Interculturalism and New Russians in Berlin

Giacomo Bottà, University of Helsinki

Abstract

In his paper, "Interculturalism and New Russians in Berlin" Giacomo Bottá discusses aspects of the community of Russian artists in contemporary (post-1989) Berlin. The Berlin-based Russendisko night has been held in Tel Aviv, Milan, or Frankfurt, where enthusiastic people danced to songs of obscure Russian bands. In 2004, a new CD compilation, Russensoul, was published and in 2005 Karaoke, the ninth novel by Russion-born and Berlin-based author Wladimir Kaminer appeared in book stores. Russian culture is experiencing global success curiously tied to Berlin. How could the German capital have channelled this interest? Is there a particular historical, social, geographical, or cultural factor which has been decisive in this phenomenon? Why are these artists in Berlin? How important has Berlin been in the production of Russian artists? These are the basic questions Bottá explores in his study in an exploration of Berlin as an intercultural city and the locus of an Russian artistic community as intercultural practice. Bottá includeds in his analysis Wladimir Kaminer, Natalia Hantke, both writers, and Wladimir Skokov, a painter. Their biographies and some of their works, relating to urban subjects, are analysed and embedded in the urban context.

Recommended Citation

Bottà, Giacomo. "Interculturalism and New Russians in Berlin." CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 8.2 (2006): http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/clcweb/vol8/iss2/5

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