Russian punk music, just like punk rock in other places around the world, is comfortable creating and performing anti-establishment songs. Punk rock musicians tend to use their freedom of expression to point out problems with authority. Many would agree they play an invaluable role in society, saying what cannot be said. Others find it offensive and would rather media censor the airways. Ultimately, controversial music is almost never mainstream; it is only heard by those who want to listen to it. In Russia however, music censorship is taken to an entirely different level with government involvement.
Russian Punk Music is Underground
In any country, lyrics that speak out against the government, are considered controversial music. As the majority of people prefer to listen to softer content, found in popular genres such as pop, punk music often gets pushed into the cultural underground. This is certainly the case with Russian punk rock. Popular punk bands, such as Televizor (Television) and PTVP (The Last Tanks in Paris) feel marginalized as their music is not played on radio and television, despite large numbers of fans, according to an article in Freemuse, "Government fights outspoken musicians, says rock singer" (August 24, 2009).
In a country where the most of the media is state-owned, political censorship of anti-government messages becomes inevitable. Music that speaks out against the government, does not have access to mediums owned by the government. Even privately owned radio stations will not play Russian punk rock, allegedly because of state pressure, a fear of being shut down or facing fines. This leaves the Russian punk rock scene to exist in the venues which will allow them to perform.
Government Censorship of Music Performances
According to the lead singer of Televizor, Mikhail Borzykin, the Russian police monitor their performances. At one concert, there were thousands of authorities, with only fifteen hundred fans. Why the police presence? In Yuri Pushkin's article in The Guardian, "Banned in the USSR: How Russian bands are being censored," Borzykin says that artists are literally dragged off the stage and arrested, when they sing anti-establishment lyrics, although no one has been charged. This does not happen at every performance, but it has happened.
The other problem is the pressure put on venues. Although there is no public ban of Russian punk rock, club owners know that if they become too involved in controversial expression, they will face problems, such as rent increases and sudden closures.
Censoring Music Culture
In Freemuse's August 2009 article, "Punk fans and bands claim to be persecuted and silenced," it is reported that supporters of Russian punk rock are listed as government extremists, and even placed under police surveillance. Both the musicians and fans have allegedly been followed in cars, and monitored on the internet and in public.
Even without an official ban, or public statements against controversial music, these artists and the people who listen to their music end up fighting an unspoken battle in an underground world. Critics argue that the government's actions and the censoring of Russian punk is not political censorship, but merely the nature of punk rock. For bands such as Televizor, which have been writing and performing political songs since Soviet times, the battle for freedom of expression is real, and will continue as long as there is an opposing force. Maybe it is the nature of the beast, and an inevitable struggle, yet one that a dynamic culture cannot exist without. The tension around censored art provokes thought, sparks dialogue, and frees minds.
Brenna Coleman - Brenna is a freelance writer focusing on natural health and beauty. She has written hundreds of articles, helping readers find ways to ...
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