As mentioned in the fake newscast I wrote, produced and starred in the band Pussy Riot has been once again in the media. This article brings politics into the Olympics. Read the article and answer the following:
1) Why did the band members get jail time?
2) What is their message? Why do they feel so strongly about their cause?
3) Do politics belong in the games? Do they take away or help the games by bringing more attention to them?
4) Is this attention positive or negative?
http://www.thestar.com/sports/sochi2014/2014/02/18/pussy_riots_detainment_during_sochi_olympics_was_incredibly_stupid_by_vladimir_putins_regime_kelly.html#
This is my post for the week:
ReplyDeleteThe Russian girl band Pussy Riot has been creating a stir in the media recently. Known for their makeshift masks and colourful attire they are forcing the government to take action. The group is looking to promote the separation of the government and the church, in the removal of Putin their President.
On February 21st, 2014 the group preformed their song “Punk Prayer- Mother of God, Chase Putin Away” in The Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow where security officials had to step in.
On March 3rd the two most popular band members- NadyaTolokonnikova and Masha Alekhina- were arrested and charged with hooliganism, a charge for unlawful behaviour that can include rioting, and, or vandalism. The church felt that the song was “blasphemy” saying that it was slandering their religion as well.
Just under a year later, Putin released the pair by amnesty, a political pardon, hoping to resolve the situation quietly before the start of the Olympic Games this winter. However, the band did not have the same plans, there were rumours of another protest to be held in Sochi, where they would sing another song, but a dozen police officers took the girls into custody under an accusation of theft at their hotel. The group was eventually cleared of the charge.
So, with that being said I feel that the group was not thinking of the Olympics, and the traditions behind them, rather the masses of people to reach, when they decided to make their way to Sochi. I think that if they have a problem with their government they should try to find a way to negotiate; they could have predicted that Putin would find a way to stop them from singing the song. If they had laid low for a couple of months first then they could have arranged another location, one less predictable.
Here is a video about the first protest at the cathedral, and an article on their detainment in Sochi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZa8bV5w6t4
http://bc.ctvnews.ca/pussy-riot-members-cause-chaos-after-being-detained-in-sochi-1.1691934
I agree that the group was probably not thinking about the Olympic traditions. I think they saw the opportunity to share their cause with the world and took it. As much as I think it's unfair that they planned this protest during such an important world event I can't help but be proud for what they did to stand up for their cause. I don't know about you but I don't think we would have heard this story if they hadn't done it at the games. (We didn't hear much about their first protest.). I think that they shouldn't have laid low because their problem would be less well known. Although they might have interfered with the games, it did allow for their voices to be heard which leads me to believe that their second arrest might have worked in their favour.
DeleteI agree with Anne, The Olympics is a huge event being broadcasted and talked about internationally. By staging their protests during this event, Pussy Riot's cause was recognized world wide. Although what they did might have seemed disrespectful towards the tradition of the games, it was essential that they speak up and get recognition for their cause. Again, I agree with Anne with how it was more beneficial for them to protest during the Olympics than to lay low and keep quiet.
DeleteI agree with Anna and Gabrielle. The Olympics should be about the athletes and the patriotism. Although at the same time it happens to be a good time for them to get their message out because it is such a internationally followed even.
DeleteRuth, your post is very interesting. The band Pussy Riot has been a hot topic for me and my family as we are Russian and of the Russian Orthodox religion. With all the problems that Russia has simply as a nation, i think that the band was less concerned with the fact that the Olympics should be a time of celebrating achievements in sport and helping show patriotism for ones country, but more concerned with the already large problem of there largely church governed country. As religion is a huge part of there culture, i am still unsure it has a place in there government because Russia seems to be moving backwards in time and adopting old ways of life.
DeleteJust a thought, great post though Ruth
This is my weekly post:
ReplyDeleteThough the article makes some pretty blunt accusations (I had to double-check that it wasn’t an editorial, it was so biased and opinion-ridden), I do agree on some levels: namely, that the authority figure who ordered the detainment of the band members during the Olympics was not thinking clearly. Pussy Riot spent several months making headline after headline as the face of Russian oppression for the Western world. Their incarceration raised international awareness about the governmental corruption occurring in Russia, as the majority of North America and Europe looked on with disapproval. When the band members were released early on amnesty, it was widely regarded to be a last-minute attempt by Putin to improve his country’s image in time for the Olympics; a “no hard feelings” action to prove to the world that he’s not such a bad guy—and likely an effort to sweep the Pussy Riot conflict under the carpet as quickly and quietly as possible.
At least that’s how it appeared, until the authorities drew all attention back to the band and the oppression they’ve faced. In a time when all eyes are on Russia, someone decides that it’s a good idea to arrest the recently-freed anti-government protesters for what appears to be no reason whatsoever? Really? The whole ordeal was so pointless it almost felt like someone in charge was trying to remind everyone of the extensive corruption at the country’s core.
And if that wasn’t enough to shame Russia’s international reputation, the band released footage in a music video mere days later of police beating the members with horse whips for protesting in front of an Olympic sign in Sochi. Really, Russia?! If there really was a legitimate legal issue with Pussy Riot’s actions—which is entirely likely; many of the women have a tendency to overlook the law, or outright defy it, when spreading their message—there was a number of ways for the authorities to have handled the situation without causing such a scene and painting a picture of oppression so vivid that witnesses can’t help but to make connections to the KGB.
Politics didn’t have to be brought into the Olympics—at least not to that scale. What could have been dismissed as a bunch of angry, restless women was expertly transformed by Sochi authorities into a reminder to all that Pussy Riot has a reason to be protesting.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pussy-riot-attacked-with-whips-by-cossack-militia-at-sochi-1.2542843
I agree with you Maggie this article was very biased and made some striking accusations. It was hard to see other point of views. I also agree with the fact that politics should not be involved with the Olympics. That is the point of them, to come together. Once you bring politics into this type of ceremony it breaks the whole reason for it.
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