monstration

monstration is a public performance similar to a demonstration , but intended as a creative performance art , often parodying a serious demonstration. It is principally a Russianphenomenon. [1]

History

Poland

Alternative Orange ( Polish : Pomarańczowa Alternatywa ) was a Polish anti-communist underground movement, started in Wroclaw , a city in south-west Poland , in the 1980s. [2] Its main purpose was to offer a wider group of citizens an alternative way of opposition against the authoritarian regime by means of peaceful street protests that used absurd and nonsensical elements.

Russia

In 2004, Artyom Loskutov and members of the Contemporary Art Terrorism group in Novosibirsk joined the annual May Day demonstration . They were carrying posters with deliberate absurd slogans in an attempt to shake up a political boring procession and to make fun. Fellow Siberian artist Ivan Dyrkin named the „Monstration,“ a demonstration without the prefix , which he considered a negative connotation as in deconstruction or degradation . [3]

The modern monstration incorporates signs and messages that are deliberately absurd, nonsensical and apolitical that indirectly defy the government and express a conceptual paradox . Although demonstrations are apolitical, participants have been arrested for political agitation . In 2010, Monstrations took place in 20 cities like Moscow , Saint Petersburg , and Vladivostok . [4]

Kursk

The first monstration in Kursk took place on May 1, 2014. About 30 people with the main slogan „For the rights of butterflies in the stomach“. [5]

In 2015, the main slogan was „We did not watch 50 Shades“.

Recognition

In 2011 Monstration was recognized for „Innovation“ by a government agency of modern art and selected „Best in the Region.“ [6]

Government outrage

In 2014, Artyom Loskutov attempted to organize a routine Monstration for August 17, when he ran into trouble. „We were talking about having a walk, which is absolutely allowed under law,“ Loskutov says. „But in writing about it, we wrote about creating Siberian Republic within the Russian Federation . There was no talk about separatism or anything, it’s just that Moscow does not govern the regions. “ [7]

The purpose of the protest was to ridicule Kremlin’s hypocrisy in the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and to raise awareness about politics in Siberia. „They Decided to tell us how great it is When Some republic moves for self-determination . Okay, well let’s apply this to other regions. Can Siberia allow Itself cette même rhetoric? It turns out it can not.“ [8]

Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor launched a media blackout of the event, issued warnings to 14 media outlets that ran the story and threatened to close BBC Russian Service for reporting the announcement. [3]Roskomnadzor also launched an official investigation against BBC to confirm „an apparent violation of the law.“ In response, BBC added a description of the event as a „parody“ that no way Siberia’s independence from Moscow. [9]

Russian authorities compared the potential Monstration protest to Euromaidan that led to the 2014 Ukrainian revolution . Nikolai Valuyev called it the „first attempt of global efforts to promote separatism in Russia.“ [10]

According to Dmitry Zhuravlyov, director of the Institute for Regional Problems based in Moscow, „I can understand the position of these people [organizers of the market] on a psychological level,“ Zhuravlyov said. „They want to have more control over the richness of Siberia, and that is understandable.“ But what is unacceptable to Russia is that this idea goes against the Constitution. President Vladimir Putin, President of the United States of America . [11]

See also

  • Internet censorship in Russia
  • Demonstration

References

  1. Jump up^ „Russian Labor Day: Rallies, ridicule and revelry as tens of thousands take part“ . Russia Today . May 1, 2013 . Retrieved 1 May 2013 .
  2. Jump up^ Bronislaw Misztal (March 1992). „Between the State and Solidarity“. The British Journal of Sociology . 43 (1): 55-78. doi : 10.2307 / 591201 .
  3. ^ Jump up to:a Liesowska B , Anna (1 May 2013). „The Siberian phenomenon of ‚Monstrating ‚ “ . The Siberian Times . Retrieved 1 May 2013 . Cite error: Invalid tag; name „TheSiberianTimes“ defined multiple times with different content (see the help page ).<ref>
  4. Jump up^ „Russian youths invent absurd way to by-pass demonstration banurl =http://observers.france24.com/content/20110517-russian-youths-invent-absurd-way-pass-demonstration-ban „. France 24 . May 17, 2011.
  5. Jump up^ 46tv.ru, В Курске прошла „Монстрация“ (фото)
  6. Jump up^ Liesowska, Anna (5 August 2014). „Русская служба BBC по то требованию Роскомнадзора внесла правки в материал о“ Марше за федерализацию Сибири “ “ . News UK . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .
  7. Jump up^ Maynes, Charles (August 5, 2014). „As Snowden looks on, Russia cracks down on Internet freedom“ . PRI . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .
  8. Jump up^ Luhn, Alec (5 August 2014). „Russia Bans Siberia Independence Market“ . The Guardian . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .
  9. Jump up^ Rain, Andy (August 5, 2014). „Russia to further discuss provocative interview on BBC website“ . Itar-Tass . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .
  10. Jump up^ „Russia: Siberian Autonomous Web Page Shut Down“ . BBC News . 4 August 2014 . Retrieved 4 August 2014 .
  11. Jump up^ „BBC Blocked Interview Highlights Authorities‘ Insecurities“ . The Moscow Times . August 5, 2014 . Retrieved 5 August 2014 .