Monthly Archives: November 2016

“The literal meaning of these songs was irrelevant. What was important was their Western origin, foreign sound, and unknown references that allowed Soviet fans to imagine worlds that did not have to be linked to any “real” place or circumstances, … Continue reading →

Both “Don’t Shoot” and “This Train Is On Fire” address the very real impact of state-sanctioned war and violence, particularly upon younger generations (in “This Train Is On Fire,” the last verse affirms “…the people who shot our fathers are … Continue reading →

Yurchak discusses that broadcasts in languages other than those spoken in the USSR were jammed (178) and as such the BBC World Service, amongst others, was readily available to Soviet music fans. How do we read this decision? To block … Continue reading →

In the Hebdige article, a useful comparison is made between culture and counter culture: culture is to news photography as subculture is to advertising (Hebdige, 101). I thought this comparison really hits the nail on the head for how audiences … Continue reading →