Pasternak and Rock 'n' Roll: Unrecognized Cultural Transfer

• In Event: Sounds from the West: American and European Music in Late Soviet Culture

Abstract

The paper is devoted to a previously unrecognized reference in Boris Pasternak's poem "It's Snowing". From the presenter's point of view, the poet was inspired by the American song "Rock Around the Clock". The provided arguments include rhythmic and meaningful similarities, Pasternak's training in music and languages, the role of musical allusions in his poetry, and the time when Soviet people heard the song first.

Author

• Alexey Kotelvas, U of Florida