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Russian Life: Jan/Feb 2009

Cover: Nikolai Gernet

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7: Iconic Controversy Maria Antonova
The Orthodox Church in September asked the Tretyakov it if could borrow Andrei Rublyov's famous Trinity icon for a religious service in Sergiyev Posad. It touched off a controversy over whether the icon is art or artifact...
Note Book

19: Afghanistan: Distant Drums Tamara Eidelman
This February is the 20th anniversary of the final withdrawal of Russian troops from Afghanistan.
Russian Calendar
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

22: Lev Landau: Impure Science Tamara Eidelman
101 years ago in January, Nobel Prize winning physicist Lev Landau was born. His life was one of great achievement and controversy.
Russian Calendar
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

24: Boris Savinkov: Russian Terrorist Tamara Eidelman
One of the first Russian proponents of terrorism and "strong" leadership was born 130 years ago in January.
Russian Calendar
:: Translation by Nora Favorov

26: Soaping Your Way Mikhail Ivanov
This issue's Survival Russian column looks at the clean (and less than so) metaphors that arise from soap...
Survival Russian
:: Illustrations/Images by Victor Bogorad

28: Under My Chum Nikolai Gernet
The assignment sounded simple enough: provide medical and cultural support to a small, indigenous population... But it was in the remote Kanin Peninsula, between the Arctic and Barents Seas. Nikolai Gernet nonetheless jumped at the opportunity and brought back this story of the nomadic Nenets reindeer herders.
Features
:: Translation by Paul E. Richardson

36: Culture Wars Marina Latysheva
The Kremlin's reassertion of control over the mass media has gotten plenty of press. Much less has been written about its forays into the arts - specifically, how the Kremlin is seeking to influence film, literature and art. We decided to look into it.
Features
:: Translation by Craig Bell

44: Islands of Mystery Maria Antonova
The Solovetsky Islands ("Solovki") have long been a part of the Russian landscape. First inhabited as an Orthodox refuge and monastery, the latter was transformed by the Soviets into the first camp for political prisoners. Today, it is a booming tourist mecca. Editor Maria Antonova went to investigate.
Features

52: In Search of Bards Ilya Ovchinnikov
To paraphrase Pushkin, "In Russia, a bard is much more than a bard." We look back at the bardic tradition (singer-songwriters) in Russian culture and find that not all is what it seems. Or, to paraphrase Pushkin again, "In Russia, a bard is often less than a bard."
Features
:: Translation by Deborah Hoffman

58: Cookies for Carolers Darra Goldstein
Pryaniki are a time-honored cookie enjoyed at holiday time. Get yours here.
Cuisine

60: The Evil That Runs Through Men's Hearts Paul E. Richardson
Five new books that touch, in various ways, on the evil chapters of Soviet and Russian history over the last 100 or so years.
Under Review

64: Obama's Russia Policy Michael McFaul
We consider what changes might occur in US-Russian relations under an Obama administration, through edited congressional testimony of a campaign advisor to Barack Obama.
Post Script