Vladimir Lenin overthrew Russian Czar Nicholas II and founded the Soviet Union, forever changing the course of Russian politics. But was he a hero who toppled an oppressive tyranny or a villain who replaced it with another? Alex Gendler puts this controversial figure on trial, exploring both sides of a nearly century-long debate.
Lesson by Alex Gendler, animation by Brett Underhill.
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russia. Show all posts
Chekhov: "Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out."
From The Writer's Almanac:
January 29 is the birthday of writer Anton Chekhov, born in Taganrog, Russia (1860). Chekhov is one of the inventors of the modern short story. His stories were usually short, full of passive characters, and without much of a plot. They didn't have big emotional climaxes, and they usually ended with a moment that revealed something about the main characters' lives.
His first play, The Seagull, opened in 1885. It got horrible reviews, and he walked out on it at intermission and vowed never to write another play. But two years later, it was produced again, this time to rave reviews. The success inspired him to go on to write the plays Three Sisters (1901), The Cherry Orchard (1904), and Uncle Vanya (1897), which are now considered classics.
Chekhov said, "Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out."
References:
The Writer's Almanac:
January 29 is the birthday of writer Anton Chekhov, born in Taganrog, Russia (1860). Chekhov is one of the inventors of the modern short story. His stories were usually short, full of passive characters, and without much of a plot. They didn't have big emotional climaxes, and they usually ended with a moment that revealed something about the main characters' lives.
His first play, The Seagull, opened in 1885. It got horrible reviews, and he walked out on it at intermission and vowed never to write another play. But two years later, it was produced again, this time to rave reviews. The success inspired him to go on to write the plays Three Sisters (1901), The Cherry Orchard (1904), and Uncle Vanya (1897), which are now considered classics.
Chekhov said, "Any idiot can face a crisis; it is this day-to-day living that wears you out."
References:
The Writer's Almanac:
White Sun of the Desert
White Sun of the Desert (Russian: Белое солнце пустыни; Beloye solntse pustyni) (1969), a classic 'Eastern' or Ostern film of the Soviet Union.
The film is one of the most popular Russian films of all time. Its blend of action, comedy, music and drama has made it wildly successful and it has since achieved the status of a cult film in Soviet and Russian culture. The film has contributed many sayings to the Russian language. Its main theme song, "Your Honor Lady Luck" (Ваше благородие, госпожа Удача, music: Isaak Schwarz, lyrics: Bulat Okudzhava, performed by Pavel Luspekaev) became a huge hit. The film is ritually watched by cosmonauts before many space launches.
References:
Wikipedia.
Veoh
Amazon
The film is one of the most popular Russian films of all time. Its blend of action, comedy, music and drama has made it wildly successful and it has since achieved the status of a cult film in Soviet and Russian culture. The film has contributed many sayings to the Russian language. Its main theme song, "Your Honor Lady Luck" (Ваше благородие, госпожа Удача, music: Isaak Schwarz, lyrics: Bulat Okudzhava, performed by Pavel Luspekaev) became a huge hit. The film is ritually watched by cosmonauts before many space launches.
References:
Wikipedia.
Veoh
Amazon
Bulat Okudzhava
Bulat Shalvovich Okudzhava (May 9, 1924 – June 12, 1997) was a Soviet poet, writer, and singer-songwriter. He was one of the founders of the Russian genre called "author's song" (авторская песня, avtorskaya pesnya). He was of Armenian-Georgian origin, born in Moscow and died in Paris. He was the author of about 200 songs, set to his own poetry.
In 1969, his lyrics appeared in the classic Soviet film White Sun of the Desert. Its main theme song, "Your Honor Lady Luck" (Ваше благородие, госпожа Удача, music: Isaak Schwarz, lyrics: Bulat Okudzhava, performed by Pavel Luspekaev) became a huge hit. The film is ritually watched by cosmonauts before many space launches.
References:
Wikipedia.
In 1969, his lyrics appeared in the classic Soviet film White Sun of the Desert. Its main theme song, "Your Honor Lady Luck" (Ваше благородие, госпожа Удача, music: Isaak Schwarz, lyrics: Bulat Okudzhava, performed by Pavel Luspekaev) became a huge hit. The film is ritually watched by cosmonauts before many space launches.
References:
Wikipedia.
Sand dunes and Russian borders - New Europe - BBC video
Travel guru Michael Palin visits Nida in Southern Lithuania to visit the extraordinary sand dunes that form a large part of the fragile national park and crosses an uinexpected border into Russia. Fascinating short from BBC travel documentary, Palin's New Europe.
NYTimes: Western-Style Gyms Are Catching On in Russia
“In the last three to five years, you see Russian businessmen who are in shape, who are drinking water,” Mr. Reznik said. “People have decided that they want to live longer.”
The country’s leaders have also promoted exercise. Vladimir V. Putin, the former president and now the prime minister, has been the country’s biggest fitness cheerleader. He has a black belt in judo and a fondness for swimming and skiing. Dmitri A. Medvedev, the current president, continues the drill; he skis and practices yoga.
References:
O.K., Russia, Time to Work It. NYTimes, 2010.
The country’s leaders have also promoted exercise. Vladimir V. Putin, the former president and now the prime minister, has been the country’s biggest fitness cheerleader. He has a black belt in judo and a fondness for swimming and skiing. Dmitri A. Medvedev, the current president, continues the drill; he skis and practices yoga.
References:
O.K., Russia, Time to Work It. NYTimes, 2010.
Photos from Russia
English Russia is a blog that frequently posts interesting photos from Russia "just because something cool happens daily on 1/6 of the Earth surface." See a few examples below:
St. Petersburg from a Helicopter
Moscow from Bird’s Sight
The Unknown Russia: The Russian South
"People know Russia is a Northern country with snow, frost, cold winter. All keep in mind pictures of taiga, Siberia, polar bears and vodka. Well, it’s all true, we all know now that 65% of Russia is covered with permafrost, but there is one fact than less people know. Russia has a territory that is located more to South than Milano, Nice, Monte Carlo and other places of European South. And this territory occupies more square meters than France or Germany. Meet Sochi, the Winter Olympics 2014 host. This Russia doesn’t look like Russia at all, maybe the next place for your vacation?"
The Permafrost Museum
Aurora Borealis in Murmansk
Updated: 07/12/2008
St. Petersburg from a Helicopter
Moscow from Bird’s Sight
The Unknown Russia: The Russian South
"People know Russia is a Northern country with snow, frost, cold winter. All keep in mind pictures of taiga, Siberia, polar bears and vodka. Well, it’s all true, we all know now that 65% of Russia is covered with permafrost, but there is one fact than less people know. Russia has a territory that is located more to South than Milano, Nice, Monte Carlo and other places of European South. And this territory occupies more square meters than France or Germany. Meet Sochi, the Winter Olympics 2014 host. This Russia doesn’t look like Russia at all, maybe the next place for your vacation?"
The Permafrost Museum
Aurora Borealis in Murmansk
Updated: 07/12/2008
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