Punk Instead of Putin - Counterculture in Russia - Book

At least since Pussy Riot and their punk prayer in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, we know: not everyone in Russia supports Putin. There are brave people who, despite the threat of repression, stand up with their music, art, and literature against the nationalist, patriarchal, and homophobic mainstream.

"Punk instead of Putin" shows two different worlds: on one side, an increasingly repressive authoritarian state, and on the other, opposition artists and activists who seek out niches, exploit freedoms, and creatively deal with their desperate situation. Norma Schneider describes the diverse forms and content of Russian counterculture in Putin's Russia – before and after the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Although the regime now only offers its critics the choice between exile, self-censorship, and prison, her book does not focus on the repressions but on what is still possible despite everything.

Norma Schneider introduces the ideology of the Putin regime, presents the political and cultural mainstream and official cultural policy, and describes how the state deals with counterculture, oscillating between repression and attempts at co-optation. This is contrasted with a vivid portrait of Russian counterculture, where the underground scene, anti-war songs, and queer literature find their place alongside feminist self-organization, Putin memes, and artistic protest in public spaces.

The numerous interviews Schneider conducted with artists in Russia and in exile tell of hope and hopelessness, of courageous protest, safe spaces, and the will to continue fighting for a free Russia.

Norma Schneider, born in 1988, studied philosophy, sociology, and German language and literature. She lives in Frankfurt am Main as a freelance journalist, author, and editor. When Pussy Riot stood trial in 2012, she began to take an interest in punk and protest in Russia. Since then, she has intensively studied various forms of Russian counterculture – and the ideology of the Putin regime. She writes literary reviews and articles on culture, protest, and the LGBTQ community in Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet space, including for taz, nd.Aktuell, FAZ, and Jungle World.