Prison Letters Between Slavoj Žižek and Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova Published
In 2014, a collection of letters between Slovenian Marxist philosopher Slavoj Žižek and Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova was published under the name 'Comradely Greetings.' Their correspondence began in August 2012, right after Tolokonnikova was arrested for a protest in Moscow's main Orthodox church, and it extended until a few months after her March 2014 release. Rather than focusing on her time in prison, the letters explore topics like global capitalism, liberal democracy, and the power of protest and artistic resistance. The dialogues reference philosophers such as Nietzsche, Hegel, and Alain Badiou, showcasing the intellectual backbone of Pussy Riot’s activism. Their exchanges combine personal insights with structured debates on pressing issues like the Arab Spring and Occupy movements, ultimately inspiring readers to reconsider existing systems. It was first featured in the Autumn & Winter 2014 edition of ArtReview Asia.
Key facts
- The book 'Comradely Greetings' compiles letters between Slavoj Žižek and Nadya Tolokonnikova.
- The correspondence spans from August 2012 to after March 2014.
- Tolokonnikova was imprisoned for a 'punk prayer' protest in Moscow's largest Orthodox church.
- The letters focus on political debates rather than prison conditions.
- Topics include global capitalism, liberal democracy, protest, and artistic subversion.
- References range from Nietzsche and Hegel to Alain Badiou and Russian folk songs.
- Žižek's analysis covers events like the Arab Spring, Gezi Park protests, and Occupy movements.
- The book was first published in ArtReview Asia's Autumn & Winter 2014 issue.
Entities
Artists
- Slavoj Žižek
- Nadya Tolokonnikova
- Nietzsche
- Hegel
- Alain Badiou
- Vladimir Putin
Institutions
- Pussy Riot
- ArtReview Asia
Locations
- Slovenia
- Moscow
- Russia