“We slander, speak. And again I want in a cage” Speech of Konstantin Raikin — censorship and the struggle of the state for morality
Meduza
18:42, 24 October 2016
Photo: Sergei Yermokhin / TASS
October 24, Director of the theatre “Satyricon” Konstantin Raikin spoke at the seventh Congress of the Union of theatrical figures of Russia with a great speech against censorship — and against the state “morality in art”. The audio recording was posted on Facebook Association of theatre critics; “Medusa” published the full transcript of the speech Raikin.
Now I’m going to talk a little flighty, so to speak. Because I practice I have the evening performance, and I’m internally a little bitch legs like I used to in advance to come to the theatre and prepare for the spectacle that will play. And yet somehow I find it really difficult to speak calmly on the subject that I want to [speak now]. First, today, October 24, and 105 years since the birth of Arkady Raikin, I congratulate you all on this event on this date. And, you know, I’ll tell you that. Dad, when I realized that I would become an artist, taught me one thing; he had something in my mind put one thing, he called it — the Guild solidarity. This kind of ethics in relation to dealing with one thing together with you. And I think now is the time to remember about it all.
Because I was very disturbed — I think, like all the phenomena that occur in our lives. These, so to say, the assaults on the arts, theatre in particular. These completely lawless, extremist, arrogant, aggressive, hiding behind words about morality, about morality, and all sorts of, so to speak, good and high with the words: “patriotism”, “homeland” and “high morality”. These groups allegedly offended people who are close plays, close the show, very blatantly behave, which is very strange power neutral — distanciruemsa. I think that is an outrageous infringement on the freedom of creativity, the ban on censorship. And the prohibition of censorship — I don’t know how someone relates to this, and I think this is the greatest event of the age-old values in our life, in the artistic, the spiritual life of our country… It’s a curse, and a centuries-old shame all domestic our culture, our art — has finally been banned.
And what happens now? I see now how it clearly itching someone is to change and return back. And to bring back not just in times of stagnation, and in more ancient times — in the Stalin era. Because we are talking with our bosses directly in this lexicon Stalin, including Stalin’s policies they just don’t believe this! Say the authorities, my supervisors, Mr. [first Deputy Minister of culture Vladimir] Aristarkhov talking so. Although it generally is necessary to translate aristarhova in Russian because he speaks the language, which is just a shame that on behalf of the Ministry of culture so people are talking.
We sit and listen to it. What we are — are unable to comment all together?
I know we have quite different traditions, in our theatre case, too. We are very separated, I think. We have quite a few interested in each other. But it is bad. The important thing is that there is such a nasty manner — rivet and Snitch on each other. I think this is now unacceptable! Solidarity prevailed, as my dad taught, obliges each of us, worker, theater artist, Director, not to speak to the media badly about each other. And in the instances on which we depend. You may disagree creatively with the Director, artist — write a message to him angry, write a letter to him, wait for him at the entrance, tell him. But it is not necessary to involve the media and make it available to all. Because our quarrels that will, will, creative disagreement, resentment is normal. But when we fill these Newspapers and magazines, and the television is on the side of our enemies. That is, those who want to bend the art to the interests of the government. Little specific ideological interests. We, thank God, from this free.
I remember we all come from the Soviet government. I remember this shameful idiocy! This is the reason, only that I don’t want to be young, don’t want to go back there again, this vile book to read. And I was forced to read this book again. Because words about morality, the Motherland and the people, and patriotism are covered, as a rule, very low purpose. I do not believe these groups of indignant and offended people, who, you see, the religious feelings insulted. Do not believe! Believe that they paid for. So — it’s a group of nasty people who are nasty illegal ways for morality, you see.
When the urine pour photos — is that the struggle for morality? It is not necessary for public organizations to fight for morality in art. Art has enough filters of the Directors, artistic Directors, critics, the soul of the artist. It supports morality. It is not necessary to pretend that the government is the only bearer of morality. This is not so.
In General, the power of many temptations, there are so many temptations, that intelligent government pays art for what art holds in front of her mirror and shows a mirror of the mistakes, miscalculations and vices of this government. Not pay the power, as we’re told by our leaders: “And you then do it. We pay you money, you do what you gotta do”. And who knows? They will know what you want? Who are we to say? I now hear: “It is alien to our values. Harmful for the people.” This is who decides? It is they who will decide? They should never interfere. They have to help arts and culture.
In fact, I believe that we need to unite. Say it again: we need to unite. We need to spit and to forget about our fine art reflections relative to each other. I do not like some Director, but I will form the bones, so he was given to speak. I repeat the words of Voltaire at all. Almost. Well, because such high quality the human me. You know? In General, in fact, if you do not joke, I think that everyone will understand. This is normal: disagree, be outraged.
At once, our artists meet with the President. This meeting such a rare. I would say, decorative. But still they happen. And there you can solve some serious issues. No. For some reason, and here begins the proposal to establish a border possible interpretations of the classics. Well, why would the President want to change the border? Well, why do it in these cases… It should not even understand it. He doesn’t understand and he doesn’t need to understand. And why would you want to change the border? Who do I get a border guard? I do not need it… Let her interpret… Someone will be outraged — wonderful.
We do in the theater is a lot of interesting things. And a lot of interesting performances. Well, plenty — I call a lot of them. I think it’s good. Different, controversial, beautiful! No, we again for some reason… We want each other slander, speak sometimes — just like that, Snitch. And again in the cage. In a cage-why again? “To censorship, let’s go!” Don’t, don’t! What we are losing and are giving up conquests? What we illustrate by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, who said: “Only deprive us of custody, we immediately asked back to care.” Well, what are we? Well, he’s such a genius that narced on us for a thousand years? About our, so to speak, cringing.
I suggest: guys, we need to clearly speak about this. In connection with these closures, and we are silent. Why are we silent all the time? Close plays, close it… Banned “Jesus Christ superstar”. Lord! “No, someone is offended”. Yes, it will offend someone, so what?
And our unhappy Church, which has forgotten its persecuted, exterminated the priests, tore down the crosses and made a vegetable store in our churches. She begins to use the same methods now. Right then was Leo Tolstoy, who said that it is not necessary to connect with the Church authorities, otherwise it starts not to serve God, and the power to serve. We largely observed.
And not have (inaudible)that the Church would be outraged. Well, nothing! Do not just close all. Or, if closed, should react to it. All of us together. Here they tried to do something a with Boris Milgram Perm. Well, that’s something we stood up a lot. And returned to his place. Can you imagine? Our government took a step back. Doing something stupid, took a step back and corrected this nonsense. This is amazing. It is so rare and atypical. We did it. Together and suddenly spoke.
I think now, in very difficult times, very dangerous, very terrible; so it looks like… won’t say what. But, you know. We need to really connect and very distinctly to repel this
