Maxim Shemetov / Reuters (https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/hunterschwarz/tens-of-thousands-protest-putin-at-anti-war-rally-in-moscow)
During such cruel times it is important to find comfort in those and things that allow one to express themselves and be comfortable. This is where art plays a huge role in war. Art could be named as the number one history teller and platform. It is important to express the oppression and unrest through art, whether that be 2D, 3D or bodily expressive art.
This brings us to the first big shift in the war and how it will be told. It was said, “Now in Russia everything is in manual control, hence the desire to concentrate as many structures as possible in one hand: merging theatres and firing dissenting administrations is one key example of Putin’s verticalization policy.” (There Was Some Contemporary Culture Left in Russia. Then Putin Started a War.) They fired all the theater and art directors that had anything to do with antiwar or honestly anything that did not benefit Putin. There could be no preforming or sharing with Ukraine either. I think this is outrageous, because they are making it where no one in Russia or from Russia can show any form of self-expression.
Many of the directors that were fired, were already known to be protestors or antiwar. This did not stop Putin’s men from questioning and looking through the devices of others, in search of any act against Putin or Russia. Furthermore, they are creating laws against speech, like “Behind the convoluted name hides military censorship: in practice, these amendments to the criminal and administrative codes prohibit calling war a war.” (There Was Some Contemporary Culture Left in Russia. Then Putin Started a War.) Not only can you not resist through art, but now you can not longer resist through speech either. Here are some other prohibited actions embedded in this quote, “Yet people in Russia already get arrested and subjected to administrative protocols for actions like writing on backpacks, combining clothes in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, holding posters with only asterisks: “*** *****” (which in Russian is easily read as “no to war” or “fuck war”).” (There Was Some Contemporary Culture Left in Russia. Then Putin Started a War.)
Theatres and art centers have been the victims of these harsh attacks. The Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre was one of many to suffer, “used as a bomb shelter, was physically destroyed, three hundred people were reported dead under the rubble there alone.” (There Was Some Contemporary Culture Left in Russia. Then Putin Started a War.) It saddens me that so much history has been lost in these traumas as well. This will not be an easy come back for Russia or Ukraine, it is said that if Russia does not change as a country coming out of this war, both countries will have to completely rebuild their art expression communities from scratch.
So what is our solution to this political unrest? We must rely on each other and the hope for relief, Svitlana Biedarieva said, “Everything was lost. That is how my focus on the restitution of memory emerged.” (Art Communities at Risk: On Ukraine) This was goes much deeper than topical wounds, Russia has attacked Russian’s and Ukrainian’s history and expression. They must build with their trauma and remember what has happened. At some point both countries must breathe and that is where they must both understand that we are all human. Svitlana Biedarieva said, “The idea of speaking with people through art stems from strong collective belief that reuniting is possible and that art is the key to overcoming traumas and political differences. (Art Communities at Risk: On Ukraine) In conclusion, we must use art to connect with each other and find balance.
Sources:
"Art Communities At Risk: On Ukraine" By Svitlana Biedarieva, September 6, 2022, OCTOBER 179. Winter 2022, pp. 137–149. © 2022 October Magazine, Ltd. and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://doi.org/10.1162/octo_a_00452
"There Was Some Contemporary Culture Left in Russia. Then Putin Started a War." By Viktor Vilisov, 4 April, 2022, https://howlround.com/there-was-some-contemporary-culture-left-russia-then-putin-started-war
In difficult times is when one has to express oneself and art is the best way to do it. It is extremely unfortunate when you take away space from artists because you are practically taking away their freedom of expression. However, with all the obstacles that arise, artists look for a way to pursue their art and express themselves against those who oppress them. Hope is the last thing that should be lost. Good job, Regan!
Regan, you did a great job highlighting the specific censorship tactics that are being employed in Russia currently--the graduate reading didn't mention it, so I am grateful for your great summary. One of the things that censorship proves ultimately, is the power of art. Between all of our posts we have mentioned art's ability to criticize, to subvert political discourses/simulations, to create awareness, and to provide catharsis. Authoritarian censorship in that way, recognizes the threat and the power that art inherently holds both at the individual and collective level. That gives me hope, it gives me hope that such a powerful tool and force of self-expression are in the hands of people, so that they may endure and challenge (if…
Regan, I also focused heavily on how Russia is using its power to censor art and control what it's citizens are allowed to create. I think it's really important that we take note of the power of art and what happens when government begins to take control of the private sector and restrict expression. The quote about how the Russian people began to protest through their clothes was a great example of how art/ expression holds significant power.