Emotions and Symbolic Order in Contemporary Russia

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

Russia today has been drawn into a deep crisis in its symbolic order. In a wide range of spheres symbolic norms are being redefined through publicly demonstrated transgression, expressions of cynicism and anti-Westernism - and through public discussions (predominantly, on social media) on the existing rules and norms. Emotionally charged elements of symbolic order, like gender roles, gender relations, everyday communication scenarios, modes of public performance, suddenly become areas of contestation and redefinition. By examining the affective spaces of the social order, we propose to try to address the seismic shifts occurring in the Russian polity and also in the broader society itself.

Sub Unit

• Anthropology/Cultural Studies

Chair

• Elizabeth A. Wood, MIT

Roundtable Members

• Vasily V Gatov, U of Southern California

• Elizaveta Gaufman, U of Bremen (Germany)

• Ilya Kukulin, NRU Higher School of Economics (Russia)