Pussy Riots xxx Music as Protest Movements By

Pussy Riot’s “xxx” Music as Protest Movements By: Justin Johnson, FLET 321

What is Pussy Riot? • Pussy Riot is an art collective of Female Russian Activists that protest to highlight issues of feminism, gender equality, and the patriarchal system of the Putin Administration. • Gained World notoriety, after they were arrested in the Cathedral of Christ the savoir, for making a music video critical of Putin. • Known for sporting colorful clothing and trademark balaclavas. • Yekaterina “Katya” Samutsevich, noted in an interview for Vocativ (2013) that they are not a movement and they have a fixed membership.

Performance at Christ the Savior Cathedral While shooting a music video, the members seized after reciting lyrics for their song “Mother of God, Putin Put”. Song began with a prayer: “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, banish Putin! “Virgin Mary, Mother of God, banish him we pray thee!” (theguardian. com) The Girls were charged for commiting acts of “Hooliganism”. Under these charges, two members – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Aloykhina – were sentenced to two years in prison, but were granted amnesty after 16 months. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, had her sentence suspended and was released on probation.

“Hooliganism” Article of 213 of the Russian Criminal Code defines “Hooliganism” as: “the flagrant violation of public order expressed by a clear disrespect for society. ” Charges can be separated into two different categories: those involving a weapon, and committed for political, ideological, and animosity toward another social group. This includes actions that may offend religious groups. Such charges can carry a sentence of up to seven years (Johnson, B. ). The problem with such laws is that they are poorly defined and may be applied arbitrarily. (Lee, R. ) Not to be confused with the actions of a football wreckless or over zealous soccer fan, the Russian word “Хулиган”, is a false friend. (Lee, R. )

Who is Pussy Riot? • Maria Aloykhina (R): Served 16 months; continues to be politically active, but recently ceased collaborating in Pussy Riot • Yekaterina Samutsevich: Charges of Hooliganism were suspended as she was tackled before reaching the stage; She believed their defense was staged; While her public participation is limited she continues to collaborate on an NGO for feminist art and women’s initiatives (Charnay) • Nadezhda Tolokonnikova: Served 16 month; the only current member of Pussy Riot • Two member went into hiding (Charnay).

Analysis of Current Work • The project began as a punk band with deep influences from the punk music of the 80’s and early 90’s. Now, with the recent release of ‘xxx’, Pussy Riot’s artistic expressions have waltzed into the realm of Hip-hop and Rap; a fitting decision considering an growing profile. • Again, the project’s politics and music have always been intertwined, and that hasn’t changed. Also, with consideration of the recent elections, it should be no surprise that this EP connects mostly with feminist issues and imagery to Trump’s misogynistic personality and the issue of censorship. Another interesting note about this album, is that each song has a companion music video.

Make America Great Again • The opening track of Pussy Riot’s new EP, MAGA feels like light-hearted romp through Anytown, USA. So the political lyrics become more powerful. Playing on Trump’s campaign slogan, the song is a prescient plea, for Americans to reevaluate their isolationist and self-aggrandizing attitudes. Drawing on the imagery of a number of current events and recent campaign rhetoric it builds pictures of the people who are harmed by the defensive American mindset. This is doubly applicable to the music video that shows scenes of an immigrant/ protester being arrested, tortured, and raped by oranged-haired goons squads as she is made to conform to the American standard.

MAGA: lyrical highlights • • What do you want your world to look like? / How do you want it to be? / Do you know that a wall has two sides and that nobody is free? …Mom come from Mexico/Papa come from Palestine/ Sneaking all through Syria crossing over borderlines… Let other people in/ listen to your women/ stop killing black children/ Make America Great Again. Music video: woman being arrested and processed (including measured, bound, & raped) by the goons of the Trump police, ea. wearing a red arm bands. • Beginning of Conversation/ inner dialog and image a metaphorical wall rising in America; • Image of the human casualties of American Foreign policy. • Chorus: Continues conversation; Casualties of American domestic policy; possible solution. • Music video: Shows the rise of a fascist state; oppression of foreigners led to the oppression of America; “othering” people, America losses her innocence.

Straight Outta Vagina • Of the three songs, this one is most blatantly a “riposte” to Trump, and his misogynist “grab’em by the pussy” attitude (theguardian. com). This immediately becomes apparent in the first line. This song quick establishes a takes-no-shit attitude and immoderate stance toward uebermasculinity, however, it avoids becoming an abrasive ululation of womanly woes. Rather, it makes common sense appeals to the true value of women within our society. Further, it pushes issues of gender equality and identity. Additionally, the title Straight Outta Compton is popshot at Trump as our Hustla-n-Chief.

SOV highlights • Does your vagina have a brand? / Let your vagina start a band/ If your vagina lands in prison/ Then the world is gonna listen. • My vagina is tough and dangerous, shaking up the major labels. • Chorus: Don’t play stupid, don’t play dumb/ Vagina’s where you’re really from. • Attack on Trump politically and economically; Lack of Substance; Additionally, encourages protest in spite of censorship. • If one can be considered a political threat, why can’t they be considered as a person. Also, expresses ridicule for the way Trump culture belittles different people; Labels has a double meaning: marketable labels and social labels. • Chorus: a reminder that we all have common origin.

SOV highlights • Solos by Desi Mo: • Back up pussy don’t play/ you’re gonna always find it when you need it/ you’re gonna always come back and repeat it/…cause you know where home is/ go down like you know what dome is. • It goes work, it makes the beats/it’s CEO, no rookie…how we do it all sometimes…so sad I gotta end right here, but this vagina gotta go and make them numbers. • A jab at Trump’s shallow understanding of women; expresses the idea of women (/possibly minorities) fighting back against the oppressive patriarchy. • Shows how women have been (out) performing in the work place and that women hustle just as effectively as men, if not better.

Organs • The closing track of the EP is an excellent example of Russian Rap (Yes, it is very popular in Russia). While the first two tracks of the record employ a lighter, more ironic mood to propel their satire, this song is literally the records darkhorse. In graphic and often disturbing metaphor the song illustrates Russia under the oppressive conditions and sexist/racist policies of Vladimir Putin as tactics of censorship of a hierarchical state.

Organs highlights • Law enforcement bodies, bodies/ Bodies in cassocks and bodies in uniforms… • Female orgasm faces obstacles/ My strap ons are being replaced with uniforms and icons… • My country is suffering from neurosis worse than Anna O’s. • My government is total waste, laws are useless. • Opening verse introduces the relation btw religion and state; sets the mood with a hypnotic repetition of “organy” • Perverse exploitation of faith for state control; State control of sex and use of sexual violence: physically and morally; • Hysteria confused with reality; reference to ideology being employed to control the populace (Anna O, a 19 th cent. case study in hypnotherapy - Waude). • Reference to Putin’s arbitrary application of law.

Organs highlights • They promised us economy and military defense, but we’ve got…Iron curtains…Jail corridors, chords of bars. • Imagery of a growing prison state; connection to previous line and to the censorship and imprisonment of political dissidents. • My president replaced his dick with an ICBM • Perception of war-mongering as Masculine ‘Strength’. • I’m a grandma who has changed her sex and become a grandpa • Again, policing of gender and sex; Chechnya. • There is a relevance, because many of Putin’s policies, Trump also promises; Is their an attempt at foreshadow.

Why Pussy Riot is Relevant • First Album coincided with the popular Russian protests following the third election of Vladimir Putin; note: in between his second and third term, Putin served as Russian Prime Minister. • Putin has been know to assassinate and imprison political opponents, in order to maintain political control. • In Russia most media is controlled by the state; Russia Today an English news network had a budget of $314 million in 2015 (Johnson, Ben). • Dissent is suppressed by Putin. As the story of Pussy Riot illustrates, artistic expression is censored. With the arbitrary applications of laws like Hooliganism he silences expression and further controls political dissent. • The release of XXX just prior to the recent election of Trump demonstrates concern for the global ascent of Populism and with the cozy Putin-Trump relationship the ascent of a new conservative order.

Additional Projects

References • • Bernstein, Mark. "10 Tips on Writing the Living Web. " A List Apart: For People Who Make Websites, 16 Aug. 2002, alistapart. com/article/writeliving. Accessed 4 May 2009. Charnay, Masha. “The Future of Pussy Riot: 11 Questions for Yekaterina Samutsevich. ” Vocativ, 18 Nov 2013 , http: //www. vocativ. com/world/russia/pussyriot/. Accessed 23 April 2017. Harding, Luke. “Pussy Riot celebrate the vagina in lyrical riposte to Trump. ” The Guardian, 25 Oct 2016, https: //www. theguardian. com/world/2016/oct/25/pussy-riot-donald-trump-straight-outtavagina. Accessed 23 April 2017. Johnson, Ben. “Pussy Riot on trial for “hooliganism”: What does “hooliganism” mean in Russia? . Slate, 1 Aug 2012, http: //www. slate. com/blogs/browbeat/2012/08/01/pussy_riot_on_trial_for_hooliganism_what_d oes_hooliganism_mean_in_russia_. html. Accessed: 22 April 2017. Lee, Robert. “One Law to Rule Them All: Why Is Russia’s ‘Hooliganism’ Law so Controversial? ” Huffington Post, 26 Nov 2013, http: //www. huffingtonpost. co. uk/robert-j-lee/russias-hooliganismlaw-controversial_b_4336927. html. Accessed: 22 April 2017. Rutenberg, Jim. “A Warning for American From a Member of Pussy Riot. ” New York Times, 4 Dec 2016, https: //www. nytimes. com/2016/12/04/business/rutenberg-lessons-in-free-speech-frompussy-riot. html? _r=0. Accessed 24 April 2017. Waude, Adam. “Anna O: Sigmund Freud’s Case History. ” Psychologist World, 17 Mar 2016, https: //www. psychologistworld. com/freud/anna-o-case-study-freud. Accessed: 22 April 2017.