Measuring ‘Russianness’

[Neilikka]

Some time ago, a popular Russian magazine published a test that allowed readers to ‘measure your Russianness.' It wasn't devised for migration services, but for pure entertainment. It was quite interesting for lots of Russians to understand exactly ‘how Russian' they really are.

The test consisted of five blocks with questions concerning Russia's cultural heritage. Yet this heritage is all we know. To describe our sentiments we use expressions from films, proverbs, folk wisdom, lyrics and songs lyrics. We even dare quote politicians. This is true for each country, and it varies from place to place.

So, if you want to feel the Russian soul and imbibe Russian features, then you should watch lots of Soviet-era films, such as charming comedies about Shurik's adventures "Kidnapping Caucasian Style," "White Sun of the Desert," "Seventeen Moments of Spring," and so on.
The test asks a number of questions on Russian literature - the most prominent works by well known Russian authors. This aspect of Russianness can't be skipped - Russians can speak volumes about their literature, and regularly draw parallels with their literary heroes. It is the best way for Russians to express themselves. What other people can say the same?
Popular songs have also become a way to tap into the mentality of a people: many popular expressions derive from old and new ‘hits.' And never forget to swim with current events: politicians, sportsmen and celebrities are cited today more than ever. These aspects of cultural heritage may help you keep your head. Thus the test may be a sort of teaching aid for you to understand why you aren't Russian as you map your way towards Russianness.

Russia today is a multicultural country. Originating from different parts of the vast Russian landmass, the majority of ethnicities were raised on the same cultural traditions set down by the state via public bodies and media. Still some regions of today's Russia weren't engaged and still live by their original traditions. But many citizens of neighboring countries are aware of their Russian roots. Thus, it turns out that many ‘non-Russians' are more Russian than the Russians living in the Russian Federation. Yet many of these people have their Russianness oppressed. Here, I'm hinting at Crimea, and particularly Sevastopol, both located in Ukraine. Russians bred and born, these citizens are not permitted to be called ‘Rus¬sians.' They are denied the right to be proud of their great heritage.

For many people, being a Russian implies professing Orthodoxy. That is because the church has long been regarded as the main force for uniting Russian people. It is a mental component of being Russian. This also applies to the situation in the Crimea: the Christianization of Kievan Rus derives from here. But the abovementioned test asserts that all its citizens may be considered Russians despite their origins or religion denomination. Thus anyone may become Russian who has the traditional set of Russian expressions. This approach seems incorrect - one's ‘countryness' cannot be measured. It's a state of mind that includes all one's love for the motherland.

By Daria Chernyshova

[Lucker]

A very sweet article , Bella .
The simple way to test is to stick them head first into a vat of meat soup . If they eat and swallow their way to fresh air , they are Russian .

I had to smile at the "Russia is multicultural " remark . It just aint true and will not be until it means World rather than just Federation multiculture .
There is still a lot of ignorance about coloured people and Gays . And politically the people have been taught to disrespect people like Chechens and now Georgians .
Overall , modern big city Russians need to respect all other people who have not had the opportunity to make buckets of money .
Recently there is a very distasteful and crude approach to nationalism fostered by the Government which does your people less than fair justice .

[alenika]

There is still a lot of ignorance about coloured people and Gays . No wonder this ignorance exist in country where both are very rare.
until Georgia had these problems West didn't even know baout it - this is real ignorance.

[Lucker]

If you think that the population representation of Gays in Russia is different from any other country , you are sadly mistaken .It is attudes toward this minority that are poles apart .
And there are far worse areas of ignorance ---- reasons behind the terrifying problem of Aids and other sexual diseases .
Your other point was not clear to me . If your point was that discovering these matters in Russia only emerged when we learned about the Georgian situation , you are completely wrong .
This was one of the great benefits coming from so called non Governmental Agencies ( NGO's ) which paranoid Russia has thrown out of the window of light . Eastern bloc prejudices in areas of Racism have been known for decades .Any tourist sees them immediately , whether they are experts or not on the subject .

[mai_ra]

There is a specific notion in Russia, which is hardly known for western people. Being russian we often use in our speech the word "intelligent" not meaning purely intellectual, we mean "intelligent" man(or woman) is a man who belongs to intelligentsia, a social class with high education and certain peculiarities of manners and behaviour.

The intelligentsia (from Russian: интеллигенция from Latin: intelligentia) is a social class of people engaged in complex mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them (e.g., artists and school teachers). The term has been borrowed from the Russian language, a transliteration of "интеллигенция". Initially the term was applied mostly in the context of Russia and later Soviet Union, and had a narrower meaning based on a self-definition of a certain category of intellectuals.

It is really strange when men who are planning to meet slavonic women to build serious relationships have no idea of typical features of our society, do not want to learn this complex "term" (if I may put it so) "Russians".

It is clear that East and West are different. And in order to build a bridge between us instead of building a wall western men who are looking for happiness here in Russia, Ukraine, other republics of the "old" Soviet Union must be aware of the fact that the task is enormously difficult to meet a woman from totally unknown society. And I think if a man want to be lucky he has to read much about our history, read our authors, listen to our music.

Russian women often speak English, read American, French , English, etc. literature.
We are proud we are russians, we know much of western culture.

What western people do know about us? Except silly political news. Do they speak our language or want to learn more about us with open hearts?

I have friends in Sweden. She is russian from Moscow, studied together with me, he is swedish. He speaks perfect russian of intelligentsia language of Moscow, he loves Russia, talanted man, a diplomat. They two have kind hearts, very happy family with three charming children. That is a really happy marriage.

[Lucker]

No , Mai ,
It is just one kind of marriage which is right for the couple you allude to and might be right for you .But for others of different character and temprament it could be totally irrelevant .
I did not share your opening analysis because to me it sounds like gobbledy gook -- mutton dressed as lamb .
But , and on the other hand , like most West European countries , we have so called intellectual clans and artistic enclaves .
They rarely rise to group genius or lasting worth though they can often produce a useful chattering environment . Innovators and rare talents are almost random events and I am not aware they come from groups in the way that performers , celebrities and teachers often do .
Clearly we are discussing qualitative matters and therefore measuring country and culture differences is difficult .
However , I see no evidence that Russia has continued the interesting position it held in major areas of Fine Arts that it appears to have held , say , 150 years ago .
It seems the engine was dealt brutal blows from the Revolution onwards and that , in general terms , we have since seen only a few dissident souls . So far .
My opinion .
As for more practical matters .
I think visitors are far better informed than you appear to believe and that practical factors militate against most people ( men ) learning Russian . Very reasonable and pragmatic . Hardly likely to ruin the chance of a successful marriage
I liked your Post but just do not share all of your views .

[mai_ra]

Dear Ramon!
It is always useful to get commenteries and I appreciate the variety of opinions.
You are absolutely right this type of marriage I mentioned is considered to be successful for me because I myself belong to the class of intelligentsia.

I do not mean this can be true for all the participants of dating sites. It's just impossible, because views differ.
There a large number of women at this very site, who take part in the forum also which are very well educated, cultered, with wide range of knowledge and with good sense of humour. I dont think these women could be happy with a man who confine himself only to everydaylife's moments.

I dont agree with fact that Russian culture today is somewhat like "Decline and fall'. Quite the opposite as we russians can see. Science, cinematography, ballet, education, TV programmes show us their best examples. Everything is in the state of constant growing.

Just come and see, learn Russian first! (It was a joke, surely):):):)

Ramon! Especially for you. Being a philologist I evaluate(if I may, sorry) your style of your written English as individual, peculiar and very interesting. I would collect all your fine word-combinations as "Ramon's vocabulary". Thanks;)

[RiverRock]

mai_ra: There is a specific notion in Russia, which is hardly known for western people. Being russian we often use in our speech the word "intelligent" not meaning purely intellectual, we mean "intelligent" man(or woman) is a man who belongs to intelligentsia, a social class with high education and certain peculiarities of manners and behaviour.

It seems that Russia puts an exaggerated value on high Education. So when a Russian girl says that she wants someone intelligent she means with high education?

Do Russians believe that because a person has high education it means that person is more intelligent, and a higher class because of it? Isn't that silly?

What does high education tell you about a person? That they took the time and had the money to go to a university and regurgitate information back that the teacher wants to hear? Can not a Chimpanzees do that? Are there not much more efficient ways of learning information?

Is Russia different on this? In America what is most important is your knowledge and ability. Your higher education is not as important except for in the medical and engineering fields.

[mai_ra]

RiverRock!
We speak here of ability to understand each other, we dont speak of effectiveness in life.
University degree does not mean only a sum of knowledge, it includes a specific way of thinking, way of solving problems, etc...
If you dont agree with the fact that two people from the different social classes cant build a happy family, say that!

Yes, you are right. Here it is relevent wether you have good high education or do not have. Not for all.

I mean when you read girls' profiles read them attentively, we used to emphasize what type of educational level we are looking in our future partner in order not to have problems of misunderstanding on life's questions. It is pity to meet someone who after a long period of communication has an idea that he lacks education and culture to continue relationships. Sorry for such a man, because the only one he can blame is he himself: he was not attentive in reading english text in a girl's profile.

If it is a striking news for you that educational level is important for certain people, I am glad to inform you just not to make silly Chimpanzee's mistakes.:p:lol:

[Neilikka]

By the way, Brandon, high education means only a full 11-year secondary education. Higher, not high, education people get studying at and graduating from Universities. Sorry.:yo:

[Gabbibo]

And I think if a man want to be lucky he has to read much about our history, read our authors, listen to our music..[/COLOR]

:lol:

is fanny,

special your red must:lol:

[Gabbibo]

i agree that in this part of eu is a good school education


special in romanian school, i had a posibility to study in ussr and romanian school, is a big diference
in romanian is more information

just my 50 cents:becky:

[mai_ra]

is fanny,

special your red must

Cinty!
Trying to be polite as much as I can and trying to make readers of my post understand clearly what I am speaking about, I began my statement by giving the definition of "intelligentsia" . I speak here in the name of women who belong to this group of our society.
One can hardly deny that there exist different groups in societies, professional, social. If one do not know peculiarities of the group a woman or a man belong, at least not having some idea (which is normal when you are dealing with unknown culture-IMHO), one can have problems of finding ways of effective communication with the person.

I do not insist that everybody should read books or have master degree for happy family!
But if one meet a woman from Russia or Ukraine, a teacher, a doctor, an artist....it is ridiculous to wait from her that she will be a simple cooker in the man's kitchen and nothing more.:becky:

I prefer our men here would know that I have written in my post, 'cause we discuss the point time and again with my female friends, and it seems to be important for me. There are women who never marry a man just to be an addition to a man only with the purpose to live in the west. We are looking for Big Love, we are not looking for problems or permission to live in Europe or United State. So we are as we are.
Never simple, with selfconfidence, and many of us here are rich enough not to need financial help.

No, men, do not read books, do not study russian literature and Russian language....so you can be happy with another kind of girl. Just another! Nothing more! Do not meet women with master degree, because you will have atomic warfare at home! Joking!!!:shocked::lol:

[Gabbibo]

Do not meet women with master degree, because you will have atomic warfare at home!:lol:

is funny and true:lol:


mai_ra, i forgot that inteligence in russia is another meanning
in my language intelligence - is to be smart, sharp, who understand all

about reading another kind of culture, is not a must,
for example: my bfriend, he is not interested in east literature, anyway i dont ask him to read RO oder USSR literature
and we have a good relation

he wasnt interested to speak some romanian or russian words, i didnt ask u must do this, if u dont, u cant understand me

but, after time i could make attractive both east languages for him
today he speaks perfect some romanian and russian frases

With me is the same, if he spoke: you must read Goethe, I would spit to it on his face,
I never liked to point a finger that it is necessary to do, too most I ask and in my party:yo:

[mai_ra]

Tastes differ!

As well as people differ. Life results differ. You may do what you want to do.
If a partner shows no respect to my culture it is no doubt absolutely wrong partner. Just simple as that. It is conclusively and clearly formulated in numerous researches of world leading psychologists concerning international marriages.

Sorry! You dont read them. But it's not my problem!:):p

[Lucker]

We are generalising -- inevitably -- and that produces the usual difficulties . However , I have a great deal of sympathy with Mr Brando's comments ( Red Rocker) .
I also soon learned that there is a breed of Eastern Bloc woman who very quickly tell you that they are "serious" . Russian males might be the same but I simply do not know .
I have tried hard to catch the exact meaning and flavour of what this word was intended to convey . I never could find out , because , at best , I got what we call an "airy fairy" definition which , in literal terms , left me bemused publicly and privately in laughter .
It seems that some people believe there is an intellectual class which is defined by academic background and cultural shared values .
Every country periodically goes through this delusion and classic examples of student and young people make-overs failing abysmally are , Team GB in the 60's and the French in '68 , when they absurdly believed they were creating a new order .
It seems the young score highly for society in terms of the sheer amount of energy and determination they bring to their lives . Sincerity and a total belief in their superiority make them like a giant firework --- noisy and beautiful to watch but leaving little if anything of lasting value .
I believe that Russian young people are not surprisingly blessed with the same energy , drive and lovable belief in their own rightness .
The trouble is that they are blighted by two huge disadvantages :
1. They live in a now Fascist State where Political action seems doomed to failure and where the risk of personal failure extends to being killed or having ones whole career monitored and directed where necessary . No energy is devoted to changing themselves in relation to the State and vice versa .
2 Their culture has a huge hole in it with virtually nothing new of greatness having happened in the last 100 years .They have only an outdated and tired heritage on which to lean .
This means that tragically these delightful , sincere and well meaning people look so narrow and intolerant when compared to their Western counterparts .
This is perhaps the greatest reason for my pleas to Russians to wake up to the new world cultural order and to find ways to effectively influence the State system which has stifled Russian people and , frankly , made them intellectually out of date , often boring and prejudiced .
I will write here and now a cultural profile of a typically serious Russian woman who sincerely believes she is intelligent in a wide and embracing way .
Pushkin , Tolstoy , Dostoevsky , Checkov , Tchaikovsky , Mozart , Puccini , Bach , the Bolshoi Ballet , the Beatles and Borsch .
Of course all of these have a worthy place .
But when they become the vanguard of assumed intellectual excellence they tend to show people who are rather lost in their past and seem badly lop sided .
I wanted Russian youth to educate themselves in Europe and the US and return to their homeland and start to create a new dimension to their History and hopefully produce their own agenda and their own new Fine Art achievements .
The chances of this happening now seem limited and , until the Putin ethos is thrown away by Russian people , the status quo is unlikely to change . imho
How does all of that affect someone who , despite my comments , wishes to find a Western counterpart to a "serious" Russian person ?
It means they are restricting themselves to a very narrow market and rightly or wrongly , Western people who fit into such a definition would have little general regard here or liking and certainly little or no no respect--- other than among other such social misfits .
So . A problem in my eyes .

[mai_ra]

Ramon!
Your post is saying subconsciously that you will never be with a russian woman. And it is probably good for you.
In LL site there are so many girls from other countries. The choice is wide.

It should be pointed out that all posts we are writing here is so to say IMHO.
Being not serious do not generalize ideas you read, do not draw your own map of your own world vision. Please!
Be able to say "Yes" to whatever information you get. And probably you will be happier that you can touch with your heart things you do not accept, do not understand, never felt. Это что-то из Ошо...;)

Russians are the most warm hearted people, with brilliant sense of humour in spite of the fact we have here endless crisis and we had our "famous":becky: KGB. So what?

Each of us here makes his or her conclusions. It is the aim of communication.
:):):)

[Lucker]

[QUOTE=mai_ra;161

Russians are the most warm hearted people, with brilliant sense of humour in spite of the fact we have here endless crisis and we had our "famous":becky: KGB. So what?


I fully agree with the above words though public manners and social graces often leave a lot to be desired . But as a nation you are as privately warm hearted as all others --- no more and no less . imo
However , that is hardly the point of this polemic .
My overall point is that there is a large group of Russian women who consider themselves fine , intellectual ,and culturally involved, but who are not what most western men want and for the reasons I have indicated .
At a personal level ,I and others find that they are too conditioned to ways of thinking , seeing ( visual Arts ) and hearing ( Music ) and unable to comfortably grow and change in their experiences and preferences .
They attribute so much to their past that they find assimilation in a country like ours very diffcult and often resort to simply mixing with fellow Russian immigrants .
But fortunately there is another group without such pretentious ideas who are less conditioned and so much more open to the type of fresh intellectual air we breathe .
I like and respect both groups considerably and I have only stepped aside from three marriage opportunities with the latter group for quite unrelated matters . Certainly not either Love or Respect .

[Gabbibo]

Ramon, all my respect for your last post

[mai_ra]

Thank you for your sincerity, Ramon! Your intellect is no doubt definitely very high!

It is much closer to what I meant.
First-a man or a woman should know who he/she is, what he/she wants, if it concerns such comlicated matter as marriage.
Second--if a man/a woman have an idea to find Love abroad it's better to think twice or thousands times.
Third---one should be aware of cultural and social differencies.

As for ''pretentiousness' (what a word-doubt if it exists :lol:), everybody is pretending when he/she has expectations. To want to marry a woman without pretension is also pretension. Love has nothing to do with that.
One love a person because he/she is unique, and because he/she is only one for somebody who loves.

Ability to love a totally different person is something which no one can explain, using intellect. I would never argue with the Bible on the subject, being non-religious and more science-oriented though.

So as I understood western men have certain expectations as for slavonic women, bearing in mind internet dating sites.
When I spoke with western journalists, teachers, diplomats, doctors and businessmen in real life when travelling abroad, I did not hear they would enjoy a marriage with a woman without good education. So...We probably communicates with different groups of people.

No need to argue:)
Everybody can find his/her half if he/she really wants it.

:):):)