Journalist and media manager Renat Davletgildeev in Interview Ilya Varlamov dissected the current state of Russian social and cultural life. In this "swamp", the aesthetics of North Korea, Z-patriotism, secret queer codes and parties in Courchevel bizarrely coexist. We retold the main theses of this conversation - about the influence of Ekaterina Mizulina, the phenomenon of the Shaman and the tragedy of Anton Krasovsky.
Ekaterina Mizulina: "The Queen of Schoolboys" Without Real Power
Despite the image of the "gray cardinal" who decides the fate of artists, Davletgildeev calls the head of the League of Safe Internet Ekaterina Mizulina a "dummy" and "self-proclaimed Red Guard." Its real weight in political circles is minimal, and in the Presidential Administration it is rather "disliked" for its uncontrollability and the game of "public weathervane".
According to Davletgildeev, her patrons are Elena Milskaya (wife of the head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Kurenkov) and Orthodox oligarch Konstantin Malofeev. Mizulina was able to become a "favorite teacher" for teenagers aged 12-14, who write her complaints about school principals.
Davletgildeev calls the discussed "romance" with Shaman a PR project of two "fading stars" trying to support each other's careers.
Shaman: Gay icons and a microphone in pants
Singer Shaman (Yaroslav Dronov) is perceived by the queer community as "one of their own" because of his specific aesthetics. His song "My Fight" has turned into a kind of gay anthem, and the manner of putting a microphone in tight pants is interpreted as the exploitation of sexuality, aimed, according to the journalist, rather at a male audience.
Rumors are also circulating in the party that Shaman was a protégé of Vyacheslav Volodin, but now his place has allegedly been taken by a young artist Vanya Dmitrienko. At the same time, Davletgildeev notes that the queer vibe comes even from Mizulina herself, whom the journalist's "lesbian friends" consider "theirs."
Ksenia Sobchak: Queen of the Remaining
Ksenia Sobchak remains "number one" in the Russian YouTube space simply because almost all the other stars have left. Davletgildeev believes that her decision to stay in Russia was dictated not only by money (unfinished house, business, employees), but also by her unwillingness to lose her status and usual standard of living.
Sobchak continues to touch on political topics, observing "red lines" and placing "stars", which Davletgildeev calls either courage or an attempt to "save face". Her interviews with queer bloggers (Igor Sinyak and Sergey Greivas) are both hype and sincere attention to the rights of LGBT people, whom the authorities have made "scapegoats".
Ivan Urgant: The Great Disappointment
The situation with Ivan Urgant, who after the start of the war limited himself to a "black square" on social networks and fell silent, causes skepticism in Davletgildeev. The journalist is sure that Urgant is just "waiting" for a call from Konstantin Ernst to return to the air of Channel One.
Urgant's content on YouTube (channel "What happened?") Davletgildeev calls absolutely apolitical and boring. Against the background of Dmitry Nagiyev, who allowed himself clearer statements, Urgant's silence looks like an attempt to "jump back".
Anton Krasovsky: Minced meat that cannot be turned back
The tragic figure of the Russian media field is Anton Krasovsky. Davletgildeev, who calls himself his friend, believes that Krasovsky "played too much" with the authorities.
When the liberal crowd rejected him for aggressiveness, the only one who "extended a hand" was Margarita Simonyan. Davletgildeev quotes Krasovsky's own metaphor about the "tribe of cannibals": having tasted "human flesh" (power, blood, influence), he can no longer eat anything else. Now Krasovsky is in isolation, his projects on RT are stalled, and he himself periodically talks about his desire to "die".
Two Realities: Boys' Choir and Black Caviar
Russian show business today is an attempt to "marry a crocodile with a chicken." On the one hand, there is monumental propaganda, boys' choirs and North Korean aesthetics. On the other hand, there are Muz-TV awards with feathers, rhinestones and discussion of plastic surgery.
The authorities adopt repressive laws (against LGBT, childfree, quad people), but they themselves continue to lead a hedonistic lifestyle. The elite still love Courchevel, Cannes and Chanel bags bought at exorbitant prices through resellers. The "era of naked partying" is over: now "everything is possible again" if you demonstrate loyalty.
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