Vestnik (Fall '22)

Вестник Magazine of the Russian Program at Pomona College

Fall 2022

Dear students and faculty of the Russian Program, The ongoing, ruthless war of aggression waged by Russia on February 24th, 2022 is nearing its ninth month.

As winter inches closer, Russian troops destroy critical infrastructures in Ukraine, causing whole cities and towns to lose electricity and heat. On the other side, Russia has mobilized many of its young men, often from impoverished regions and ethnic minorities, to be sent to the frontlines. When many of us wrote and edited last semester’s Vestnik published in April, we thought that would be the only issue addressing the war.

Though naïve, we have learned that this war has now become a part of the headlines, a part of the daily blasts of information–yet, to many of the community members in Claremont, this war is not as far as it is geographically. We would first like to honor and thank our community members, both students and faculty, who continue to educate us on the realities of war, on the histories and cultures of the region, and on the people who live there. Our thoughts are continually with those affected by this senseless war.

As the war has brought many changes to the wider world, so it has brought changes to our Russian Program publication, Vestnik. While previous editions bore the name Русский Вестник (Russkiy Vestnik), “Russian Messenger,” this edition has been renamed to simply Vestnik, “The Messenger.” As we strive to broaden our horizons as students of Russian, we feel that it is important to acknowledge the many Russian-speaking countries and cultures who do not identify themselves as Russian. While this change is, in the grand scheme of things, very small, we hope that its intentions are clear: Vestnik, and the Russian Program, is a place for all.

For us, the editors of Vestnik, we find it a necessity to continue the tradition of publishing this magazine as an effort to stimulate conversations about the region. In this issue, we touch on a multitude of topics, such as exploring Moldova (Diana), listening to Tatar music (Miriam), comparing the Ukrainian and Russian languages (Alexandra), tasting and rating Ukrainian candies (Carolina), learning about Korean influence on Central Asian cuisines (Bianca), and addressing homophobia in Russia (Boyang). We also have music and film reviews, interviews with students, and travel & work experiences from students and alumni in this issue.

This issue could not have happened without the support and help of the Russian faculty at Pomona College: Larissa Rudova, Konstantine Klioutchkine, and our newest faculty member, Liana Battsaligova. Without your help and efforts to build a strong community, this magazine would not exist. We would also like to thank our Russian-language resident, Aleksandra Bystrova, for offering fun cultural events and conversation classes, as well as fostering a sense of community for Russian-speakers and learners at the 5Cs. This semester’s Vestnik also would not have been possible without Victoria Brooks and Asya Lyubavina, our design editors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the Editors Experiences Why Are You Learning Russian? - Augustine, Tom, & Roman Forever Young: Reflections on a Summer in Central Asia - Grant Thierroff Moldova: A Brief Introduction - Diana Braghis In Conversation with Anezhka Boyle - Boyang Liu Interning for the American Embassy in Moscow - Jackson Lennon Senior Profile: Ash Maria - Claire Tiunn (Chang) Culture/Current Events Carolina’s Appropriately Unhinged Review of Ukrainian Candies - Carolina Gutiérrez Tunstad The Koryo-saram & Korean Influence on Central Asian Cuisines - Bianca McNeely Vsevolod Sergeevich Troitsky & Extraterrestrial Intelligence in our Universe - Natalie Owen Homophobia in Russia - Boyang Liu Molchat Doma - Yarik Boriskin An Overview of Differences the Ukrainian & Russian Languages - Alexandra Runnels Film Review: Tartovsky’s Stalker - Marissa Woodworth Lessons of Soviet Photographs from the Benton Museum Archives - Asya Lyubavina Последний Герой (The Last Hero) - Elizaveta Gorelik The Music Label Producing The Next Wave of Tatar Music - Miriam Akhmetshin Crossword/Кроссворд Spring ‘23 Course Offerings Study Abroad Opportunities

To Ash Maria, our graduate from the Russian Program, congratulations! We hope for the best in your future– it is most definitely bright. Ash has brought so much to the Russian Program, and his linguistic prowess is something we can all look up to. Best of luck in all of your post-Claremont endeavors!

We hope this edition of Vestnik serves to educate and stimulate conversation within the Russian-learning and wider Claremont communities. During this difficult time, we thank the Russian Program for building a strong, resilient community, and the students who spent their time sharing their personal stories and interests through Vestnik. Without further ado, please enjoy the Fall 2022 issue of Vestnik.

From your editors-in-chief, Claire Tiunn (Chang) (PO ‘24) and Carolina Gutiérrez-Tunstad (SC ‘24) 1

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Why Are You Learning Russian?

I am learning Russian because I am traveling to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan next summer to conduct geologic and paleontological research. Most geoscience research conducted in Kyrgyzstan is "satellite research," where a Western research team travels to the country for a few days, collects data, and then leaves without ever communicating their results to local institutions and communities. This is not the form of science I believe in... in my view, science is not worth doing unless it is communicated with those who are actually affected by it. Therefore, I am learning Russian so that over a four-month period, I can collaborate with the Kyrgyz Institute of Seismology to produce a Russian-language, non-technical popular science article on my research. This article will then be distributed to local newspapers and magazines to be published as they see fit. I am having a blast learning Russian because I know it is helping me put into practice the ideals I believe in.

- Augustine Lodise (Августин) Pitzer College, '23 From Southern California, Hawai'i, Virginia, Utah, Michigan, and Oregon

I wanted to take Russian for a few reasons. First off, going into college, I knew I wanted to take a foreign language class. I think they provide a unique and rare opportunity to learn something brand new in a safe and supportive environment. Furthermore, it helps to foster a more global and holistic approach to life as you learn about new cultures, people, and their language. The reason why I chose Russian from all of the other foreign languages was because my partner is Ukrainian, and I frankly knew very little about her culture and language. I wanted to learn more about the Slavic region, culture and the languages spoken there. Russian seemed like a great place to start that journey. Lastly, I wanted to challenge myself in new ways beyond the typical STEM classes that I take at Mudd.

- Roman Herrera Harvey Mudd, ‘23 From Rancho Cucamonga

I am taking Russian because I want to pursue a career in international relations with a focus on the Balkans. While many Balkan countries don't speak Russian, their languages are extremely similar to it. I thought that taking Russian would be an excellent stepping stone to get to those languages. Not to mention that Russia is a big player on the stage of international politics, so knowing Russian would give me additional insight into global issues!

- Tom Inouye Claremont McKenna College, ‘26 From Orinda, California

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I’ve always been interested in Russian history both in the past reigns of the tsars and in the post-soviet era that resides now. Especially wanting to study International Relations the way that Russia and Eastern European countries relate to the rest of the world fascinates me.

-Amanda Macias Schreiber Pomona 2026

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Forever Young: Reflections on a Summer in Central Asia Grant «Гриша Иванович» Thierroff, CMC ‘22 As I groggily listened to Европа Плюс in the back of my Яндекс driver’s car early one Bishkek morning this July, a vaguely familiar tune came on: Let’s dance in style, let’s dance for a while Heaven can wait, we’re only watching the sky Hoping for the best but expecting the worst Are you gonna drop the bomb or not?

There are many different reasons Alphaville’s Forever Young could relate to people these days – 80’s nostalgia, ponderance of our mortality, resurgent fears of a nuclear Armageddon in light of current events. Yet the reason I so poignantly remember the sound of this cheesy synth-pop on my way to meet a tour group headed to Озеро Кёль-Тор is more personal: I first heard it on my Spotify radio as a freshman in Claremont. Though I hadn’t yet started learning Russian, I was fascinated by the way the Cold War influenced the angst of the song. 5 years later, I listened to it once more from some 7,000 miles away, now able to communicate with many from the other side of this once-bitter, seemingly existential conflict.

The opportunity to see what I saw in Kyrgyzstan was, undoubtedly, a unique privilege that I seldom expect to experience again anytime soon. The pristine-blue water of Кёль-Тор, the lake I visited that day, reflects the blue sky it kisses from its high perch in the northern Tian Shan mountains. The rolling, arid steppe surrounding the gargantuan Иссык-Куль echoes Kyrgyzstan’s proud nomadic past.

The diverse array of Muslim mosques, Orthodox and Catholic churches, Jewish synagogues, and Buddhist temples scattered across its present landscape reverberates the rich cultural and historic gifts that wayfarers brought in their travels along its vast Silk Road. Буранa tower, Ала-Арча, the monuments to the Великая Отечественная Война; these places were surreal.

Then there were the odd characters I got to meet during my travels and studies. My language partner, a gangly sociology student at the Американский Университет Центральной Азии by the name of Бехтемир, taught me about the Kazakh hip hop scene, Noize MC, and his perspective on the legacy of colonialism in Kyrgyzstan; I taught him about Ted Lasso, good sunglasses, and Claremont’s beloved party-pastimes, such as King’s Cup. Владимир Владимирович, whom I met in the van to Кёль-Тор, gave me insight not only into his experience as a Russian fleeing conscription into the war in Ukraine, but also into the beloved Russian cultural anthem «Третье Сентября».

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For every dorm security guard who reprimanded my friends and me for being out past our building’s all-too-early curfew, there was another building attendant teaching us how to toast vodka in the wee hours of the morning. And as I continued my studies throughout the summer, I was excited to carry myself with newfound confidence through every awkward exchange with a waiter and mundane small talk with a cab driver.

Before studying Russian at Pomona, I used to struggle with language learning out of apathy and pessimism – why study flashcards on kitchen vocabulary or how to say different numbers when progress would be fleeting and practical uses all but absent? Лариса and Костя helped me overcome this pessimism by pushing me to use my Russian as much as I could and invoking deep questions that cut to the heart of the language I was learning. Having Саша and the rest of my conversation class (Команда Большая Собака навсегда!) further helped motivate me to routinize using the Russian that I was learning, reinforcing it as best I could. All of these resources that the Claremont Colleges have to offer taught me that language is not just a means to an end, but that those ends are the infinitely rich possibilities to express oneself and connect with others in ways otherwise impossible.

On a close listen to the sappy 80’s song that’s echoed from Claremont to Kyrgyzstan, one might discern Alphaville’s warning to us all that “life is but a short trip.” For me, getting to know others in as organic and rich a fashion as I did in Kyrgyzstan is one of the great antidotes to the temporariness of my time on Earth. I’m grateful for all the people and possibilities that Pomona’s Russian department presented to me in this last year so that I could participate in the Critical Language Scholarship in Kyrgyzstan and feel a genuine connection not only to it as a place, but with its people.

Touring Bishkek Photo with Bektimir (Бехтемир)

Trying Traditional Манты (Kyrgyz dumpling)

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Moldova: A Brief Introduction Diana Braghis, Pomona ‘26 The Republic of Moldova is an interesting case study of how the recent intersection of multiple cultures led to the creation of a unique national identity. In this brief introduction, I hope to walk you through the essence of Moldovan culture and the role it plays on the international stage.

Moldova is located in Eastern Europe, between Romania and Ukraine. Moldova has a population of just 2.5 million people, of which almost 800,000 live in the capital city, Chișinău (pronounced Ki-shi-nau).

Ethnically, Moldovans represent a majority of the population (75%), with Romanian (7%), Ukrainian (6.6%), Gagauz (4.6%), and Russian (4.1%) minorities. Unique to the southern regions of Moldova and Ukraine, the Gagauz are a Turkic people who speak a Turkish dialect. Though only Romanian is recognized as a national language, Russian is taught in schools and widely spoken throughout the countryside and major cities. Also, within of Moldova is the autonomous region of Transnistria, a territory bearing its own flag, currency, and borders, but is not inter-nationally recognized as a separate country.

Historically, the culture of Moldova has been influenced by many neighboring nations, including Romania, Ukraine, Russia, and Turkey. Moldovans and Romanians are believed to have originated from the Dacians, a people that emerged around 3000 BC in the Carpathian Mountains (located in what is now Romania), thus denoting shared ancestry of modern Moldovans and Romanians.

Map of Moldova and the Surrounding Region

However, over the coming centuries, other peoples would invade Moldova and influence the development of their own culture. A peak in Moldovan history is the reign of Stephen the Great during the 15th century, when the country experienced a period of economic growth and territorial expansion. Moldova today is still home to many churches and monasteries from Setphen’s rule, as he would build a church for every war he won, totaling over forty churches and monasteries.

In the 16th century, Moldova came under the occupation of the Ottoman Empire, leading to three centuries of Ottoman cultural influence. In 1812, Moldova, then called Bessarabia, was ceded to the Russian Empire, which marked the beginning Diana visiting Orheiul Vechi in Spring 2020 of Russian influence in the country. Fast forward to 1918, when Moldova became part of România Mare (literally: Big Romania) following the fall of the Russian Empire. This union was short-lived, as the beginning of the Second World War marked the Russian occupation of Moldova and the country becoming one of the Soviet republics.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Moldova has persisted in rebuilding its infrastructure and promoting democratic values. While today it still qualifies as a “transitional democracy,” in 2020 we elected our first female president, Maia Sandu, who has consistently tried to help Moldova join the European Union, and Moldova recently became a candidate for membership in the EU. 7

The continuous influence of neighboring countries has led to many foreign practices being adapted into Moldovan culture. Our cuisine can be described as a mix of Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian, and Turkish dishes. Some notable ones include the Romanian plăcinte (dough with different sour and sweet fillings), sarmale (rice-filled cabbage rolls), mămăligă (hominy polenta), zeamă (chicken soup), and, my personal favorite, Cușma lui Guguță (a sour cherry-filled crêpe cake with sour cream and chocolate on top). Moldova is also internationally recognized for its quality wines, with the largest wine collection in the world located at Mileștii Mici, right outside the capital city.

Moldova has similarly earned international artistic and cultural recognition. Notable national writers and poets include Mihai Eminescu, Ion Creangă, Alecu Russo, and Mircea Eliade, all of whom have had their works translated into multiple languages. In classical music, Maria Bieșu was one of the world’s leading sopranos at the end of the 20th century, while composers like Eugen Doga, as well as Ion and Doina Aldea Teodorovici, became national symbols. More recently, pop singers like O-Zone (with their hit “Dragostea din Tei”), Carla’s Dreams, SunStroke Project (Eurovision 2011 and 2017), Zdob și Zdub (Eurovision 2022), and The Motans have been promoting Moldovan music for national and international audiences.

Celebrations are a big part of Moldovan culture, with Storefront of a Restaurant in Chișinău national events being celebrated as extensive festivals, dinner tables showcasing national dishes, and weddings lasting multiple days. While Christmas is celebrated on December 25th, some also celebrate it on January 7th, in accordance with the old Eastern Orthodox calendar. The same applies to New Year– it takes place both on January 1st and January 14th. Traditionally, on Christmas Eve, many children visit different houses in their neighborhoods and sing Christmas songs in exchange for sweets, small gifts, and money.

Another significant Romanian/Moldovan celebration is Mărțișor. Celebrated on March first, people wear a red and white ornament on their chest to welcome spring and ward off the winter spirit.

Weddings usually start in the late afternoon and last till the early morning hours, with guests being invited to an afternoon zeamă (the chicken soup I mentioned earlier) the next day to exchange some more conversations and enjoy the warm dish.

Moldova represents an intersection of identities a place where different cultures come together and coexist. Moldova and Romania are deeply intertwined, the peoples of these countries sharing a common history. I hope this introduction serves as a new perspective into Eastern Europe and Moldova as a country.

Bibliography Alegeri.md. (n.d.). Municipiul Chisinau. Municipiul Chișinău. Retrieved October 18, 2022, from http://alegeri.md/w/Municipiul_Chi%C8%99in% C4%83uW Britannica. (n.d.). People of Moldova. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 16, 2022, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Moldova/People Eco-Restaurant in Orheiul Vechi

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In Conversation with Anezka Boyle (REES ‘20)

Interning for the American Embassy in Moscow

Boyang Liu, CMC ‘23

Jackson Lennon, Pomona ‘24

Vestnik: Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Anezka Boyle: My name is Anezka Boyle, and I am currently in my second year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Kostanay, Kazakhstan. I majored in Russian and Eastern European Studies (REES) during my time at Scripps College and I plan on joining the foreign service in the future.

V: Could you describe the program in Kazakhstan that you participate in?

AB: As a Fulbright ETA, I am the director of a US Embassyfunded institute at the local library in Kostanay facilitating discussion about American-Kazakh relations and teaching English to members of the public completely free of charge.

I also teach English philology and translation at Kostanay State University. The Fulbright and Embassy networks are very diverse and offer a lot of opportunities to current Fulbrighters and alumni.

V: How did the Russian program at Pomona College prepare you for the journey after graduation? What was your favorite part about our program?

AB: I owe my Fulbright experience largely to the curriculum I learned as a result of being a REES major.

The REES major offers students the ability to study Russian area studies through interdisciplinary means.

I was able to take courses in politics, literature, international relations, culture, and language all because the Russian department allowed, and encouraged, a multifaceted approach to learning.

V: Do you have some advice for current students in the Russian program?

In Spring 2022, I first learned of the opportunity through a newsletter from the U.S. State Department regarding the U.S. Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) internship program. Since I was looking for an internship to supplement my upcoming junior year, I thought it worthwhile to apply for the various internships the VSFS program had to offer. I also want to offer some quick information on the VSFS program. Basically, the U.S. government offers virtual, part-time (10 hours per week at most) internships that advance the work of the U.S. government and are about a year long. Most of the internships offered are from the State Department, but there are other programs offered by other agencies as well. Students can only apply for up to three internships, and I had a hard time pinpointing which three opportunities I wanted to apply to.

I submitted my application to a U.S. governmental job portal and awaited further inquiries.

Near the end of August, I received an interview request from one of the political officers at the Embassy.

I had a phone-call interview, and a few days later, I received an acceptance letter.

As of now, I have only interned for a couple of weeks. The first and second weeks were pretty hectic. For my first meeting, I had to wake up at 5 AM to accommodate for the time difference with Moscow, and I had to work on a memo, which I had no prior experience writing, on Russian municipal elections with three other fellow interns. While it was a steep learning curve, I gradually got the hang of things. During the second week, I had to write a memo that was due thefollowing morning. Recently, things have calmed down, but I am very excited to continue working on my next assignment.

With my work at the embassy, I hope to gain a broader understanding of Russian Foreign policy and gain a stronger understanding of how the Russian mindset works. I also hope to add more vocabulary, especially political and economic vocabulary, to my slightly deteriorating Russian expertise.

Overall, I strongly encourage fellow students to pursue this opportunity in the future!

AB: I would advise any current or future participants in the Russian department to take advantage of the manifold resources and opportunities offered by all the Claremont Colleges. During my time at the 5Cs, I was able to take classes related to my major at every college campus, which is the perfect way to experience a liberal arts education and learn about Russian and Eastern European studies through as many different perspectives and avenues at your disposal.

V: Is there anything you want to add?

AB: I’d be happy to be a resource for anyone thinking of applying for a Fulbright to Kazakhstan or other Central Asian countries!

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Senior Interview with Ash Maria Claire Tiunn (Chang), Pomona ‘24 I sat down with Ash Maria at the bustling Malott dining hall. He has been a familiar face in the Russian Department for the last three years that I have been here.

Besides occasional tea and dessert breaks, I asked him about his four years at Pomona, and in the Russian Department.

Ash Maria is an Anthropology and Russian and Eastern European Studies (REES) double major graduating this semester. He calls Lake Forest Park, Washington home, and enjoys playing pickleball, learning languages, writing poetry, translating, and reading. His current favorite book is The Physics of Sorrow by Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov.

Claire: Why did you decide to take Russian?

Ash: Instead of coming into Pomona as a Russian major, I was set on doing pre-med and anthropology. I went to Uzbekistan during the winter break of my sophomore year to volunteer at a women’s shelter. To better communicate with people there, I picked up a few phrases in Russian and instantly fell in love with the language. The following semester, I decided to take intermediate conversation…and I was the only one doing so. It turns out that I was the only student enrolled in the class, so I essentially had a tutor session. Additionally, I went to Oldenborg as often as I could and self-studied the language. The next summer, I did the Middlebury Language School for Russian, and the following year, I enrolled in 19th Century Russian Literature. The book that influenced me most was First Love by Ivan Turgenev, which I enjoyed so much so that I decided I would minor in Russian, at least. That, in addition to my pre-med and anthropology major, made it difficult, so I dropped pre-med and decided to pursue Russian and anthropology. For me, Russian was not just a language, but a humanistic approach to both pre-med and anthropology that gave me a contextual and qualitative edge to my studies.

C: What is some advice you would give to current/future Russian students?

A: Do independent studies! The department is small, but that is just an opportunity to make it your own. Use the smallness of the department to your advantage. Become friends with the faculty and be active in Russian department activities.

C: What are your plans for your future?

A: I am applying to Ph.D. programs in Slavic studies and comparative literature, which are two areas I am incredibly passionate about. In addition, I want to learn more Eastern European languages like Polish and Ukrainian to aid in my interest in translation.

Thank you to Ash and his contributions to the Russian Department!

We will miss his presence and the knowledge he brought to all of us.

Best of luck to you!

C: What will you miss the most about the Russian department?

A: The Russian Department really feels like a family. We have a strong support network between students from all colleges and the language resident, but also a close-knit connection with the Russian professors. Without the professors who took me under their wing, I would not be where I am now. They gave me energy and time to allow me to explore my interests and prepare for graduate school.

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Carolina’s Appropriately Unhinged Review of Ukrainian Candies Carolina Gutiérrez-Tunstad, Scripps ‘24 Dear readers, Welcome back to the absolute clownery that is my candy reviews. This is the second installment in my series, and this time, we’re traveling to Ukraine. I bought all of my candy from the Roshen candy brand, which means that about 30 of my hard-earned dollars went to a company owned by former president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that, but que sera, sera. As a disclaimer, I’d like to remind everyone that these reviews are purely based on my opinion, which, as always, matters very little. My reviews of the candies can be influenced by a variety of external factors, including (but not limited to): my mood, the weather, my unrefined American palate, my horoscope, whether I remembered to take my meds that day, etc.

So take this with a grain of salt, alright?

Johnny Krocker: ah, the return of the classic Slavic wafer candy. And the return of weird candy names!

I have no idea who Johnny Krocker is. The strange love child of Davy Crockett and

Johnny Appleseed? I have no clue, but I do love a funky candy name. 7/10. Шалена бджiлка фруттi (Crazy Bee Frutti): This candy is nothing special, it’s just a jelly-filled gummy

candy, but I do enjoy the cartoon bee on the wrapper. What a dude. Just going

absolutely nuts, and I respect him for that. 9/10.

Toffelini: Whoever invented this candy deserves to be crowned supreme dictator of the planet earth. I

have no doubt that the mind that created this yummy chocolate toffee and pudding

creation will lead humanity into a bright new age of confectionary innovation. 10/10. Корiвка (“Cow”): this candy has the structural integrity of a roll of toilet paper caught in a category

five hurricane. Crumbly sugar everywhere. Minus points for making me have to

vacuum after eating. 4/10 Червоний мак (“Red Poppy”): Do you know the feeling of abject disappointment when you bite into

a chocolate chip cookie, only to realize it was an oatmeal raisin cookie all along? I

am convinced that the Roshen confectionery managed to distill that feeling and

solidify it into a chocolate bar which they then called Червоний мак. This candy

looks so good, but, much like an oatmeal raisin cookie, is filled with nothing but lies

and disappointment. 1/10.

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Кара Кум: I am 90 percent sure this is the same thing as Червоний мак, but it tastes better somehow???

I am very easily swayed by cute animals, so I think the camel on the front of Кара

Кум is tricking me into thinking it’s better than it actually is. So bonus points for the

adorable camel, but minus points for swindling me into believing this candy was

going to be good. 2/10. Ромашка (“Daisy”): This candy is exactly the same as the Russian candy of the same name. I described

that candy as tasting “like my grandmother’s perfume which has been fermented for

a hundred years, mixed with peanut oil, solidified into an unholy mass, and then

dipped in chocolate.” Still a true statement! But, with the help of my roommate and

Google, I have figured out why it tastes so bad: cognac. I have the palate of a five year

old, which explains why the alcohol taste grossed me out. Still, it’s a -20/10 for me. Конафетто бiянко (“White Candy”): a wafer tube coated in chocolate and filled with cream. It’s fine

for like, 15 seconds. Then the aftertaste sets in and it becomes decidedly not fine.

The cream filling tastes almost like coconut, but not a nice coconut. More like a

coconut-scented sunscreen. 4/10. Елкер (“Eclair”): Not gonna lie, I did not finish this candy because it started tasting too close to

Ромашка and I got scared. 0/10.

Бiм-Бом (“Bim Bom”): fruity boiled candy that is about the size and shape of a hefty marble. It tasted

fine, but I nearly choked. So minus points for some poor coroner almost having to

write “death by Bim Bom” on my death certificate. 5/10.

Milky Splash: it’s a toffee, with the same coconut sunscreen filling as Конафетто, but this one manages

to have both an unpleasant initial taste and aftertaste, which is kind of impressive!

1/10.

Fizzy Cola: when they said fizzy, they meant fizzy. It’s a cola flavored hard candy, with a bunch of

powder in the center that fizzes up when you eat it. As a very sensory-seeking

person, I was having a blast. 10/10 purely for the sensory experience. Евкалiпт-ментол (“Eucalyptus Menthol”): I am pretty sure this is medicine? The Roshen website

describes it as “perfect for holidays, candy buffets, birthday parties, movie nights,

or your candy bowl at home,” but this is basically condensed Vicks VapoRub. On

the bright side, I think this candy could prove to be a promising treatment for

upper respiratory infections. So a 2/10 for candy flavor, but 10/10 as a promising

new pharmaceutical!

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The Koryo-saram & Korean Influence on Central Asian Cuisines Bianca McNeely, Pomona ‘25 Famine, drought, and overall poor economic conditions pushed Koreans in the 1860s to begin migrating from their homeland in the northern Korean Peninsula and settling in the Russian Far East. The tsarist government at the time also encouraged Korean migration as the empire had recently taken control of the territory from China and needed to populate the region. By the start of the Soviet Union, more than hundred thousand Koreans, known as the Koryo-saram, or the “Korean people,” lived in the Russian Far East. The Koryo-saram made the Russian Far East their home, founding hundreds of villages and establishing Korean-language schools, community centers, and Korean newspapers. However, in 1937, Stalin, fearing that Koreans in the Far East would become Japanese spies, ordered the immediate deportation of the Koryo-saram.

Approximately 170,000 of the Koryo-saram were forced to leave behind their possessions and board packed trains that took them from their homes in the Far East to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in Central Asia, many not being told of their final destination. Thousands died on the journey due to starvation, disease, and exposure. Upon settling in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, many Koreans joined or established kolkhozy (collective farms), joined the army, worked in local governments, and began A woman selling марков-ча (carrot salad) at a market to rebuild their lives in Central Asia. Under the Soviet Union, fewer and fewer Koryo-saram spoke their native language of Koryo-mar, which is distinct from the Korean spoken in South Korea. The decline of Koryo-mar can be attributed to pressures to assimilate and the economic importance of speaking Russian, Kazakh, and Uzbek. Now, as the older generation of speakers of Koryo-mar have died, the language has become endangered. However, the culture of Koryo-Saram has continued to flourish; most notably through food.

After being deported to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the Koryo-saram struggled to recreate their traditional food. The geography of Central Asia made it more difficult to incorporate Korean staples, such as seafood, into the Koryo-saram diet. Nevertheless, the Koryo-saram modified their recipes to the ingredients available in Central Asia and those fusion dishes have become immensely popular outside Koryo-saram communities. The most famous example of adapting Korean food to Central Asia is марков-ча, a spicy carrot salad appetizer. Baechu cabbage used to make traditional kimchi was unavailable in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, so the Koryo-saram adapted and replaced Baechu cabbage with carrots, leading to the creation of марков-ча. The word марков-ча itself is a combination of the Russian word for carrot, “морковь,” and the Korean word for a type of salad, “ча.” Mарков-ча has become immensely popular and has become well-known in Central Asian and Russian cuisine. Even as their language has become endangered, the Koryo-saram have been able to keep their culture and history alive via a fusion of their food with Central Asian cuisine.

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Vsevolod Sergeevich Troitsky and the Extraterrestrial Intelligence in our Universe Natalie Owen, Scripps ‘25 What do extraterrestrial life, the moon, and Soviet astronomy have in common? Vsevolod Sergeevich Troitsky, born in 1913 in Mikhailovskoye, a village just south of Moscow. In 1918, his family moved to Zeletsino, Nizhny Novgorod Governorate, and his father was appointed director of a paste factory. However, in 1920, his father died of typhus, so a young Troitsky moved with his family to Gorky (now Nizhny Novgorod), where he would become deeply engrossed in his education and career over the next few decades. He graduated from Gorky State University and eventually defended his doctoral thesis in radio astronomy, which was the first thesis of its kind in the Soviet Union. This would be one of Troitsky’s many “firsts” in Soviet astronomy.

Vsevolod Sergeevich Troitsky

After defending his thesis, Troitsky joined the Research Radio Physics Institute in Gorky in 1956, and his research here culminated in the most accurate radio emission spectrum data of the moon available at the time. You might wonder: What is radio astronomy? It is one way of observing the universe in a wavelength that is not “visible” to the human eye, and interpreting the radio emissions of objects can provide data about characteristics of objects that astronomers would not otherwise be able to “see.” How did Troitsky apply this to the moon? Troitsky’s application of radio emission to the moon allowed himself and other astronomers to explore the radio waves emitted by the moon as blackbody radiation, which later led to the discovery of heat flow from the moon’s surprisingly hot interior, a discovery that was credited in 1962 to Troitsky and fellow astronomer Krotikov.

Impressive as this frontier discovery was, Troitsky did not stop at the moon: he wanted to see further. In 1960, renowned theoretical astrophysicist Iosif Shklovsky paved the way for Soviet involvement in SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, with his book Universe, Life, Intelligence (or, Intelligent Life in the Universe, as it was first titled as a collaboration with the American astronomer Carl Sagan). Inspired, Troitsky was among the first Soviet astronomers to present ideas on “radio-communication” strategy in discovering and making contact with extraterrestrial life. He attended the May 1964 First All-Union Conference on Extraterrestrial Civilizations, held at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, on the slope of Mount Aragats in Armenia. Immediately following this conference, Troitsky returned to Gorky and embarked on a multi-year mission with a team of astrophysicists, scanning the skies for radio signals from the nearest celestial bodies (specifically sun-like stars).

While they were never successful, he remained Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory, Byurakan, Armenia committed to the project of exploring space and theorizing about the galaxy’s potential for extraterrestrial life. Troitsky was also passionately involved with SETI, at the time an intersection between frontier theoretical astrophysics and a budding collaboration between American and Soviet astronomers, until the publication of his final paper in 1996, months before his death. His contributions to astrophysics and to the world were special, and possibly the only things more extraordinary were the insatiability and depth of his curiosity.

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История науки и математики от Советского Союза до современной России Колин Илайас, Помона ‘26 Доминирование России в математике и других науках хорошо известно. Во всех двадцати важных американских математических обществах есть ученики Московской математической школы. Российскую науку уважают в западном мире. В России математика и науки—это предмет гордости. Но у этого успеха есть очень интересное историческое прошлое, глубоко уходящее корнями в авторитарную и традиционалистскую культуру времëн Советского Союза. Для того, чтобы ответить на вопрос «Почему россияне преуспевают в науке?» — нужно понять, какие образовательные дисциплины были одобрены государством. Конечно, российская система образования была очень сильной и поэтому смогла воспитать большое количество очень амбициозных и умных учеников. Но система образования не была разносторонней. Российское государство предпочитало специализироваться в тех дисциплинах, которые могли бы сделать нацию сильнее, позволяя им контролировать страну в условиях авторитарной диктатуры. Обычные люди не имели возможности изучать бизнес или политику, к которым был доступ только у избранных. Коммунистическое общество делало карьерный рост невозможным, поэтому талантливые люди были ограничены математическими и научными дисциплинами. Также обычным гражданам невозможно было изучать социальные науки, включая экономику, политологию, социологию и современную историю. По этим причинам абитуриенты направлялись в основном на несколько специализированных предметов, в частности в области математики и естественных наук. Не удивительно, что это способствовало успеху России в этих областях и, как следствие, международному признанию. Несмотря на то, что сегодня в России открыты другие области обучения, в том числе бизнессектор и социальные науки, узкий фокус советского времени отражается нс квалификации профессоров и преподавателей. Другая теория была предложена американским ученым Лореном Грэмом, который считает, что естественные науки и математика давали людям в советское время возможность в какой-то степени избежать засилье идеологии. Его теория основывается на том факте, что путинская Россия обеспечивает ту же авторитарную культуру, что и в советские времена, и сегодня предоставляет студентам такую же возможность. Хотя Россия значительно изменилась со времен Советского Союза, она по-прежнему верна многим своим культурным, политическим и традиционным взглядам.

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Советский период был временем тотального государственного контроля, включая в образовании, когда оно смешивалось с политическими устремлениями государственных чиновников. Это касалось также естественных наук. Одним из биологов, который служил коммунистическим идеям был Трофим Лысенко (1898-1976). Лысенко не верил в важность генетики или ДНК, скорее, он верил в наследование приобретенных признаков, передаваемых из поколения в поколение. Он считал, что если вы что-то измените в себе, ваши дети унаследуют эти новые черты характера. С тех пор большая часть его учений была отвергнута, но мы можем многому научиться из его истории. Лысенко предоставил Сталину отличный инструмент для продвижения идеологии «трудящихся» того времени. Его учение давало советским людям стимул работать за рамками успеха своей страны. Лысенко стал известен благодаря поддержке Сталина, и теперь авторитарная культура в России работает аналогичным образом: воспитывает ученых только в том случае, если они верят в патриотическое мышление правительства. Политика продолжает оставаться движущей силой в науке: с появлением эпигенетики некоторые теории Лысенко были выдвинуты на передний план, и россияне это поддержали. Хотя российское правительство и культура способствовали развитию науки, оно также и отняло ее у народа. Поскольку частный сектор не имеет никакого отношения к науке, государство оплачивает все, что касается исследований. А так как правительство не желает рисковать, вековые убеждения никогда не оспариваются. Профессор Харли Бальцер говорит, что эта культура переносится на университетский уровень обучения: авторитарная культура делает так, что студенты никогда не бросают вызов своим преподавателям, и прогресс никогда не достигается. Крайне националистическая культура также сдерживает научный рост и подвергает страну опасности: Россия не желала принимать лучшие вакцины во время COVID-19, и это до сих пор является огромной проблемой.

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Homophobia in Russia:

How Discrimination Against Gay Men and Lesbians Differ Boyang Liu, CMC ‘23 The Russian girl duo t.A.T.u became famous for their faux-lesbian act in their music video for the song “All the Things She Said” in 2002. In this video, the two singers touched and kissed each other in the rain. The singers later revealed that they were not lesbians, but instead were asked to act as lesbians by their manager. Yulia Volkova, one of the two members of t.A.T.u, said in an interview that she would condemn her son if he was gay. She believed that “a real man must be a real man,” and stated that she “won’t accept gay son.” Volkova also stated that she didn’t mind if her daughter was a lesbian, because it was different from having a gay son. She stated that being gay is a “bad freedom” particularly for men, and men have no right to be a “f*g”. She claimed that “lesbians look aesthetically much nicer” than gay men.

Homophobia is very prominent in Russian society. In 2014, a law banning gay “propaganda” was passed in the Russian parliament with a 436-0 voting result. Pussy Riot, a Russian performance art group advocating feminism and LGBTQ+ rights, were targeted by the government and charged with hooliganism. Polling data showed that the majority of the Russian public tended to have a slightly negative attitude towards the group.

Degrees of hatred of and discrimination against LGBTQ+ groups sometimes varies because of gender/sexual orientation. Gay men are less likely to be tolerated (if not accepted) than lesbians. It is not because homophobic people suddenly become nicer when they encounter lesbians; it is due to the objectification of women. One of the most prominent anti-LGBT arguments is that being gay is harmful to others. Some argue that gay people will set “bad examples” for children or “destabilize” society. In some cases, lesbians are regarded “less harmful” because they are not even regarded as part of society in the first place. For the group dominating the patriarchal system, lesbians are seen as entertainment, or parts of sexual fantasies because of their “exotic” nature. The extreme popularity of t.A.T.u’s fake lesbian video is suspicious. While it is possible that audiences received and appreciated the message advocating lesbian rights, given the prevailing homophobic views in Russia, it is likely that people simply thought it was “fun” to watch two women touching and kissing each other, and felt their perverted fantasies coming true.

The seemingly more tolerant attitude towards lesbians is indeed problematic. It encourages the objectification of women and further endangers the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Russia.

A Belarusian Rock Story: What is “Molchat Doma”?

Yarik Boriskin, Pomona ‘26 Oh my god! M-O-L-C-H-A-T D-O-M-A. What is this random combination of letters you might ask (unless you speak Russian)? My poor things, if you do not know what “Molchat Doma” is, you are definitely missing out on a significant part of contemporary rock music! In order to educate you, my fellow reader, we are going to have a quick journey to modern Eastern European music. Please fasten your seat belts as we take off to Belarus!

Belarus? Hell yeah, you’ve heard it correctly. Belarus! Eastern Europeans not only associate this western neighbor of Russia with its prosperous agriculture but also with its autocratic tendencies…and amazing music. For many of you, it would be a surprise to know that the best, in my not-very-humble opinion, rock in the post-Soviet era comes from Belarus. Let me introduce you to one of the most famous Belarusian post-punk bands, Molchat Doma!

Molchat Doma is a Belarusian post-punk, synth-pop, and cold-wave band. The band rose to fame in 2017, and in 2020 they signed a contract with the American independent label Sacred Bones Record and absolutely conquered the Western music arena.

The band has 3 albums: S krysh nashikh domov (From the roofs of our houses), Etazhi (Floors), and Monument, all of which are beyond amazing. However, if you recognize Molchat Doma, it’s most likely from TikTok, where their most famous song, “Sudno (Boris Ryzhy),” was used endlessly. If you are still confused, then use the Almighty Google to check it out. I bet that you recognise the song, and if you speak some Russian, you can even sing along.

Album “Этажи” by Molchat Doma

The phenomenon of Molchat Doma lies in its domestic unpopularity–a good 90% of Russians and Belarusians do not even know that this band exists! Imagine the Brits not knowing about the Arctic Monkeys (yes, your dear writer absolutely adores the Arctic Monkeys). I wonder why many Belarusians and other Russian speakers do not appreciate this band. Maybe because Molchat Doma fundraised money to help those injured and killed by the Lukashenko’s dictatorship in 2020? Or maybe because they recorded and shared a video against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022?

Unless we have the most unpleasant conversation with either Russian or Belarusian leaders, we will never know. But what we definitely can, and maybe even must, do instead is check out these masterpieces of post-Soviet rock made by the enormously talented Belarusians.

Scan code below to listen to Molchat Doma on Spotify!

The frontwomen of t.A.T.u embracing

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An Overview of Differences between the Ukrainian and Russian Languages Alexandra Runnels, Pomona ‘25 Ukrainian and Russian are both East Slavic languages, meaning they have a relatively recent common linguistic ancestor. This results in a lot of similarities in vocabulary, grammar, and writing systems, but it also means that there are some words which have evolved to mean different things in each language. This difference is made more pronounced by the fact that both Russian and Ukrainian have words borrowed from other languages. Russian has taken words, notably, from German and French; whereas Ukrainian has a lot of vocabulary of Polish origin. Most interestingly, while Russian uses month names from the Julian calendar, Ukrainians retained their nature related month names, such as "травень," named for May's lush grass (трава).

For the words that are cognates, many of them retain the same (or similar) spelling, with minor alterations. One notable alteration is the use of “o” in Russian where Ukrainian uses “i”, like the words комната (Russian) and кімната (Ukrainian).

Both languages use the Cyrillic alphabet, but there are a few letters that are either pronounced differently or are unique to one or the other. In Russian, the letter Г is pronounced like the G in "gift."

In Ukrainian, it’s closest to the H in "Hamlet." However, this H sound in "Hamlet" is unvoiced, and in Ukrainian, it’s voiced. In simpler terms, Г in Ukrainian is pronounced like an English H while also engaging your voice box. Ukrainian does have a G sound, but it is quite rare to hear in the language. It has its own special letter, Ґ. While Russian has the letter Ё for the sequence "йо," Ukrainian has no such letter.

In contrast, Ukrainian has Ї, which is like "йі" in Ukrainian and "йи" in Russian, but Russian doesn’t have a special letter for this (nor does this sequence of letters ever occur). One special thing about the Ukrainian alphabet is that in place of a hard sign (ъ), it uses an apostrophe.

Ukrainian Alphabet

Additionally, palatalization makes for both pronunciation and spelling/alphabet differences between the two languages. In Russian, the "hard E" letter is Э and the soft letter is Е. In Ukrainian, the hard letter is Е and the soft letter is Є. Not only are there two different letters between the alphabets, but the letter Е represents different sounds in the two alphabets. Yet, many cognates are spelled the same with this letter between Russian and Ukrainian, such as принести (to bring). This reveals a phonological difference between Russian and Ukrainian! In Russian, there is a rule that states that whenever the "E vowel" occurs after a consonant, that consonant must be palatalized, or softened. This is why we never see words with Э in Russian unless they are loan words, or unless Э is at the beginning of the word. This phonological rule is absent in Ukrainian, which means that palatalized sounds occur less often.

In terms of grammar, Ukrainian and Russian share six cases: nominative, accusative, genitive, prepositional/locative, dative, and instrumental. Ukrainian has one more case: the vocative, used when addressing someone. It used to be present in Russian, but has almost completely fallen out of use, except in fixed expressions (typically of religious origin), such as addressing God. Moreover, in Russian and Ukrainian, there are minor differences in how cases are used. When counting objects, there are three declensions to use, depending on the number accompanying the noun.

The numbers 1, 21, 31, 41, ..., are accompanied by the nominative singular. 5-20, 25-30, 35-40, ..., all use the genitive plural. But the numbers 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, 24, ... are where Russian and Ukrainian differ. For Russian, the genitive singular is used, but Ukrainian requires the nominative plural. When talking about languages, Russians use the adverbial form or prepositional case (на украинском). Ukrainian is special in that it uses the instrumental case (українскою).

Russian Alphabet

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Film Review: Tartovsky’s Stalker Marissa Woodworth, Scripps ‘25

Compared to such an intriguing and elaborate backdrop, I was surprised to find that the most compelling aspect of this film was instead its characters. It follows three men: a writer, a professor, and, of course, their stalker as they navigate the obstacles of the zone along with the reality of their own lives and motivations. Stalker draws from the novel Roadside Picnic written by Arkady and Boris Strugastky, however, apart from the setting, it tells a very different story. There was incredible attention to detail in the way that each character interacted with and moved through the zone, which revealed much of their personalities without any dialogue. The haunting beauty of the Estonian land around Tallinn, and the sinister hydropower plant that houses the room, coupled with long tracking shots creates a visually stunning film that depicts the characters and landscape maturing together as their journey progresses. I loved how the director reinvented the book’s setting in order to create an intricate character study. This attention to detail makes it one of those movies where I spent just as much time reading explanations and interviews as I spent watching it in the first place. By touching on ideas of faith, individualism, and what it means to be alive, Tarkovsky encourages his audience to reflect on these fundamental components of being a human long after the film’s end.

When Tarkovsky himself was asked about the film and the progression of the characters he answered, “If we are to talk about a journey, also metaphorically, then one has to say that it is, in fact, unimportant where one arrived, what’s important is to embark upon a journey.” This sentiment encapsulates the idea of Stalker as a whole. The decision to start on any kind of path, to seek to understand or achieve one’s desires, supersedes the value of its outcome. No one can control what is going to happen to them, but people will always have dominion over their own choices. This desire to pursue understanding and change is what keeps one from being completely hopeless. It provides a necessary purpose, even if there are no guaranteed successes.

Since I began studying Russian language and was exposed to Russian literature, I have been excited to explore other aspects of Russian culture outside an academic setting. My family has always loved science fiction movies, and they are what I grew up watching. So, I began looking into the history of Soviet futurism and SciFi, and I was immediately intrigued by the concept of Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker. The film is set in a mysterious zone, completely devoid of humans, that has been sectioned off by the military for the public’s safety. However, rumors of a mysterious room in the center of the zone that will grant one’s innermost desires continue to draw people desperate enough to take the risk with the help of Stalkers: people who have made it their vocation to guide others to this room.

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Lessons of Soviet Photographs from the Benton Museum Archives Asya Lyubavina, Pomona ‘26 Photography is often viewed to be an accurate representation of reality, when it can oftentimes be very biased. Wartime photography especially has always been used to craft a narrative. Soviet photos are a fascinating study in creating an intriguing story for the viewer. This article examines the collection of particular Soviet photographs from the Benton Museum archives and the fictions they helped to create.

One of the most prominent Soviet photographers was Polish born Dmitri Baltermants. Baltermants worked for the Soviet magazine Ogonek, and specialized in wartime photography. Although he took photos of both the victory and pain of war, only the victorious looking photos were shown to the public while the others were hidden, in order to glorify the war effort.

The first photo that reflects this idea is Baltermants’ The March of the German POWs (right), taken in 1942. This image shows a long line of prisoners in rags walking across the hills surrounding Stalingrad; a Soviet soldier on horseback watches in the background. The photo shows how the Soviet soldier is above the enemy prisoner, thus reflecting their superiority and heroism. The interesting thing about this image is how if one looks closely the same people repeat across the line of people walking. This means this photo isn’t a single photo but a montage of the same group of people walking across a hill. This shows the optical illusion that makes this image feel so heroic and how a photograph can very easily present a made-up story.

The second photo I want to touch on that reflects the idea of crafting a narrative is The Junction is Recaptured (below), shot in 1944. In this photo, a soldier holds a rifle while standing in front of a train.

Surrounding him are the bodies of fallen enemy soldiers in the snow. This image shows the Soviet soldier as a hero, capable of single-handedly defeating a group of enemies without getting a speck of dirt or a drop of blood on his uniform. He holds the rifle in a heroic, victorious way, to symbolize his power. His expression is placid, yet proud of the achievements laying in front of him. The photo is obviously staged, as a soldier doesn’t need to hold his rifle up and gaze into the distance when he’s not actively being attacked.

The final photo I want to look at is Berlin is Taken (above), also by Baltermants. This photo shows a heavy artillery gun, set up in front of a burning building in Berlin. It shows the might of the Soviet artillery, and how they have taken over the enemy’s positions.

What is interesting is what gets chosen to be shown by the photographer, and what does not.

It is important to be aware of how images that are portrayed as fact can actually be fiction. The Benton Museum’s Soviet photography collection is especially valuable now during a time of misinformation in the media, especially surrounding the Ukrainian war. It is essential that the Benton Museum provides an opportunity to look at a different part of history that is not talked about much in the West. Next time you see a photo, think about the narrative it creates, and whether that narrative reflects reality.

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Последний Герой (The Last Hero) Elizaveta Gorelik, CMC ‘25 A black, worn out leather jacket; a scruffy, black mullet haircut; an acoustic guitar in hand, and a freshly lit cigarette pursed between his lips. Viktor Tsoi. Born of Korean descent in 1962, Tsoi spent most of his life in Leningrad, where he became the lead singer of the Soviet rock band Kino. These pioneers of Russian rock united Soviet youth through their music and spirit of quiet rebellion. Today, Tsoi remains one of the most well-known musicians in post-Soviet states, with his image as the last hero of rock still being venerated.

The meaning behind most of Tsoi’s music is very elusive and ambiguous, including his most famous song - “Группа Крови” (Blood Type), with many critics speculating that it is about Tsoi’s opposition to the Soviet-Afghan war. Although Tsoi never explicitly stated his political views, it is not difficult to infer his opinion through his lyrics, especially with his most popular catch phrase from the song “Хочу Перемен” (I Want Changes) being: “Our hearts demand change.” Because of this, Kino never received any monetary support from the government, and Tsoi even had to work in a boiler room of an apartment building to help fund the band, despite having risen to national fame. This is what attracted the masses to Tsoi: he sang about the lives of ordinary people, and he understood their problems, because he lived an ordinary life himself. Tsoi took on the role of the mouthpiece for the frustrations of Soviet people who didn’t have the courage to voice them, and sure enough, the people followed in his footsteps.

Last year, Tsoi would have turned 60 had it not been for his unexpected death in 1990. Tsoi tragically passed in a car accident as he fell asleep whilst driving on a Latvian highway and collided with an oncoming bus. He was only 28. On the day of his death, a grieving fan graffitied an alleyway in the center of Moscow - “Viktor Tsoi died today.” In response to this, another wrote - «Цой Жив!» (“Tsoi is alive!”).

The city officials painted over the graffiti, but the next morning, it magically reappeared in the same spot. This happened again, and again. After repainting the wall every night, the graffiti would somehow still be there in the morning. The fire that Tsoi ignited in the hearts of his fans could never be extinguished, not by the government, nor by Tsoi’s untimely death. His spirit will live on forever and continue to inspire future generations to take action and believe in a brighter future.

To this day, alleyways, posters, t-shirts, bumper stickers, and murals all around Moscow and Saint Petersburg are adorned with portraits and quotes of Tsoi. Tsoi was never just a singer - he was an image of hope and change, a longing for freedom and rebellion, which Soviet youth so deeply resonated with. His memory lives on through his music, and the meaning behind it has never been so relevant as it is today. He is our last hero.

​​Цой жив!

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Graffiti from the Tsoi wall in Moscow

The Music Label Producing the Next Wave of Tatar Music Miriam Akhmetshin, Scripps ‘26 In Russia, there is a common saying: “Scratch a Russian, and you’ll find a Tatar”. These days, it is generally used to demonstrate the extent to which Russia is ethnically mixed. As the largest country in the world, Russia is made up of over 100 ethnic groups. The Tatars are the largest of these groups and have their own culture, food, and language. Thus, the distinct language and cultural tradition combine to form unique music. In ages past, Tatar music was known for its traditional, folksy tunes, using instruments like the qurai and dombra. Similar to Japanese music, Tatar music traditionally uses the pentatonic scale. The music is known for the idea of “моң,” a Tatar word that describes passionate but melancholy melodies.

Musicians play from their souls, and the result is beautiful and deeply moving music.

Today, contemporary Tatar musicians both deviate from and build off of Tatar culture and musical history. The music label leading the charge to bring contemporary Tatar music into the mainstream is Yummy Music. This past June, Yummy Music organized a concert featuring all of their musicians for their tenth anniversary. I was lucky enough to be in Kazan (the capital of Tatarstan), and was able to attend the concert. The concert took place at the bar Соль in downtown Kazan, right off the main drag of Bauman Street. From six PM to twelve AM, ten different acts performed, and they brought very different examples of contemporary Tatar music. The audience was generally young, mostly listeners in their twenties or thirties. Though many of these songs were new to me, most people knew the lyrics and were dancing and singing along, even as it started drizzling later in the evening. The general atmosphere was lively, with many stations for drinks, food, merch, and even table tennis.

I arrived in time to see the group JUNA finish up their set. The most slow and melancholy of the performances I saw that night, they mostly played songs from their 2020 album Amanat. Next up was electronic music group Urtic. Many of their songs are remixes of traditional Tatar songs, and my favorite was the song “Old Tatar Settlement.” The next band to perform was qaynar, led by poet and musician Radif Kashapov. Kashapov’s solo music is very thoughtful and often explores serious themes of Tatar identity. I highly recommend the song “Без Булдырабыз.” The fourth group I saw was Оммаж. Their pentatonic synth pop beats are very intriguing, and have the potential to be widely popular. The next musician to play was Gauga, one of the most popular contemporary Tatar acts today. This year, he released his latest album, Bichara, through Yummy Music, and it was clear that many people in the audience were big fans. The final act I saw were the rappers K-Ru and Усал. Tatar rap is a genre I greatly enjoy, and they did not disappoint. I recommend “Halal Cypher” by K-Ru and “Син Әзерме” by Усал.

Given the wonderful Tatar music currently produced, it is a wonder that it is not more popular.

But due to the fact that Tatar is a minority language, it has long been discriminated against. In 2017, learning Tatar stopped being a mandatory subject in Tatar schools, and many people who live in Tatarstan do not speak the language. Going back to the old adage “scratch a Russian and you’ll find a Tatar,” the original meaning was actually that behind every civilized Russian is a hint of Tatar barbarism. Deep seated stereotypes about Tatars still persist, but hopefully the ongoing cultural development of Tatarstan will soon show more Russians the beauty of Tatar culture.

Scan these codes to listen on Spotify!

Old Tatar Settlement - Urtic

Без Булдырабыз - qaynar

Halal Cypher - K-Ru

Radif Kashapov plays an electric dombra with his band “qaynar”

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Син Әзерме - Усал

Кроссворд

OLC

THE GERMAN AND RUSSIAN DEPARTMENT, THE HISTORY DEPARTMENT AND THE OLDENBORG LUNCHEON COLLOQUIUM AT POMONA COLLEGE PRESENT

Natalie Lake, SC, ‘25

Oldenborg Luncheon Colloquium

Will Putin Push the Red Button? Loosing the War in Ukraine and the Future of Russia Thursday, November 17, 2022 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

Oldenborg Dining Hall, south side

Sergei Erofeev, Research Professor at Rutgers University “If Putin is not removed, he will do it himself by suicide.” In trying to explain Russia’s war in Ukraine, its driving forces and prospects, political commentators and many politicians often draw on the rhetoric of traditional negotiation, the discourse of the opponent’s madness, or to Putin’s fascist imperialism. From a sociological standpoint, I will show how the basic principles of Putin’s state-mafia system work in a traditionalist culture that parasitizes a modernist social order. I will explain why, from

Across:

Down:

2. A bright gas ball in space 5. Something you give on a день рождения 9. Something sweet to put on toast 10. The Snow Maiden 12. A hope, wish, or dream 13. A person-eater

1. The first man in space 3. Bully in Ну, Погоди!

4. An animal that slithers 6. Child on a chocolate bar 7. He arrived by car… он _____ на машине 8. You wash your hands with this 11. The end

a micro-sociological perspective, the aggression against Ukraine should rather be seen as Putin’s response to the failed assassination of Alexei Navalny and its consequences. I will conclude with the feasibility of various scenarios – provided Putin remains in power after a defeat in Ukraine – of a nuclear strike, drawing on the “Chekhov’s Gun” principle.

Sergei Erofeev has been involved in the internationalization of universities in Russia since the 1990s. Previously, Dr. Erofeev served as a vice president for international affairs at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, the dean of international programs at the European University in Saint Petersburg, and the director of the Center for the Sociology of Culture at Kazan Federal University in Russia.

fmi

on other Fall 2022 OLC events, visit pomona.edu/oldenborg and click on “Oldenborg Luncheon Colloquium (OLC),” Dining hall access does require a meal purchase; 5C students swipe in and 7C faculty/staff sign in. Event open to all 7C students, faculty, and staff.

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RUSS 183 LariSsa Rudova Wed 7-9:30pm Spring 2023

COMEDY IN RUSSIAN LITERATURE

AND FILM A basic introduction to comic works in Russian film and fiction from the 19th century to the present. We will read a number of theoretical essays important for understanding comic discourse (humor, satire, parody, irony, farce, nonsense, jokes, and other forms of expression that provoke laughter) and analyze how they highlight the relationships between comedy and political, historical, cultural, and artistic realities in imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia. Readings will include 19th-century classic comedy, early Soviet satires, absurdist writing, and late Soviet and post-Soviet prose and poetry.

Selected musical, romantic and social comedies by prominent Soviet and young contemporary film directors. Oral presentations and class discussions in Russian. Background readings in English.

Prerequisite: RUSS 44 or permission of the instructor.

Gen ED Area 1; the Language Requirement is speakingIntensive.

LOOKING BEYOND THE USUAL: RUSSIAN AND EASTERN EUROPEAN CINEMA

RUST 110 • Spring 2023 • Larissa Rudova T-TH • 1:15-2:30PM

A survey of Russian and Eastern European film from Soviet to post-Soviet times. Focus on the most innovative films and directors from Russia, Poland, Czechoslovakia (and its successor states), Hungary, and former Yugoslavia in their relation to social, cultural, and political discourses. The course includes such topics as the communist past and its aftermath, aesthetics and ideology, historical memory, migration, human trafficking, ethnicity, gender. Film genres, styles, and basic notions of film theory.

Gen ED Area 1. Cross-listed with Media Studies. Speaking intensive.

EMPIRE AT WAR

Art and Literature in Russia 1768-2022 This seminar is an interdisciplinary investigation of the relation between aesthetics and politics.

Through the exploration of works of art and literature that deal with the representation of war (and peace), we will define the aspects of building a nation, the creation of an empire, and the rise and fall of nationalism and colonialism.

Liana Battsaligova e-mail: liana.battsaligova@pomona.edu

Spring 2023 M W 2:45-4:00 We will consider art and literature from Russia from the era of Catherine the Great to the present moment while paying attention to the questions of form, genre, language, medium, and the limits of truthful representation.

All readings and discussions are in English.

No knowledge of Russian is required.

Spring Course Offerings

RUSS 2: Elementary Russian 2 | MW 10:00-11:50am; TTh 9:35-10:50am | Battsaligova RUSS 44: Advanced Russian | MW Spring Course Offerings 11:00-11:50am; TTh 9:35-10:50am | Klioutchkine RUSS 2: Elementary Russian 2 | MW RUSS 183: What’s 10:00-11:50am; So Funny?

Comedy| TTh 9:35-10:50am Battsaligova in Russian Cinema and Literature RUSS 44: Advanced Russian | MW 11:00-11:50am; TTh 9:35-10:50am | | W 7:00-9:50pm| Rudova [Speaking Klioutchkine RUSS 183: What’s So Funny? Comedy Intensive; Area 1] in Russian Cinema and Literature | W 7:00-9:50pm| Rudova [Speaking Intensive; Area 1]

RUST 110: Looking Beyond the Usual: Russian and Eastern European Cinema | 2:45-4:00pm | Rudova [Cross-listed with Media Studies; Speaking Intensive] RUST 189А: Empire at War: Art and Literature in Russia, 17682022 | MW 2:45-4:00pm | Battsaligova

RUST 110: Looking Beyond the Usual: Russian and Eastern European Cinema | 2:45-4:00pm | Rudova [Cross-listed with Media Studies; Speaking Intensive] RUST 189А: Empire at War: Art and Literature in Russia, 17682022 | MW 2:45-4:00pm | Battsaligova Hist 71: Modern Europe Since 1789 | TTh 9:35-10:50am | Chu Hist 174: The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union| MW 11:00-12:15pm | Chu Hist 134: Dostoevsky’s Russia | TTh 2:454:00 I Hamburg

Hist 71: Modern Europe Since 1789 | TTh 9:35-10:50am | Chu Hist 174: The Rise and Fall of the Soviet Union| MW 11:00-12:15pm | Chu Hist 134: Dostoevsky’s Russia | TTh 2:454:00 I Hamburg

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