Russian Blog
This is a blog by JustRussian about learning Russian. You will find useful tips for learning Russian, Russian courses available in London, information about Russian culture and links to websites with information for students of Russian.
Back to the future: the changing face of Russia
By Vlada 5 February 08
Notes of a Russian teacher in London, or things you may be interested to know but won’t learn in a Russian course.
I go to Moscow every 3 months, or at least, try to, even if it’s only for a couple of days. My next door neighbour in Moscow cannot figure out why I keep buying huge quantities of chocolates, sweeties and newspapers/magazines in the local shop and then pop in and out of the house with a suitcase. She probably thinks I sell those things for profit somewhere in the market (but where?) and then come back to refill.
The truth is that having lived in London for the last 8 years I’m a bit worried I may lose touch with what’s going on in my country, and will start telling my students complete rubbish about the Russian way of life. And perhaps the fact that I miss Moscow and get a bit irritable when I haven’t been there for a long time!
But not losing touch (at least culturally) is becoming easier and easier. Although materially Russia is moving further and further away from Soviet times, culturally speaking it is conforming more and more closely. We are going through a “Soviet renaissance” in popular culture these days. All the old Soviet movies and songs are back. It’s especially noticeable during the New Year holidays – a traditional time to stay home with your family and watch a lot of telly. The famous old comedies are shown on all channels. We can all quote lines from them, just tell us which episode. The old songs are being recovered by both young and old artists. And all the new entertainment programmes regurgitate the same old Soviet jokes, themes and images.
I wonder what 17-year-olds must think of all this. They were born after the collapse of the Soviet system so they must be a bit confused. It’s reassuring to see the same pop artists I used to see on the TV in my childhood – some of them look even younger and prettier than they did 30 years ago (it’s amazing what they can do with plastic these days!). I like it. It makes me feel at home.
On the other hand, I don’t understand why the whole huge country is living on ideas and images of a society that doesn’t exist any more. Perhaps it’s just the Russian nostalgic soul showing itself. Or is it that the people in charge these days are mostly my generation, who grew up with those films and songs and still love them? Who knows… I suppose one day a new generation will take charge and this apparition of the Soviet Union will go away. But so far, we are remembering the good things about the old life style having completely forgotten the bad ones.