march another day.The recent Pus sy Riot trials in Russia have highlighted the continuing need for women to challenge authority and assert their independence within Western Society. It may appear as if women have achieved lots over the last fifty years, but recent statistics have shown that as a result of the economic recession it has been women who have taken the brunt of the cuts.With un-employment amongst women corned 50 to 64 has a rising of 39% in two years compared with 5% rise for all over-16s in the UK alone1 whether it is a student, breadwinner, daughter or carer, this is the glue that holds society together, if they write off this part of society then we as a whole are lost. Females who are at risk of the cuts are most definitely not an industry or interest group they are 50% of this nation.In Stalinist Eastern Europe, governmental parties were banned and objurgation of the government was dangerous. Just as todays North Korea or Assads Syria, familiar spaces were forced, propaganda was across the boar d and fear was extensive. Yet even in a civilization confined by fear, young individuals created ways to communicate their discontent, as they have recently in the Arab world and North Africa. Much like the young women of Pussy Riot in Russia, they too have also learned how the use of pop culture and the ever growing power of social media sites can be utilise as a means of resistance against the communist regimes.Modern Communism was thought up and developed by a man named Karl Marx who was the brains behind creating Marxism and this is what collectivism as we kip down it today was ground upon. Karl Marx created this philosophy in the 1840s and the first communist party to hump to authority was the Bolshevik Party which gained control of Russia and created the Soviet Union. This happened in the early twentieth century and so from this we can establish that communism has been around from 1910s-20s through to present day. This was when the art movement Socialist realness was cr eated and then, in later years, utilize by the communist governments to create an alliance of the people within the country. This realistic art was also used to romanticize the legality and to glorify the roles that the reverseing class societies were playing within the country this was to make the people feel they were personally involved with the sustained populace of the country.At the tooth root of the 20thcentury in Russia, during the civil war, the innovative government largely used the arts as a means of advertising its ideas and aims.One of the most significant types of Russian propaganda art of that time was the influential political poster. It is through this form of medium and with the power of mass media in which the government called on the nation to learn to read and write, lend a hand those less fortunate or in need, and have a passionate love towards their country, making it a proud and immensely successful nation, fighting for freedom and yetice. Soviet poste rs began to first appear in Russia during the Proletarian Revolution and sobringing Communist Partys slogans to the masses.A number of posters would be hand drawn producing the posters this way would give these artists independence from the press and thus making it possible to react straight away to the most current issues as rapidly as possible. This way of producing has become an important attribute of Russian propaganda art. The posters themselves had individual characteristics bold shapes, vibrant colours, clear lines with lack of pocket-size details and additional strength.One unconventional example of Russian propaganda art had brought around a unique phenomenon in Russian art of the early 20th century agitation porcelain which proclaimed the ideas and ideals of the revolution and was an important propaganda weapon for the new rulers.Agitation porcelain was produced by artists such as Kazimir Malevich and Nikolai Suetin in dreary conditions, from time to time in starvation, u nder the management of Sergey Chekhonin. In 1923-24, they de write their globally- famous Suprematist works, which included classics of design history Malevichs white teapot and the half-cup. Agitation porcelain immediately became enthusiastically wanted and seek after by international art collectors. However it didnt become used by the masses or art for the people.Instead of ordinary floral and idyllic subjects these porcelain objects embellished with symbols of the Soviet Republic. With designs such as the hammer and sickle, and slogans like , -Those who dont work dont eat.Today Soviet agitation porcelain, representing Russian propaganda art are now popular items in collections of museums in Russia and overseas as well as private collections.Communism has long been connected with Russia. Even as this country rose to a democracy, breath of Russias socialist past still linger over this supposed forward thinking country. Pussy Riot had made global headlines with their taped per formances in debatable locations. YekaterinaSamutsevich, 30, Maria Alyokhina, 24, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, were found guilty of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred due to the staged performance in February 2012 rallying against president Putin in advance of the countrys elections in March. Pussy Riot are a feminist performance group formed of friends that embraced similar principles at anti-Putin rallies in Moscow, forming a revolution based around punk ethics and political activism. The identities of the collectives members are hidden from the public wear eye catching bright, colourful attire and balaclavas to their protests and events, inviting other members of the public who deal out the same ideals to join, disguised as well.When asked about the chosen name of the group one member named Garadzha stated A female sex organ, which is supposed to be receiving and shapeless, suddenly starts a radical rebellion against the cultural order, which tries to constantly def ine it and show its appropriate place. Sexists have certain ideas on how a cleaning lady should support and Putin, by the way, also has got a couple thoughts on how Russians should live. Fighting against all that thats Pussy Riot. (Vice magazine 2012)On February 21st, the group crossed the threshold of the altar and began cantabile and dancing in front of tourists and clergy at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior. They delivered approximately forty seconds of the Punk Prayer Mother of God, put Putin away asking the virgin Mary to drive out Russian president Vladimir Putin from the church, before being removed by security guards. Pussy Riot assured their performance in Moscows main cathedral was not to be an anti-church demonstration, and was entirely based on criticizing President Vladimir Putin.Some see the song itself as Punk poetry whilst others find out it as blasphemous. But the fact of the matter is Pussy Riot live, vote, pay their taxes in a country in which the Russi an Orthodox Church and its thick(p) links in structures of power have had a colossal control over their lives, politically and culturally.During the 20th century, the bodies of artists, and the public alike, were stimulatening to be commonly used more and more as both the entity and the subject matter, the piece itself. Bound, beaten, unclothed or highlighted features etc the body is presented in all possible guises, as the artist sooner literally lives his or her art either publicly, in performances or privately, in video and photography.This long standing tradition of self portraiture had began to take a distinct left turn, and the influential performance artists were at the forefront of this defiant movement to take art outside of the galleries and into the unconventional media, and in some cases debatable spaces much like Pussy Riot today, its clear to see that performance art would have played a distinct role in their political piece. The ties between art and life itself wo uld then be worn away, as were the ties between somewhat sensual and visual experiences amongst viewers.By establishing narratives of real life situations, their own experiences within the perspective of performance, the artists point out the extent in to which history, gender, and identity are all socially constructed performances and are the main focus to the manipulations of power.Before Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and YekaterinaSamutsevich were members of a collective named Voina (meaning War).Voina is a made up of a controversial group of Russian actionist artists that engage in radical street protest actions governmental protest art. The collective have protested against the somewhat total elimination of freedom of speech, against the violation of human rights, and against the complete liquidation of democracy that has taken place in Russia in current years.The popularity of politically engaged art tends to surge and decline, depending, of course on the current socio-p olitical and economic climates. Commodity artists and activist artists coexist.We had sex in public and this doesnt frighten us anymore, we invaded a police station and this doesnt frighten us anymore. What more is in that location that can scare us? We will deal with expiration in the future. Soon we will be completely fearless. (2012)To this day, over 200 activists have participated in Voinas artistic protest actions and at least 20 barbarous investigations into the groups activities have been initiated (Free-voina.org).On Voina, curator Artur mijewski had said (to gazeta.ru), The art group participates directly in politics, something no other group in Europe does. They are perfectly unique. Their actions test the durability of democracy. Their fame is linked to the fact that their actions reflect the Russian political process, the process itself is split in two partly European yet wildly different. And has also written The Voina group are the last of the righteous, who speak to us of how things should be, so that they may once again come true.http//24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbh6yrMGFG1qgejhto1_500.jpgA VOINA activist in a police uniform covered by an Orthodox priests cassock with a massive cross performed robbery in a high-class supermarket in Moscow. accompanied by the group, Mentopop carried outside, without paying, 5 large bags with delicatessen and elite alcohol. The crime was committed with the impunity enjoyed by priests and cops in todays Russia.Femen, a Ukrainian feminist group have gained much interest due to their scrupulous attitude of self-proclaimed sextremism which has turned into becoming infamous for organising naked protests. Some of the prominent examples of their work are the topless protests at the 2012 Olympics in London, in hostility towardsbloody Islamist regimesor thecutting down of a crucifix in Kiev, in support for fellow feminists, Pussy Riot just as a Moscow court was due to deliver its verdict in thecase.This goal of femin ism expressed by Femen and their strategies are indicative of the idea that Western ways of thinking are in some way essentially legitimate and greater. Their feminism however, is not a cultural paradigm that can be applied to all.-Riot grrrl has always been a force to be reckoned with it was an underground feminist movement that began early on in the nineties, which was very much united with punk music, feminism, radical politics, and a DIY aesthetic. Riot Grrrl activism concerned meetings, the creation of zines, artwork alike and a national network of support for females performance, whether it be musically, poetically or indeed artistically. Although many say the movement lasted until the mid nineties, others argue that it never ended. With the recognition ofSara Marcuss bookGirls to the Front The True Story of the Riot Grrrl Revolution, it appears that there may be various truths to that assertion.And there are many zines, which tell the tale of the origins of the movement (Jigs aw-1988, Girl Germs-1989, Bikini Kill-1990, SNARLA to name a few). In 1993, concord to a Canadian newspaper (as mentioned inGirls to the Front), 40,000 zines were published in North America alone. (2010)But as the next quote states, the power of Riot Grrrl managed to travel its way overseas and influence a whole new group of European followers wanting to reach out, create and thus inspire women and know that they were not alone.Why is there something odd and unnatural about women who want to try to do something with their lives? Why are women such fucking appendages in everything? feminism isnt over, it didnt fail, but something new must happen- Riot Grrrl Next time a guy feels your ass, patronises you, slags off your body- generally treats you like shit- forget the moral highground, forget hes been instilled with patriarchy and is a victim too, forget rationale and debate. Just deck the bastard. 1993 issue of Leeds and Bradford Riot Grrrls zine.We live in a generation of apathy and ignorance. We live in towns that no-one has any respect for anymore. We live lives and abide by the rules set for us, day in and day out. Media subliminally feeds us ideas of how we should be, look like, what we should think and what our tastes should be its bullshit and it necessarily to change. The Barbie dolls we see on the front of red-top newspapers and on TV are not our sisters. They arent our friends and they are not a force to change the sexism in this world. Male-domination has well and real taken over the media/music/films etc. We are not second class citizens and we have as much right to be here as men do. This is not acceptable.But when does art become music? Pussy Riot have been described as a feminist punk judder group, a punk rock collective. Released member of the group.Since the jailing of Pussy Riot the Moscow City court has established for the second occasion its verdict banning all LGBT pride events in the Russian capital for the next century.In the neare st future we will contest the government actions over the 100-year ban on mirthful pride events in the European Court of Human Rights. Through this we will eventually achieve that the bans are recognized as unlawful, not only for the past, but for the future gay parades in the Russian capital, the Interfax news agency quoted Alekseyev as saying.Pussy Riots performance of the Punk Prayer included a reference to the countrys exploited LGBT community with the line Gay pride sent to Siberia in chains.A court in Moscow has chosen four videos made by the feminist punk protest group Pussy Riot as extremist. The Zamoskvorechye District Court in the Russian capital ruled that access to all websites hosting the videos must be limited. In relation to the courts decision, websites that do not remove the Pussy Riot videos will face administrative penalties, which include fines up to 100,000 Rubles (around 2000).On June 8, 2012, Putin signed into law a measure imposing weighty fines on citizen s who organize or take part in unauthorized demonstrations, giving the Russian authorities authoritative leverage to clamp down on the large antigovernment street protests ignited by his decision that he planned to return to the presidency and re-energized by his inauguration in May.Four days later, around 10,000 protesters gatheredin central Moscow in defiance of the Kremlin ban.Tracy + the Plastics is the name of theelectro popsolo compute ofWynne Greenwood, alesbianfeministvideo artist based inOlympia, Washington she started this project with, what she describes as myself and myself and myself. She played all the roles of the band Nikki (keyboards), the skinny (drums) and Tracy (singer). Live, Nikki and Cola would be included as imagery in a projected landscape that backs her up and fills her in. Pre-recorded music would begin to play through speakers. She would then begin to sing live and talk to her band mates in between songs. Nikki asks Cola why she puts socks down her p ants to look like a shaft of light or a third dimension? Cola turns to Tracy and asks her for advice. I dont put socks down my pants she does it to look more real.Theres a history, a reality created by the interaction between the self and the image of the self. When an individual in a marginalized group talks to a recorded image of themselves it empowers the individual to open the ingress to the understanding and celebration that she/he/it can be deliberate. It is an interaction with a fragmented self. By fragmented, Greenwood means a consistent individuality thats constructed from different, often contradictory, elements of culture, society, and existence that we identify with because popular culture has no complete identity to offer its audience except one that resembles the ruling class. We can come out. And then come out again. We can rearrange our world how we want it. Wynne Greenwood (2001)Defining Miranda July is like trying to define a colour (Chang, 2000) when faced with the sheer range of her work single channel video, experimental audio, multimedia performance, fanzines, riot grrrl film and videotape distribution. July is a Portland, Oregon-based artist spellbound by codes, systems, and the erroneous belief of the ordinary abnormal by things such as education and IQ tests, also a somewhat fascination with human interactions and familys. Shes at her finest when she manages to show systems breaking down, altering, or exonerated of the substance that gives them meaning.July began to catch local attention whilst still in high school in Berkeley, MI, when she created a play (The Lifers) derived from a pen pal relationship with a convict in the California prison who was jailed for murdering a man who had frequently stole from his petrol station. She found him through an advert for a prisoner pen-pal type program in the back of a magazine. July went on to move to Portland, OR, and became emerged into the Riot Grrrl scene since this appeared the place to be for DIY music and art specifically targeting women with a voice, who needed an outlet. In 1996, out of this eager hotbed of creative female community arose theBig Miss Moviolaproject (but legal threats from the owners of the word Movieola strained July to interpolate the name of her project toJoanie4Jackie) a creative and incessant video chain letter. Female filmmakers and performance artists alike would produce a short film. The recorded piece would then be added to a compilation tape containing ten other female artists. The tape would then be sent back to the contributor.http//www.moma.org/explore/inside_out/inside_out/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/mj_amateurist_web.jpgYou always suspected it and now you know its true Girls and women are making movies everyday Joanie4JackieAll women were invited and encouraged to participate, despite technical skills, using any medium that was visible(prenominal) to them, By August 2000 there were upwards of 100 films still in distrib ution. The initiative for Moviolaemerged from Julys observation that the earth is full of inspirational films and people that cannot be seen or heard. And she takes this farther by stating she is also stimulated by films that yet to be made. July claims all of her writing is taken from the subconscious. The curators for this project included Miranda July, Rita Gonzalez, and Astria Suparak. TheJoanie4Jackieseries was also screened at film festivals and DIY movie events. So far, thirteen editions have been released, the latest in 2002. Prominent DIY filmmakers who have contributed to the project includeMary Billyou,Tammy Rae Carland,Lisa Hammer,K8 Hardy,Sarah Jacobson,G.B. Jones,Tara Mateikand Miranda July herself.Nowadays, her films illuminate the ordinary, lampoons of relationships, the fundamental bizarreness of sex, and remind us of what it feels to be human. July plays on the tension of relationships, the uncomfortable bits and the joys. She makes you snigger, and feel good with out making you feel like a simpleton in the process. She allures you not with trickery, but with what is desired as truth, or at least something within reach. For the male spectator, her films also offer the unusual delight of inhabiting a characteristically woman sensibility.