“Long live the new regime, new religion, new art and new love!”
Old memories of the September evenings in Russia are becoming all-consuming. I have been thinking about the Mayakovski Museum, which I never had the chance to visit when I was in Moscow. I am dying to see if this post-modern representation of his Socialist fantasy is as “thought provoking” as it is advertised. Photographs show a sort of burning juxtaposed intensity in its sharp rooms and a space where art is intended to captivate with a fervent vision of the Revolution.
Mayakovsky Museum
I believe the best way to prepare for travel is to read, reflect and formulate a theme. In preparation for my trip I will be reading and reflecting on Mayakovsky’s poetry. I admit, I haven’t sat and read Mayakovsky since I was 19 and I’m now 22! I will also admit, that the depth of my passion for Russian history has not yet reached the Soviet Union. I have always felt that Soviet History was, at best a little boring (I much prefer the formation of Kiev and the Middle Ages)! However, I am going to give Mayakovsky and the Revolution a chance this time around. To begin with, what I remember as my favorite, perhaps one of his more famous:
Took a trip to the Half Price Book Store today, just for some fun in Lexington. They had a section of collectables and some original editions of a few classics, Twain, Faulkner, Voltaire…
I thought about perhaps making a list of my favorite classics and making a point to try to find the original editions or perhaps within the first few years of the original publication for myself. However, I am going to not “cheat” by purchasing on ebay or other sites. I want to actually find them! Any ideas? I hope that my possible future trip to Russia will help. I am aware of the regulations involving bringing old things home, yet I had no trouble with customs the first time. Maybe I will get lucky again?
Or perhaps is it better to find them online and not to risk getting the books through customs?
I have two projects this semester to prepare for my second journey!
19/09/2010 at 5:54 am
I’ve been rereading Mayakovsky recently and stumbled upon some diaries of his from his American journey I haven’t read before… They are called My Discovery of America (at least I think that’s what translation should be… Мое открытие Америки in Rus). Some interesting stuff! To be honest, I’ve always thought that the revolution and the 1920s was one of the most interesting (as well as most difficult) times in the Russian history. And definitely one of, if not the, most productive periods for arts and literature – it’s hard to surpass the quality and quantity of things that have been painted and written back then.
Also, talking about that time, I think you would enjoy Bulgakov’s Heart of a Dog if you haven’t read it yet – and the 1988 movie is a must see, too! (Remember, this comes from a person who generally detests Soviet movies). It is set a bit earlier than Master and Margarita, right after the revolution, and it is amazing in describing the chaos and presenting satire of the New Soviet People. It would be interesting to read this right after Mayakovsky – the prophet of the revolution…
Anyway, I didn’t realize you are going to travel somewhere here so soon! Keep us all posted about your plans, okay? I’m really not sure I will be able to take days off this winter to go to Moscow if that’s where you decide to go… but hey, who knows! And I’ll always be super glad to see you in Astana, you know that, right?
19/09/2010 at 5:56 am
Also, it’s good for me that your blog is at the wordpress – apparently, blogspot is banned here along with livejournal
19/09/2010 at 5:26 pm
Thanks for commenting and I will keep you updated! Perhaps Astana would be a better idea than Moscow. Maybe I will spend a day or two there and then fly to Astana to study. I think you are right about the Ukraine. It might confuse me to have to work through the Russian and Ukrainian!
I think you are also right, the Revolution is a very interesting piece of Russian history, however, post-Revolution is where my problems generally lie. i mostly have issues with the fact that many people see the Soviet thing as novelty in the US and they don’t know much about it. There is also a lot of Soviet kitsch to tempt tourists which bothered me a lot. But you are also right and I will have a more open mind from now on!
And yes- Heart of a Dog was tempting me when we went to half Price Books! I told Justin I was ready to buy it, but it seemed a little over priced for being at Half Priced Books!