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Mysterious Punk Goddess: What's the story behind Pussy Riot?
Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist protest and performance art group based in Moscow, known for its provocative punk rock music that has since become more accessible. The collective was founded in the autumn of 2011 by Nadia Tolokonnikova, then 22 years old, and has about 11 women as members. The group performs unauthorized and provocative guerrilla concerts in public places, and the performances are filmed as music videos and posted online. Its lyrics cover themes of feminism, LGBT rights, opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin and his policies, and Putin's ties to the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.
On February 21, 2012, five members of the group performed at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, a performance that was hailed as a turning point.
The song, titled "Punk Prayer," calls for divine intervention in the hope that the Virgin Mary will expel Putin from Russia. The act was condemned as blasphemy by Orthodox clergy and was eventually stopped by church security. The women said their protest was directed at the Orthodox Church leader's support for Putin during his campaign.
On March 3, 2012, two members, Nadia Tolokonnikova and Maria Alyoshina, were arrested and charged with causing trouble. The third member, Ekaterina Samutsevich, was arrested on March 16. They were all denied bail until their trial in late July. On August 17, 2012, Alyoshina, Samutsevich and Tolokonnikova were all convicted of "provoking trouble due to religious hatred" and were each sentenced to two years in prison.
The trial and verdict attracted widespread attention and criticism, especially from the West.
Human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International, also intervened in the case and considered them prisoners of conscience. Public opinion in Russia is generally less than sympathetic to the band members. After 21 months in prison, Tolokonnikova and Alyoshina were released on December 23, 2013, after the State Duma passed an amnesty bill. In February 2014, members of Pussy Riot anonymously claimed that Alyoshina and Tolokonnikova were no longer members of the group, but they were still attacked while performing under the name Pussy Riot at the Sochi Winter Olympics.
As time went on, Pussy Riot's voice was not limited to Russia itself. Two weeks before the results of the 2016 US presidential election were known, the group predicted Donald Trump's victory and released the "Make America Great Again" music video, which depicted a dystopian world dominated by President Trump. Enforcing its values with violence and humiliation.
In this video, the lively music contrasts sharply with the brutal events in the Mantis sense.
Pussy Riot's music and performance style are influenced by British and American punk music and have strong feminist characteristics. The group uses unauthorized public spaces to perform in order to convey their message. According to the members, "We don't have to sing well, this is punk, we just scream loud."
As the political and social situation in Russia changes, Pussy Riot's movement has also developed at different levels. The political stance of its members ranges from anarchist to liberal leftist, but they are united by feminism, anti-authoritarianism and opposition to Putin. In this context, Pussy Riot's protest behavior came to be seen as a difficult form of resistance to modern Russian politics.
In the process of fighting against the Putin regime, Pussy Riot suffered many attacks and insults, but their fighting spirit has never weakened. This increasingly mysterious and controversial group has attracted great attention not only domestically, but also internationally. Pussy Riot's performance is not only music, but also a reflection on reality in an artistic sense, and even a civic action.
Today, the members of Pussy Riot continue their struggle in different ways and have never given up the courage to speak out for freedom. This makes people wonder whether true art and politics can be effectively combined in today's world. Sparking change?
