Kerry Kubilius's Blog

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The collapse of the Soviet Union opened up a wave of interest in collecting Soviet military memorabilia. Western visitors to Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union could purchase medals, hats, and even full uniforms in open-air markets for a song. It is still possible to find their like in souvenir markets, but the prices they command are much greater than in the early 1990s. What may have begun as novelty souvenirs for travelers seeded interest in building full-fledged collections. Now individuals seek out information about the items in their collection and search for special items to fill out those collections.

The site Soviet Military Awards is a welcome home for these collectors. Begun when interest in this subject took off, the site offers pages and pages of useful descriptions and photos of Soviet awards. The forum brings enthusiasts together in one place. These pieces of the past represent Soviet values and say much about the former USSR.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Alexander Sozhenitsyn has died of a stroke at age 89. This Nobel Prize-winning author was highly critical of the Soviet regime. A prisoner of labor camps, he went on to write novels that exposed the horrors of the Gulag system, like A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Gulag Archipelago.

The NPR All Things Considered piece described typed copies of Solzhenitsyn's work being passed between readers when the books were banned in Russia. Solzhenitsyn was eventually exiled from Russia, though he returned after several years in the United States. Highly critical and highly criticized in his later life, Solzhenitsyn is best known for his early works that have now become important classics.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Since Prince Vladimir chose Christianity as the faith for his people, 1,020 years have elapsed. The groundbreaking decision to convert from paganism changed history in Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, and elsewhere forever. Rus was the initial center of Eastern Orthodoxy, with St. Sophia Cathedral standing in for the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. St. Sophia still reigns as monument to that time of learning, law, and religion, though it has seen change and restoration.

The words for "Christian" and "peasant" were once almost synonymous in meaning, even though the lowest classes practiced a religion that was something of a hybrid between Orthodoxy and paganism. Colored eggs, or pysanky, are good examples of this hybridization - while eggs might now be associated with the Orthodox Easter holiday, they were once used in pagan rites of spring.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

A declining population has had officials in Russia worried, but concern about population growth is nothing new to Russia. In the first half of the 20th century, pronatal campaigns encouraged mothers to have more children, by increasing the length of maternity leave, improving prenatal education, and setting up summertime nurseries for working mothers. The facilitators of these programs had difficulty reaching the most rural villages due staffing limitations and prevailing traditions of childbirth and childcare or infant care in rural Russia.

Illness and disease affected child mortality rates, and accidents and other dangers prevented many children from reaching adulthood. There was a firm belief among mothers that children who survived malnutrition, sickness, accidents, and being left alone for hours during daytime hours would become strong through these childhood trials.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

If you know where to look, you can find historical data that is free to access on the web. Luckily, if you're looking for information on Bulgaria and Macedonia, this list is a great place to start. Not all of the books are in English, but if you read German, this shouldn't be a problem. However, the entries that are in English provide first-hand looks (both in text and in photos) of this region of the world during the the first half of the 20th century and before.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Latvian mythology is mostly enigmatic. While historical scholars have attempted to root out the truth behind Latvian mythology, most of what is thought to be true is simply hypothesis drawn from the study of folkloric beliefs and poetry. Latvian scholars and scholars of other nationalities have added to research about Latvian mythology, though any conclusions they have come to can not necessarily be proven.

Similar shadows shroud the mythologies of other Eastern European nations. For example, while some theories exist about the minor and major gods of the Slavic pantheon, these have been pieced together with scanty evidence.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Though it appears it hasn't been updated recently, the website Travels in Southeastern Europe is a viable web resource for research into the Balkans. It makes available full texts of historical writings about the region, many dating to around 1900. (Though a later treatment of the subject, recall Rebecca West's Black Lamb and Grey Falcon.)

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The movie Mongol is the first in a trilogy about the 13th century leader, Genghis Khan, who marched his army into Europe to frighten the populace and demand monetary tribute. If you have no desire to see the movie, you can read the review by Dana Stevens at Slate.com. She complains that this movie shows a Genghis Khan that may be too soft and sentimental to be an accurate representation of the fierce warrior who commanded armies that slaughtered peasants an villagers in its path of destruction.

Russia's relationship with the Golden Horde was long and fraught with struggle. In order to free itself from Mongol subjugation, Russia had to wait for the Golden Horde's strength to weaken.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

If you're looking for a good resource for viewing art by the Kandinsky, Artcyclopedia has compiled a sizeable list of locations where artwork by Kandinsky can be viewed. Or, if you're in the market for an original work by Kandinsky, there is also a link to galleries/online retailers selling woodcuts, prints, serigraphs, lithographs, and prints.

For more information about Kandinsky's life and art, trace his career through Europe: Russia, Munich, and Paris.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

If you're a fan of Tolstoy or his novel Anna Karenina, you might find Slate.com's audio discussion to be of interest. However, if you aren't a fan, it's better to pass. These critics, according to the preview of the discussion, are bonkers over it. How Anna Karenina can be anyone's "favorite" book is beyond me. Russian literature of the 19th century has other must-read masterpieces that discuss the human condition, social circumstances, psychology, philosophy, and Russian history . . . masterpieces that say quite a bit more in fewer pages. For example, Crime and Punishment.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The web site of the Metropolitan Museum of Art features art pieces from Prague created during the reign of Rudolph II. Rudolph was a patron of the arts and art enthusiast, and under his guidance, Prague's art scene rose to prominence in Europe as painters and sculptors flocked to the Bohemian capital to exercise their talents.

The webpage gives a brief description of this period of art history in Prague, then allows viewers to click on significant examples for more information and larger photos. Included is a portrait of Rudolph II himself.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Ivan IV, "Ivan Grozny" in Russian, ruled with insight during the first part of his reign, and ruled with cruelty during the last part. Youthful enthusiasm, education, love for wife and family, and a desire to reach out to other parts of the world encouraged Ivan to help Russia advance in areas of foreign policy, trade, and military might. While Ivan might not have been exactly happy in the early years of his rule, this segment of his life was marked with wise rule, skill in governance, and interest in increasing Russia's social, economic, and military power.

Death of four children and the death of his wife, Anastasia, added to the internal instability from which Ivan IV suffered since his childhood, when he was orphaned, neglected, and abused by those who ruled until he came of age. Ivan's behavior became increasingly strange as well as fearsome. Torture and murder became commonplace in 16th century Russia. When Ivan died, he left behind a country that was just as tormented as the one in which he had been born.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Ancientweb.org's page about Romania offers readers a basic summary of the people of ancient Romania. Learn about Dacian society, the mythology of ancient Romania, fierce Thracians, and the Roman influence in the area of what is now Romania. The information is easy to understand, and the site layout is easy on the eyes - which is not always the case in regards to websites about ancient history.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

When the Mongols came to Eastern Europe, pillaging and murdering, residents of Russian cities could do nothing but be slaughtered or bow to the demand for money that was to be paid as tribute to the khan. Alexander Nevsky was one grand prince who understood that bloodshed would only come with resistance, and encouraged the people of Novgorod to accept the terms of the Golden Horde. Alexander Nevsky became a legend through careful negotiation with the Mongols as well as by using military prowess against Russia's enemies.

By Ivan the Great's time, the Mongol Horde had weakend, and Ivan decided to test the waters by refusing to send tribute or gifts to the khan. While this outraged the khan, they were no longer powerful enough to retaliate as they once had. Ivan the Great finally won freedom from the Mongols and increased Russia's standing in the eyes of western nations.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Reading about Poland's history is one thing, but visiting Poland with a history student's perspective is quite another. It's possible to put down a book, or close a webpage, or turn off a documentary or historically accurate film. When you visit Poland, the history is inescapable. You may walk historic streets, dine in restaurants established in the 19th century, or stay in former palaces. Medieval churches beckon, castles loom large over the cities' oldest districts, and monuments memorialize those perished in uprisings or wars.

If you're intent on finding Poland's history, Warsaw, Krakow, or Gdansk are good places to begin. These cities' respective Old Towns hold the most significant landmarks and reveal Poland through the centuries. While Gdansk and Warsaw are largely rebuilt, Krakow remains largely unscathed from WWII.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The memory of WWII is still alive in Ukraine, Russia, and elsewhere in Eastern Europe. This war cost the region millions of lives. Despite Ukraine's laws stating that positive Nazi images are forbidden, a doll in the image of Adolph Hitler is now available for sale.

The doll includes amazing details and is complete with a change of clothes. Miniature shoes, belt, and jacket (complete with swastika armband) are packaged neatly with the doll. Unfortunately, the issue of this doll may be a response to increasing neo-Nazi sentiment among some citizens in Ukraine.

Marketing a Hitler children's toy is as bizarre as using Stalin's image as an encouragement to bill payment - and as inappropriate.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Stephen Pearl's translation of Oblomov complete with a forward by Tatyana Tolstaya, is said to be "livelier" than previous English translations, "elegant and witty," and "highly recommended." However, the same people who applaud the translation also call Oblomov a "masterpiece." I'm sure some agree that this long, long story about a lazy Russian nobleman is a masterpiece, but I'm not sure it's recommended reading.

Professors of Russian literature will tell you that reading Oblomov is good for you. Maybe it is, if only to make you appreciate other Russian novels of the 19th century more. Oblomov centers around the main character of the same name, whose favorite occupations are eating and sleeping. He even loses his girl to his irresponsible nature and apathetic attitude. If this new translation livens up the novel in any way, then the translator deserves all the praise in the world.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The Annotated Lolita is the only version of Lolita that should be read by students and Nabokophiles. If you don't speak French, much of Humbert Humbert's comments will be meaningless; the annotated text does a good job of translating, not only words, but any literary allusions or puns that Nabokov makes in French.

French phrases aside, The Annotated Lolita also offers insights into Nabokov's intentions within the novel. Many of these would be lost on the reader if not for the annotator's notes, or simply missed on a first read. Comments from Nabokov's own lips also appear within the notes, taken from interviews and direct conversation with the author. This offers a glimpse into Nabokov's writing and thought processes beyond what appear in Lolita. The annotator does not neglect Nabokov's other literary works or interests and describes how the author's experiences affect the actions and opinions of the characters.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

BBC's photos of Roma life are indicative of the problems Roma people face, and those they have face throughout history. The Roma are traditionally marginalized both literally - living on the outskirts of cities in extremy low-quality housing or told their children must attend separate schools - and figuratively - their population uncountable and demographics sketchy at best.

The Roma today must deal with social problems, poverty, illiteracy, and inadequate government representation. Roma throughout history have faced these problems, and more. They were targeted by Nazis and were victims of concentration camps. Prejudices from past centuries still remain, which means that what little communication occurs between the Roma and the societies amongst which they live is often negative. Prevailing ignorance about this minority group widens social rifts and gives the Roma little incentive to "conform" to mainstream lifestyles.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Treasure hunters have once again said they have discovered the whereabouts of the Amber Room, the 18th century masterpiece created entirely of amber that dazzled visitors to the Catherine Palace until WWII.

The mayor of the German village of Deutschnedorf is leading the search for the Amber Room. His team says they have discovered an impressive amount of precious metals in a cavern, via electromagnetic pulse measurements. He is "90 percent sure" it is the Amber Room. However, a Russian museum spokesperson says that this is nonsense. The Amber Room consisted of amber and the adhesive used to craft it, not precious metals.

A wrench was thrown in the works when the mayor suggested that experts be brought in to lend more credibility to the excavations. It's true that his word as mayor isn't enough for people who are serious about knowing where the Amber Room is - but it may be enough for those who would advertise his village freely through news stories and encourage tourism to the area.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Petr Ginz's diary cannot be compared to the diary of another young Holocaust victim, Anne Frank. However, the recent publication of his diary adds another voice to the perspective of Jewish citizens living during the time period prior to WWII.

Petr was Czech, and he lived in Prague. His diary, edited by his sister, records daily life, includes poetry and artwork, and reveals the inner workings of a young mind full of potential. A gifted individual, Petr edited a magazine and wrote novels. Although his life ended in 1944 at the Auschwitz Death Camp when he was only 16, his voice lives on in his diary. The published version of this diary includes notes to complete the details surrounding the events recorded in Petr's writings.

A blog, called Places of Petr Ginz, gives context to the published diary. While sometimes a bit abstract, the blog nevertheless gives Petr Ginz a home in Prague, and explains significant Jewish and non-Jewish addresses in the Czech capital city.

The short life of Petr Ginz came to a tragic end. Even while he was still living in Prage, Petr himself was keenly aware of the events that were tearing his world apart. Commentators indicate that Petr's diary is more mundane than Anne Frank's diary, which is full of insight and has much literary value. However, critiques like these do not acknowledge the message contained within the diaries of young victims of concentration camps - that observing life and recording its events gives meaning to lives that ended prematurely and aids in our understanding of such horrific course of events.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

Vladimir Nabokov, most famous for his novel Lolita, which describes the relationship between an underage girl and her creepy and devoted lover. Lolita was not the only novel by Nabokov to explore the themes of illicit sex or couples who challenge society's established rules for what makes appropriate mates.

Laughter in the Dark, the precursor to Lolita, tells the story of a well-to-do gentleman who woos Margot Peters, a teenage would-be starlet. He sacrifices everything for Margot, and pays dearly for his indiscretion and familial disloyalty.

Nabokov's unfinished and unpublished writing, in the hands of his son, Dmitri, also features women who exhibit similarities to both Lolita and Margot. "Flora" and "Laura." Unfortunately, very few individuals actually know what was intended for these female characters. However, they may even more developed versions of the same character type, just as Lolita was a more developed version of Margot Peters.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

I recently re-read Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky's most famous novel, and a must-read 19th century Russian novel. It's easy to forget how long-winded the characters tend to be.

While the novel explores the concept of "crime" and who can be considered a "criminal" - whether or not he or she breaks the law - the characters don't even stop for breath in order to make their points known to their counterparts, or to the reader. Getting through Crime and Punishment without skipping whole paragraphs takes dedication. Nevertheless, Dostoevsky thoroughly covers the relevant issues through action and, of course, through dialogue.

Raskolnikov, an overall "good," if poor, student, is faced with the realization he has committed a crime in the eyes of society. However, he is surrounded by individuals who think nothing of molesting underage girls, manipulating the minds of his sister and mother, or framing the helpless. Raskolnikov and these other characters are consistently at odds throughout the novel, and each delights in explaining his own position and reasoning.

While much of the meat and potatoes of the book can be found in the dialogue, if you tend to skip some of the longer spoken passages, you'll still be able to enjoy a story full of suspense, plot twists, and complex characters. You'll also get a good look at the St. Petersburg of the latter half of the 19th century, where poverty could be seen in threadbare clothing, felt in empty stomachs, increased by illness, and ended with suicide.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

The gap between the wealthy and the poor is an issue in many areas of the world today. In tsarist Russia, the gap between the classes was huge, with a handful of aristocrats in command of vast wealth, while the majority of the Russian populace toiled on estates as peasant serfs.

One example of the massive divide between upper class and lower class Russia can be seen in existing housing built before the 20th century. The Russian royal places, with their silk wallpaper, parquet floors, marble stairways, and priceless paintings represent the wealth of past Russian nobility. Open-air museums, however, capture the layout of peasant houses and outhouses. These dwellings were characterized by cramped quarters and unsanitary conditions.

The Russian Revolution of 1917, as well as the end of the Romanovs, were part of the revolt against the wealth divide, as well the result of other issues Russia was facing during this pivotal moment in history. Poverty still reigned, and wealth was now controlled by the hands of leading Soviets, but members of the nobility fled if they weren't killed. Lower class families were allotted small spaces in fine houses, royal riches were deemed "property of the state," and Russia entered a new era that redefined notions of class structure.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

If you were one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, and you had left the outline of a manuscript, but were unable to finish it before your death, would you want it destroyed? I would.

But if you had possession of the final written words by one of the 20th century's greatest writers, would you want to burn it? I wouldn't!

Dmitri Nabokov, 74 years old, is Vladimir Nabokov's son. He has to make a decision - to destroy the manuscript his father requested be burned, or to preserve it for those who study, read, and revere Nabokov's literature. Revealing the manuscript's contents would spure a flurry of literary super-sleuthing and supposition about its content's meaning, Nabokov's intent, and the quality of the would-be finished masterpiece (of course, a masterpiece!). Destroying the manuscript would produce collective disappointment among Nabokov scholars, ending the hope of being gifted with one last treasure from Nabokov's own hand.

Ron Rosenbaum has been in correspondence with Dmitri Nabokov; Rosenbaum discusses Dmitri's decision in an article published on Slate.com.

Nabokov, who wrote in Russian, and then in English (subsequently translating his works into either language, sometimes with the help of Dmitri) is famous for the novel Lolita, a beautifully written book about a horrible topic - child molestation. Nabokov is also famous for other works like Pale Fire. His collection of short stories is the best protection against the sense of exasperation that bad writing can bring into any reader's life, and is best kept close by at all times, for emergencies.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

From the blog Subversive Writer:

In grade 2, I received my Red Scarf and became a Pioneer. I remember that day clearly - for weeks I practiced memorizing a poem about our Great Father Nicolae Ceausescu that I later recited flawlessly in front of the Pioneer Assembly. In grade 3 I was stripped of one of my pioneer medals because my mother was a political defector.

This excerpt comes from a post entitled Memories of My Communist Childhood - Growing Up Under the Red Banner The author goes on to tell about learning to shoot a rifle as a child, waiting in never-ending food lines, and the feeling of fear that was carried around by Romanian citizens during Ceausescu's reign. Also described is the tension among individuals in public, widespread scarcity of goods, constant uncertainty about the future, and the importance of accurately portraying the oppression and assault to human rights the period represented.

Posted by Kerry Kubilius

While a smaller nation, Moldova, has begun the practice of fostering children who need homes, the BBC has revealed that the Czech Republic still uses "caged beds" to keep its most mentally and physically handicapped children confined. This archaic practice has been outlawed, but journalists captured video of children who live their lives behind bars.

Ideally, the fall of Soviet rule should have spelled a whirlwind effort to improve human rights in Eastern and Central Europe. Unfortunately, even those countries that have been welcomed into the European Union have little understanding of what human rights mean for children who cannot speak or fend for themselves. Children can be kept behind bars for years, during which time they are given minimal attention and no opportunity for development. Lack of resources may be an adequate excuse for some critics, but individuals with disabilities have traditionally been shunned or hidden away from society in Eastern European communities. These people, once they are released from orphanages, turn to begging, drugs, and crime. In turn, they may produce more offspring who end up in orphanages, simply to continue the ugly cycle.