It has been almost two months since our lives have radically changed. During this period, more than 100 brands of various sizes suspended their activities in Russia, and some companies decided not to cooperate with our country’s representatives at all. The changes have affected literally everything: from culture and gastronomy to music and cinema. Russia is canceled as it is now fashionable.
In fact, the abolitionist culture has turned into a cultural abolition for our country. Almost overnight, our compatriots were banned from participating in all important events, competitions and concerts. Italy canceled a course on Dostoevsky’s studies, the Netherlands refused to cooperate with the Hermitage, and our football team was excluded from the list of participants in the World and European Championships.
When people are divided by nationality and denied the opportunity to leave their mark on world culture simply because they were born in a certain country, everything that happens is somewhat reminiscent of a utility performance of the absurd. But once it seemed like sports, art, music should stay out of politics, sanctions, restrictions. However, as practice shows, not everyone thinks so.
Today, April 15, is World Culture Day, which is especially ironic given the fact that at the moment the main culture is the culture of cancellation (including on a national basis). Collected public and social spaces – from art to big sport – that the Russians have now canceled. And we really hope that one day Western authorities will be extremely embarrassed for such “inappropriate lists”.
Cinema
Major film companies were among the first to react to the political situation, and on the first day of spring they announced the suspension of the distribution of their films in Russia. Then, after waiting for a pause, Netflix left the market and stopped working on all Russian projects. The fate of the first Russian TV series for the Anna K platform, starring Svetlana Khodchenkova, is still unknown.
In early March, the organizers of the Venice and Cannes Film Festivals announced that they refused to accept delegations from Russia this year. However, independent Russian filmmakers will be allowed to participate.
A few weeks later, the Berlin Film Festival also made a statement. The organizers also suspended the participation of Russian delegations and departments associated with Russian officials. However, they also noted that they have no plans to boycott independent filmmakers.
Theatre
The theater troupe gave the strongest reaction to the situation in the country. Art directors, actors and directors began to resign one by one. Some for political reasons, some for ethical reasons. In the meantime, we have prepared a separate article about the changes in the sector. But now we will not consider internal permutations, we will focus on world events.
The first cancellations began in late February, when New York’s Carnegie Hall announced that performances by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev and pianist Denis Matsuev would be cancelled. A week later, Milan’s La Scala theater removed opera singer Anna Netrebko from the March performances. And after that, the London theater “Covent Garden” canceled the tour “Bolshoi”, which was at the final stage of planning.
Only a few days ago it became known that the ballet “Swan Lake” was canceled in Italy. The Ukrainian dance group was supposed to participate in the production. The ballet had to be canceled after the Ukrainian National Opera and the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture contacted the artists. This is because the author of Swan Lake, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, was Russian.
culture
The cancellations affected not only theatre, but also museum institutions, literature and music. For example, on March 2, the University of Milan Bicocca canceled classes on the work of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This decision was taken to avoid “any form of internal debate, especially at this time of great tension.”
A day later, the Museum of Russian Art in Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Hermitage, St. announced the end of cooperation (more than 30 years) with the State Hermitage in St. Petersburg. In the same statement, it was stated that the museum hopes to re-establish relations.
The music wasn’t without high-profile cancellations, either. On February 25, Eurovision organizers banned Russia from participating in the 2022 contest.
gastroindustry
The situation also affected the restaurant business. At the beginning of March, the Michelin gastronomy guide made a statement about the complete suspension of activities in Russia. Recall that less than six months have passed since its launch. In October 2021, nine metropolitan restaurants received Michelin stars. “We have decided not to develop the Moscow direction. Therefore, there will be no updates in the Moscow selection this year, and projects for the development of the Michelin Guide in Russia are currently frozen,” he said.
This means that there will no longer be posts about Moscow restaurants on the Michelin website and social networks.
fashion industry
There aren’t many cancellations in the fashion industry yet. The last weeks of fashion passed with the participation of other Russian models, if not Irina Shayk. But on March 7, the head of the High Fashion Federation Ralph Toledano announced that the online show of Russian designer Valentin Yudashkin has been canceled.
Sport
Sport has long ceased to exist outside of politics, so restrictions began almost immediately. The first hit were Russian Paralympic athletes, who were not allowed to participate in the Beijing Games. On February 28, FIFA and UEFA deprived Russian national teams and clubs of the right to participate in tournaments. It turned out that our team will not be able to play in the World and European Championships, and the clubs will not be able to enter the Europa League and Champions League.
A few days later, the Council of the International Ice Hockey Federation decided to revoke the Russian Ice Hockey Federation’s right to host the 2023 World Championship and suspend the participation of Russian teams and clubs in competitions for the duration of the military operation. Experts say that such a decision will affect not only national hockey, but also the world.
And at the end of March, the Executive Committee of the International Biathlon Union suspended the activities of the Russian Biathlon Union in the organization. This means that our team will not take part in major international tournaments next season.
Source: People Talk
