[CantExplain]

Nineteenth century Russia was a cultural superpower, filled with famous composers and authors. The Soviet Union put a stop to that, of course. But the Berlin Wall fell twenty years ago. Where are the modern Tolstoys and Tchaikovskis?

[venusss]

well, Russian politics is still fairly restrictive to create enviroment for free artistic expression (*cough* Pu.s.sy Riot*cough*... although the girls are activists, not artists).

and the country is in crisis since it lost is supapower status.

I am not into classical music, but Russia has some decent pop, rock and dance music (I am not talking Dima Bilan).

I think that the current government is culturally repressive just like it is politically repressive. The art scene there - from what little I know of it - is re-discovering its artists and religion repressed under the Soviet regime. The capitalist culture there - from what I have heard - is very decadent and perhaps does not support new art as much as it needs to. The capitalists seem to be focusing on conspicuous consumption of foreign cars and clothes. However, as some capitalists have been arrested for long periods because their wealth has made them too powerul for Putin, I presume that those with money are afraid to align themselves with artists who may have a critical view of society. Hence, Russian society has not recovered to the point that free enough for new novelists and other artists to thrive. And, it does not appear to be advancing in that direction under Comrade Putin.

According to the NY Times, there is a Russian cultural enclave in Israel that is thriving. See: http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/1...an-culture/?hp

[seeker1950]

I'm sure you are correct, but I love, I mean LOVE, the films of Andrei Tarkovsky. Have you seen Andrei Rublev? This famous director made his films during the time of oppression, yet they are magnificent. He also made the film Solaris, of which there was an American remake.

[venusss]

Moscow Doesn't Believe in Tears is good movie. Commie era but good. Morozko (Father Frost) is hilariously funny mix of fairy tales and absurd drama.

for books... Zamyatin's "We" is great dystopia. Master and Margharita is a good book too.

[Open Eyes]

Perhaps there is only room for one ego in Russia? Putins?

[Pikku Myy]

The creative and brilliant thinkers all moved out, even before the curtain came down in the 60's & 70's And since the curtain fell - so do... the youngsters as well hoping to find a safe place. Unless you understand the past history & now current.... Russia (or as we were told not to call them) = Soviets.... it is fairly simple to understand. It will take several generations, until the misery & dispair is finally forgotten.... Just little me

[CantExplain]

Originally Posted by seeker1950

I'm sure you are correct, but I love, I mean LOVE, the films of Andrei Tarkovsky. Have you seen Andrei Rublev? This famous director made his films during the time of oppression, yet they are magnificent. He also made the film Solaris, of which there was an American remake.

I saw Solaris (the original). Stanislas Lem wrote the book, great author, but he's a Pole, not a Russian.

[seeker1950]

Originally Posted by CantExplain

I saw Solaris (the original). Stanislas Lem wrote the book, great author, but he's a Pole, not a Russian.

Tarkovsky is Russian...film is Russian. Great film. I haven't read the book, but I'll look for it. Thanks!

[seeker1950]

I just read this, and I didn't know..that the film Andrei Rublev was not allowed release in 1966 Russia.
Andrei Rublev (film)

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Andrei RublevDirected byAndrei TarkovskyProduced byTamara Ogorodnikova [A]Written byAndrei Konchalovsky
Andrei TarkovskyStarringAnatoly Solonitsyn
Ivan Lapikov
Nikolai Grinko
Nikolai Sergeyev
Nikolai Burlyayev
Irma RaushMusic byVyacheslav OvchinnikovCinematographyVadim YusovStudioMosfilmRelease date(s)December 24, 1971 (1971-12-24)Running time205 min. (original version)CountrySoviet UnionLanguageRussianBudget1,300,000 rublesAndrei Rublev (Russian: Андрей Рублёв, Andrey Rublyov), also known as The Passion According to Andrei, is a 1966 Russian film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky from a screenplay written by Andrei Konchalovsky and Andrei Tarkovsky. The film is loosely based on the life of Andrei Rublev, the great 15th century Russian icon painter. The film features Anatoly Solonitsyn, Nikolai Grinko, Ivan Lapikov, Nikolai Sergeyev, Nikolai Burlyayev and Tarkovsky's wife Irma Raush. Savva Yamshchikov, a famous Russian restorer and art historian, was a scientific consultant of the film.
Andrei Rublev is set against the background of 15th century Russia. Although the film is only loosely based on the life of Andrei Rublev, it seeks to depict a realistic portrait of medieval Russia. Tarkovsky sought to create a film that shows the artist as "a world-historic figure" and "Christianity as an axiom of Russia’s historical identity"[1] during a turbulent period of Russian history that ultimately resulted in the Tsardom of Russia. The film is about the essence of art and the importance of faith and shows an artist who tries to find the appropriate response to the tragedies of his time. The film is also about artistic freedom and the possibility and necessity of making art for, and in the face of, a repressive authority and its hypocrisy, technology and empiricism, by which knowledge is acquired on one's own without reliance on authority, and the role of the individual, community, and government in the making of both spiritual and epic art.
Because of the film's religious themes and political ambiguity, it was not released domestically in the officially atheist and authoritarian Soviet Union for years after it was completed except for a single screening in Moscow. A version of the film was shown at the 1969 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the FIPRESCI prize.[2] In 1971, a censored version of the film was released in the Soviet Union. The film was further cut for commercial reasons upon its U.S. release in 1973. As a result, several versions of the film exist.

Much true art begins in the gutter and behind closed doors...in basements and hidden from light. Give it some time. The stuff is getting done I have no doubt. It's there...it just needs being seen. Politics is one hindrance...these just aren't the years right now.

[MuseumGhost]

It has not recovered, perhaps, because there is still an air of oppression and fear that lingers in many of the former Soviet states?...in Russia, especially?

I'm certain the magnificent talent is still at the same levels that it always existed at. But as for being able to express onesself---I'm not convinced it is possible, yet, in the former USSR.

Brave people will always come to the fore, will always be the pioneers in any art form, in any medium. Let's hope they keep chipping away at the true reform part of the process.

Artists, writers, and musicians are generally at the forefront of progressive thinking and change, historically.