Pussy Riot: Better Parenting Through Imprisonment

Image: Maxim Shemetov/Reuters.

If we accepted Vladimir Putin’s suggestion that Pussy Riot’s musical protesterode[d] Russia’s moral foundation and undermine[d] the country“, it would be pertinent to ask how depriving two kids of contact with their mothers at a crucial point in their development could possibly be constructive in this regard.

However, since most sane people would reject that assertion out of hand, let’s not waste time arguing the point. It’s moot now anyway, since Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova are being shipped off to a prison colony in the Russian hinterland where they will spend their days sewing prison uniforms and learning how to fight murderers.

Which will, of course, benefit Russia’s moral foundation for generations to come.

MOREPussy Riot, Theatre of the Absurd

Pussy Riot: Let Us In. We’ll Be Good, Promise ;)

Two months after Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison for performing a punk prayer in a Moscow cathedral, the music community has issued it’s first riposte.

Whether NY art collective MEN, featuring Le Tigre’s JD Samson, will be invited to perform ‘Let Them Out Or Let Me In’ in the same cathedral remains to be seen, but an invite would be a lovely gesture given the Russian Orthodox Church’s recent PR rethink.

Don’t hold your breath, team.

Dressed To Impress: Activism With A Sartorial Edge

In case you’ve been looking for me, my support of the FEMEN movement, the Free Pussy Riot campaign and the government & corporate accountability that the existence of Wikileaks provides, now dictates I can only leave the house dressed like this.

It might look peculiar, but I can assure you I’ve worn more ridiculous outfits out in public. I’m confident I can pull it off.

Pussy Riot: Martyrs For Mobilisation

The whole ‘hoping this would just go away’ policy was not working out for the Russian authorities. Image: REUTERS/Mikhail Voskresensky.

Three members of a Russian punk band arrested for singing a protest song in an orthodox church have been sentenced to two years in jail.

In her verdict, Judge Marina Syrova claimed that Pussy Riot “committed hooliganism driven by religious hatred” and in doing so offended the church and religious people.

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FEMEN: Provocative Enough For Pussy Riot?

Images via facebook.

A half naked woman chainsawing a bit of wood? I’m a bit disappointed that FEMEN couldn’t come up with something a little more provocative to voice their support for Pussy Riot, aren’t you?

Continue reading “FEMEN: Provocative Enough For Pussy Riot?”

Pussy Riot vs. Putin: Word Gets Around

Image: AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov.

Careful Vladimir. Pussy Riot are finding support in all kinds of unexpected places. This woman may present herself as an obedient young Olympian, but how do you know she’s not hiding a balaclava under her bouquet, ready to yank out before she bursts into song? Precedent says you’d have to arrest her.

That’d be awkward.

Verdicts in on Friday. Follow my Twitter for updates. 

Pussy Riot: Theatre Of The Absurd

How come the dangerous punk revolutionary is dressed more appropriately for court than her guard? Image: AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko.

Clearly punk feminist collective Pussy Riot knew that they would face severe punishment for attempting to sing a protest song inside a Russian Orthodox church while wearing badly knitted balaclavas. Presumably they were counting on the heavy handed treatment meted out to them by the Russian authorities being picked up by the global media, encouraging high profile figures from the music community to offer their support and further publicise their cause.

Continue reading “Pussy Riot: Theatre Of The Absurd”