Why is Soviet literature so obscure? (or, a mini feedback on Bulgakov's Master and Margarita)
Why is Soviet literature so obscure? (or, a mini feedback on Bulgakov's Master and Margarita)
I heard a lot of praise for Bulgakov's oeuvre in the past, so I decided to give it a go.
I have read Russian literature in the past by recommendation of family and friends who always showed much interest in it; be it Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov or Pushkin.
But recently I noticed that knowledge of Russian literature virtually stops at the onset of the revolution. When it comes to the Soviet era, there is a sort of intentional silence regarding the literature of that time, at least in the West and its colonized peripheries. Anecdotally, I once had a conversation with my mother during which she claimed that the Soviet period was a dark time to be living in Russia. When I asked her what's the basis of her statement, she said this is based on the novels she read, citing Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. The awkward smile on her face after telling her that these authors died decades before the revolution was priceless; bless her heart, but I am digressing.
When a few exceptions of Soviet literature emerge out of the iron curtain, it turns out to be some anticommunist rambling, just like Bulgakov's Master and Margarita.
Considering the critical acclaim, it feels wrong to say that I found it to be average. Was I supposed to cheer for the devil and his retinue as they terrorize Moscow? Maybe it's my ideological orientation which prevents me from fully engaging with the novel, and I'm alright with that. Though I did enjoy the chapters narrating Pontius Pilate's encounter with Yeshua Ha-Nozri.
Anyhow, was Soviet literature ever popular? Did it die out after the collapse of the union? Or has it always been curtailed in the West?
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I guess it depends on how you define "literature", but the Night Watch books from Sergei Lukyanenko were pretty popular and even spawned two film adaptations. The first of which was very good and the 2nd was really, really not. ;)
I say "literature" because it's basically Twilight in Russian. :) That's unfair, it's far, far better than Twilight, but you get the idea. ;)
The first book was in 1998, the 6th in 2014.
Lukyanenko is problematic now due to his Ukranian heritage and his unwavering support for Russia in the war in Ukraine. :(
The first book was in 1998
The Soviet Union dissolved in 1991...
The first Dozor is the thing I enjoyed but I can't really watch it as an adult. Timur Bekmakbetov took clip-montage to the whole new level seen only in Snyder's movies. Imho it blasts when you haven't got an allergy to that kind of editing.
Yeah, I saw the first movie, then dove into the books. Caught the 2nd movie and was like "Well, that was shitty..."
It would benefit from a long form adaptation on HBO or something.
Yeah, agreed. But that sword is sharpened from both sides: I don't believe russian contemporary movie industry can do something but cringe and I also doubt international studios can catch that spirit of the fantasy put in the russian 90s without cringe too. Maybe somewhen in the future...