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I love these two. If I ever read a Russian book I insist on using one of their translations. I can speak and read Russian on a basic level. They're able to make
by silent_cal 2y ago
I love these two. If I ever read a Russian book I insist on using one of their translations. I can speak and read Russian on a basic level. They're able to make texts sound like Russian, but it English. It's pretty amazing really.
- benterix 2y ago[flagged]
- silent_cal 2y agoI hope so too. It's great literature and there is a lot to admire about their culture, although admittedly the golden age of Russian culture is now well in the past.
- sBqQu3U0wH 2y ago>However, after the war started, I lost all interest in reading anything Russian. I know it's irrational, but these lost their luster instantly. Many share the same sentiment, and some do that more strongly than others. Interestingly, it never had that effect on me, however, though I cannot speak Russian, except read, but my vocabulary is extremely limited. I think it's important to distinguish between current events and the culture, literature, and art that spans centuries.
- rimliu 2y agoAlas, one can argue that the current events are the result of the culture that spans centuries :(
- pyrale 2y agoI would be curious to see how one could seriously argue this. People making this kind of claims tend to grasp at straws to make connections and make implications much more deterministic than they actually are.
- AnimalMuppet 2y agoOK, I'll try - not as a rigorous argument, but not as a strawman, either. Events shape cultures. You can find cultural remnants of past events that impacted a group decades later (especially traumatic events). And, cultures shape events, because cultures shape the people that cause (at least some of) the events. And cultures shape peoples' response to the events. So when you see a pattern that looks fairly similar across centuries, then you have at least some ground for suspecting that there is a stable system there - that events keep happening that shape the culture in a consistent way, and the culture keeps shaping events in ways that will give rise to the same kinds of events happening. I wouldn't go as far as "deterministic". I don't think that much involving humans is ever truly deterministic. But there does seem to be a pattern of history, if not repeating itself, at least rhyming.
- MrDisposable 2y ago> However, after the war started, I lost all interest in reading anything Russian. I know it's irrational, but these lost their luster instantly. Russian here, living in Russia. Not surprised about this at all. Actually, I predicted that this would happen. By starting the war, Putin has wiped out multiple perceived notions about Russia (the myth of the defender nation, the second-strongest army, and the "Tolstoyesvsky"-centered culture among them). Paraphrasing Anton Chigurh: "If your culture brought you to this, of what use was the culture?"
- 331c8c71 2y ago> "If your culture brought you to this, of what use was the culture?" I think this is a temporary sentiment. In my mind Bach and Beethoven are in no way associated with the Nazi regime, for instance.
- rimliu 2y agoHow about Wagner?
- grujicd 2y agoWagner was associated with USA, because of Apocalypse Now ;) From my point of view, if you discard artist because of country he was born in, it's only your loss.
- pyrale 2y agoWagner died in 1883. How about him?
- 331c8c71 2y agoLenin adored Beethoven's Appassionnata sonata calling it "astonishing, superhuman". I like it too and in no way like Lenin;).
- mensetmanusman 2y agoBiden predicted as well: “Joe Biden acknowledged in 1997 that eastward NATO expansion into the Baltic states would cause “the greatest consternation,” which could “tip the balance” and result in a “vigorous and hostile reaction” by Russia.” Unfortunately his dementia may have erased these thoughts. "The United States stands firmly with the Ukrainian people in defense of the NATO alliance." -Kamala When two powers think they are defending themselves, war typically breaks out.
- Shorel 2y agoYou can learn Bulgarian instead. Similar script, different world-view. Айляк. A Bulgarian asks a Spaniard: – What does “mañana, mañana” mean? – It’s when your life is mainly drinking wine, relaxing, eating good food, and having loads of fun. And what is Айляк? – The same but without all this tension.
- imp0cat 2y agoDon't give up completely. It is quite easy to forget that there are lots of common people like you living their lives in Russia now who are similarly quite unhappy about the current situation, but mostly powerless to change anything. But this too shall pass.
- _lvbh 2y agoI had a similar experience learning Chinese. Given the current geopolitical tensions, I opted to learn Japanese instead as to not raise ill will/suspicions.