Professor Vashenko gave us another lecture on Art History. He went over the major artistic movements of the 20th century. He said that Russia had undergone a greater catastrophe than any other country at the turn of the century. It started with three revolutions, a civil war, and two world wars. Because of this great upheaval so early on, Vashenko said that there was a militant break with artistic traditions. Russian art was able to survive because the old was thrown out and the new was glorified. There was a movement of optimism for the future. The dawn of a new and wonderful era. Art was also made more pragmatic. An agitprop movement in the 1930's that spoke to the common man, who was often uneducated and illiterate. It provided obvious symbolism and encouraged hard work and the advancement of women.
At 4:00 we were able to gain access to the inside of St. Basil's Cathedral. The Cathedral was built by Tsar Ivan the Terrible as a monument to the defeat of the Kazans. Stepping into the monstrosity was like taking a giant leap into a birthday cake. The walls and floor had bright and mismatching colors. It was painted head to toe with something (usually a holy figure or just a twisting pattern). It felt like Alice's Wonderland, with a winding staircase, doors and rooms of varying shapes and sizes, and cubicle walls with a different pattern for each room one came across. It was easy to get lost in the cathedral, as one room appeared to lead to five more. There was a chorus of five men in the center of the second floor, blasting hymns around the building. Several travelers have criticized St. Basil's for being hideous, but I think it's ugliness is what makes it so profound. It is unlike any church that anyone else has seen, but it is still beautiful and mystique.
When we were done with St. Basil's we ended up having to wait around for Dr. Goeckel to buy tickets for Jewish Moscow, the excursion we are going on tomorrow. While we were waiting, we decided to sit on one of the curbs in Red Square. After about ten minutes, two large Russian security guards came over and motioned for us to stand up. Apparently, sitting is not allowed in Red Square. Instead, Isaac started playing hopscotch on the pathway between St. Basil's and Lenin's tomb. I decided to follow (and eventually outlast him) in hopscotch. Goeckel rejoined us, but as he was talking to us, the two security guards came over to our group. One asked "Does any man speak Russian?" After about ten seconds of awkward silence, Goeckel said, "Let's go." The guards were laughing at us as we walked away. Life lesson: sitting and playing hopscotch is strictly forbidden in Red Square. Such unusual rules!
At 4:00 we were able to gain access to the inside of St. Basil's Cathedral. The Cathedral was built by Tsar Ivan the Terrible as a monument to the defeat of the Kazans. Stepping into the monstrosity was like taking a giant leap into a birthday cake. The walls and floor had bright and mismatching colors. It was painted head to toe with something (usually a holy figure or just a twisting pattern). It felt like Alice's Wonderland, with a winding staircase, doors and rooms of varying shapes and sizes, and cubicle walls with a different pattern for each room one came across. It was easy to get lost in the cathedral, as one room appeared to lead to five more. There was a chorus of five men in the center of the second floor, blasting hymns around the building. Several travelers have criticized St. Basil's for being hideous, but I think it's ugliness is what makes it so profound. It is unlike any church that anyone else has seen, but it is still beautiful and mystique.
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| Our group in front of St. Basil's Cathedral |
When we were done with St. Basil's we ended up having to wait around for Dr. Goeckel to buy tickets for Jewish Moscow, the excursion we are going on tomorrow. While we were waiting, we decided to sit on one of the curbs in Red Square. After about ten minutes, two large Russian security guards came over and motioned for us to stand up. Apparently, sitting is not allowed in Red Square. Instead, Isaac started playing hopscotch on the pathway between St. Basil's and Lenin's tomb. I decided to follow (and eventually outlast him) in hopscotch. Goeckel rejoined us, but as he was talking to us, the two security guards came over to our group. One asked "Does any man speak Russian?" After about ten seconds of awkward silence, Goeckel said, "Let's go." The guards were laughing at us as we walked away. Life lesson: sitting and playing hopscotch is strictly forbidden in Red Square. Such unusual rules!
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