{"id":8620,"date":"2015-11-12T07:44:49","date_gmt":"2015-11-12T07:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=8620"},"modified":"2018-08-15T13:43:20","modified_gmt":"2018-08-15T13:43:20","slug":"reading-russian-press-russians-fear-of-uncomfortable-literature-part-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/reading-russian-press-russians-fear-of-uncomfortable-literature-part-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading Russian Press: Russians\u2019 Fear of Uncomfortable Literature \u2013 Part II"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

We are continuing last week’s discussion of some Russians’ reaction to the Belorussian writer Svetlana Alexievich receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature<\/a>.\u00a0Critics have voiced their concern that the award is becoming more political and that non-fiction, documentary writing is less deserving of this award. Let us continue looking at quotes from the article we read last week<\/a>, which refutes these claims.<\/p>\n

The main question raised in the article is why Alexievich’s prose is celebrated worldwide but virtually unknown in Russia.<\/p>\n

\u0418\u00a0\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0301-\u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438 \u0441\u0430\u0301\u043c\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u0430\u0301\u0436\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0434\u043b\u044f \u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044f \u0432\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0441 \u0437\u0432\u0443\u0447\u0438\u0301\u0442 \u0442\u0430\u043a: \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443\u0301 \u0434\u043b\u044f\u00a0\u0417\u0430\u0301\u043f\u0430\u0434\u0430 \u0410\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0438\u0435\u0301\u0432\u0438\u0447 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0430 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0301\u0432\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u0435\u0301\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c \u0440\u0443\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u044f\u0437\u044b\u0301\u0447\u043d\u044b\u043c \u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430\u0301\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c \u0438\u00a0\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0301\u0434\u044b \u0435\u0435 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0433 \u0432\u044b\u0445\u043e\u0301\u0434\u044f\u0442 \u043c\u0438\u043b\u043b\u0438\u043e\u0301\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0430\u0301\u043c\u0438, \u0430\u00a0\u0432 \u0420\u043e\u0441\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0438, \u043d\u0435\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u044f\u0301 \u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0435\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0301\u0445 \u0435\u0435 \u043f\u0435\u0301\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0445 \u0442\u0435\u0301\u043a\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432, \u043e\u043d\u0430, \u043f\u043e\u00a0\u0441\u0443\u0301\u0442\u0438, \u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0301\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0444\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0438 \u043b\u0438\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0442\u0443\u0301\u0440\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0446\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0441\u0430?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 – domestic, as in Russian. \u041e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e comes from \u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0446 (father) and means Fatherland\/Motherland\/Homeland — you know, that big word for your native country. Compare this with \u0412\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0301\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043e\u0442\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0430\u0301 – Great Patriotic War.
\n\u0417\u0430\u0301\u043f\u0430\u0434 – the West. Only capitalized when referring to the Euro-heritage\/industrialized\/capitalist societies, depending on your definition.
\n\u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0436 – circulation, number of copies of a book in print. Here, we are dealing with millions of copies (\u043c\u0438\u043b\u043b\u0438\u043e\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0442\u0438\u0440\u0430\u0436).
\n\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0435\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 refers to \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0439\u043a\u0430 (perestroyka)<\/i>, the political liberalization of the USSR in the late 80s.
\n\u043f\u043e \u0441\u0443\u0301\u0442\u0438 – in essence, basically<\/p>\n

The article suggests that Alexievich does not enjoy the same popularity in Russia as she does abroad because she shows war and human tragedies in an inglorious light, in situations where people\u00a0have no choice and lose their humanity.<\/p>\n

\u042d\u043a\u0437\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0435\u043d\u0446\u0438\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0301\u0437\u043c \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0301\u0442 \u043e\u00a0\u0442\u043e\u043c, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u043a \u0441\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0430\u0435\u0301\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0441\u0438\u0442\u0443\u0430\u0301\u0446\u0438\u0435\u0439 \u0432\u044b\u0301\u0431\u043e\u0440\u0430\u00a0\u2014 \u0410\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0438\u0435\u0301\u0432\u0438\u0447 \u0438\u00a0\u0435\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0448\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 \u0440\u0430\u0431\u043e\u0301\u0442\u0430\u044e\u0442 \u0441\u00a0\u043e\u0301\u043f\u044b\u0442\u043e\u043c \u0440\u0430\u0441\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f, \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0301\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u044f \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u043a\u0430, \u0434\u043b\u044f\u00a0\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u044b\u0301\u0431\u043e\u0440 \u043e\u0442\u0441\u0443\u0301\u0442\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0443\u0435\u0442.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u0441\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0301\u0442\u044c – to create, \u0441\u043e\u0437\u0434\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f – to be created by something
\n\u043f\u0440\u0435\u0434\u0448\u0435\u0301\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a – predecessor
\n\u0440\u0430\u0441\u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0301\u0447\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435 – dehumanization
\n\u0432\u044b\u0301\u0431\u043e\u0440 – choice<\/p>\n

According to the author, Russian readers are\u00a0not comfortable thinking about the traumatic experience of war unless it’s a familiar re-cap of the veterans’ bravery and a cause for celebration.<\/p>\n

\u0410\u00a0\u0434\u043b\u044f \u043d\u0430\u0441 \u043d\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0301\u0433\u043e \u041e\u0441\u0432\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0446\u0438\u043c\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u0301 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e, \u0438\u00a0\u041a\u043e\u043b\u044b\u043c\u044b\u0301 \u043d\u0435\u0301 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e, \u0434\u0430 \u0438\u00a0\u0432\u043e\u0439\u043d\u044b\u0301 \u0432\u00a0\u043e\u0301\u0431\u0449\u0435\u043c-\u0442\u043e \u0442\u043e\u0301\u0436\u0435, \u0435\u0301\u0441\u043b\u0438 \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0437\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0441\u0430\u043b\u044e\u0301\u0442 \u0438\u00a0\u00ab\u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0431\u043e \u0434\u0435\u0301\u0434\u0443 \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0301\u0434\u0443\u00bb.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u041e\u0441\u0432\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0446\u0438\u043c – Auschwitz, World War Two extermination camp
\n\u041a\u043e\u043b\u044b\u043c\u0430\u0301 – a river in Northeastern Siberia, the site of Soviet prison camps
\n\u0441\u0430\u043b\u044e\u0301\u0442 – fireworks
\n“\u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0438\u0301\u0431\u043e \u0434\u0435\u0301\u0434\u0443 \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0301\u0434\u0443” – “thank Grandpa for the victory,” a popular slogan encouraging people to thank WWII veterans.<\/p>\n

The author says that Alexievich’s achievement is her vast research into the trauma in Russia’s recent history — one that Russians have yet to grapple with.<\/p>\n

\u041d\u043e \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0436\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u00a0\u0442\u043e\u0442\u0430\u0301\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u043d\u0435\u0436\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0438\u044e \u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u0301\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430\u00a0\u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0448\u043b\u043e\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0431\u043b\u0435\u0301\u043c\u0443 \u043c\u044b \u043b\u0438\u0434\u0438\u0301\u0440\u0443\u0435\u043c \u0441\u00a0\u043e\u0433\u0440\u043e\u0301\u043c\u043d\u044b\u043c \u043e\u0442\u0440\u044b\u0301\u0432\u043e\u043c.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u043d\u0435\u0436\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0438\u0435 – unwillingness
\n\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0301\u0448\u043b\u043e\u0435 – past
\n\u043e\u0442\u0440\u044b\u0301\u0432 – lead in the race, here — “we are the absolute first”<\/p>\n

The article concludes by saying that this award is the call for\u00a0humanism\u00a0and compassion for each of the myriad little people who have suffered through traumatic historical events.<\/p>\n

\u0410\u00a0\u0435\u0449\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0301\u043c\u0438\u044f \u0410\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0438\u0435\u0301\u0432\u0438\u0447\u00a0\u2014 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b\u0301\u0432 \u043a\u00a0\u0441\u043c\u044f\u0433\u0447\u0435\u0301\u043d\u0438\u044e \u043d\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0432\u043e\u0432 \u0438\u00a0\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0443\u0441\u043b\u044b\u0301\u0448\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0301\u0433\u043e, \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0442\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0301\u043c\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 \u0433\u0443\u043c\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0301\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0446\u0435\u0301\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0439.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b\u0301\u0432 – call, plea
\n\u043d\u0440\u0430\u0301\u0432\u044b – mores, ways
\n\u0433\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0301\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c – readiness
\n\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0301\u043d\u0438\u0435 – recognition
\n\u0446\u0435\u0301\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438 – values<\/p>\n

Do you think this argument makes sense? What was the reaction to Alexievich’s win in your country, if any? I find her perspective on war interesting and refreshing in light of\u00a0Veterans’ Day\/Armistice Day<\/a>\u00a0observance in different parts of the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

We are continuing last week’s discussion of some Russians’ reaction to the Belorussian writer Svetlana Alexievich receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature.\u00a0Critics have voiced their concern that the award is becoming more political and that non-fiction, documentary writing is less deserving of this award. Let us continue looking at quotes from the article we…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[117548,9432],"class_list":["post-8620","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-contemporary-russian-literature","tag-reading-in-russian"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t