The Cygnet Dance against the Old Regime

• In Event: Tools and Influences of Russian Propaganda III

Abstract

“Is it time to dance ‘Swan Lake’ yet?” is the question that is frequently asked today by Russia’s government opposition. Over the past decade or so, images of the cygnet dance from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet could frequently be seen as part of the anti-government discourse in Russia. This paper attempts to analyze how this aesthetic artefact, originally devoid of political charge, has become an emblem of the Russian political resistance.

Author

• Katya Jordan, Brigham Young U