Dragan Kujundzic's 1999 Essay Analyzes Post-Soviet Russian Identity Through Art and Globalization

In his 1999 piece for ARTMargins Online, Dragan Kujundzic explores the concept of Russian identity following the Soviet Union's dissolution. He analyzes cultural artifacts such as the 1996 textbook "Live From Moscow" and its accompanying video, which juxtaposes the Russian alphabet with a McDonald's menu, symbolizing the encroachment of capitalism. Kujundzic delves into Bernard Stiegler's notion of "macdonaldization" and its effects on cultural authenticity, referencing the 1999 Manezh mall bombing as a protest against consumerism. He highlights contemporary art's representation of hybrid identities, including works by Milan Kunc from 1978, Dubosarsky-Vinogradov's 1998 "Christ in Moscow," and performances by Vadik Monroe. The essay also discusses the recontextualization of Soviet monuments and the $30,000 embalming services for mafia figures, drawing on theories from Derrida, Groys, and Nietzsche.