Yes, Icon

Through a confluence of events, it turned out that this issue of Russian Life, which marks the magazine’s 45th year, is about some of the “icons” of Russian culture. For what could be more iconic than St. Basil’s Cathedral, which graces our cover? Or lacquer boxes? And there are few battles in WWII that are held in higher esteem than the battle to save the capital of the Russian state.

Understanding touchstones like these are invaluable for our larger understanding of another culture. This lesson was brought home to me–literally–a few weeks back when we hosted some Russian musicians at our home for a meal.

Wiped out from a late night, two weeks of touring, and now full on sandwiches and beer, our guests began to get a bit restless, their afternoon concert several hours off. The conversation lagged, as it can at times like these, until one of the guests, who had been exploring our bookshelves, cried out “Zhentelmeny Udachy!” (Gentlemen of Fortune). At the name of the popular Soviet-era comedy film, the other musicians came alive, their erstwhile leader shyly wondering aloud if it would really be polite to watch this video now.

An easier question there could not have been to answer. The ice broken, even the friends who knew no Russian laughed along at the screwball comedy, as our guests blurted out favorite lines in time with the actors.

A comparable situation might be stumbling across a copy (undubbed) of a Pink Panther or Monty Python film at an acquaintance’s home during your third week of a six week stay in Chelyabinsk. Or, as actually happened to my wife and I over a decade ago, when foreign films were much more scarce in Moscow, we were treated to a showing of Field of Dreams at Spaso House. The line from the film, “It’s not heaven, it’s Iowa,” could not have hit closer to home for two expats who had been in Russia for a year (and who happened to have met in a small Iowa town) ...

So it is in this issue that we look at the cause and effects of three touchstones of Russian history and culture. But there is more. First, we continue on with our series on “100 Young Russians to Watch.” With this issue, you will have met 77 remarkable Russians under 45. While it is difficult for us to encapsulate their individual lives in 600-800 words (which of us would want to try the same with our own lives?), we think this effort has immense value in making real, human connections with modern Russia.

Finally, given the horrific events unleashed on September 11, we have devoted significant space in this issue to an interview with a Russian opinion maker (page 56). We also highlight, on page 6, the results of some recent polling of the Russian public. It is important at a time like this that we understand how we are viewed by Russians, so that we can, in turn, gain a better understanding of them. For, as a Russian friend of mine is fond of saying, “Russia is not just matryoshkas and borshcht.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Enjoy the issue and have a wonderful holiday. See you in 2002!