Real Punk: Pussy Riot vs. Tyranny

Russian punk group/performance art collective Pussy Riot staged a ballsy protest last February in a Russian Orthodox church, flying a youthful finger at the powers-that-be. Three of the alleged members (performers wear colorful masks to hide their identities) have met the wrath of the increasingly despotic authorities in their country, spurred by the head of the Orthodox Church, who proclaimed that the performance was “blasphemy.” Detained since March, the three have just learned that they face six more months of detention while they await trial for “hooliganism.”

Pussy Riot has cited Olympia band Bikini Kill as one of their main musical influences. With their wild performances, complete with high kicks, the group of Russian women aimed to draw attention. By naming themselves provocatively in English (even in Russian, koshka has a similar innuendo) their gaze was always to the world stage. But the focus of their efforts was to bring light to the growing despotism within their country, with mass detentions of political prisoners and an increasingly Stalin-like president.

And what of that president, Mr. Putin himself? Did the band’s lyrics, calling on Mary to “Chase Putin out,” offend the sensitive man? Mr. Putin has invested a lot of energy into showing his virility, staging his own antics like wrestling bears and tagging wild beasts. Perhaps such public displays of masculinity are meant to cover something up, his deepest fears that Pussy Riot has dredged out. God save the Queen.