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Fall 9-1-2009 Journalist 2009 University of Washington - Tacoma Campus

Moscow State University

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II will they succeed

I. .t I Nicolay Zlobin, World Security Institute fellow here were signs of improvement in T Russian-American relations when "Russia and Mr. Putin and Mr. Bush came into of­ the US. are obvi­ It's no secret that the Russian-American re­ fice in 2000, but they eventually failed to ously not going lationship has been full of friction - if you build up multilateral collaboration be­ to be strategic don't believe us, just stop by and observe our cause of political frictions. Now there are partners in the newsroom. But this summer, our leaders de­ similar trends. near future, which cided to hit the reset button and begin again. Mr. Bush and Mr. In our sixth year collaborating on The Jour­ Recently elected presidents Barack Obama Putin tried to do nalist, a joint publication of Moscow State and Dmitry l\1edvedev are making efforts in 2000.1he domestic and foreign policies University and the University of Washing­ to "reset" Russian-American relations. But of both countries are very different, so ton Tacoma, we have chosen to use the Reset they have already faced some unexpected the two are hardly likely to be engaged Button as our primary theme. problems. American Vice-President Joe in multilateral collaboration. But it is not Biden's dubious rhetoric toward Russia ruled out that the countries could succeed In this magazine, we will present articles ex­ this summer, his August visit to Ukraine in building up a close partnership on con­ ploring this idea from a broad range of top­ and Georgia, and his description of Russia crete problems. If American politicians ics. Whether "love are questioning Mr. Medve­ as a "junior partner" of the United States would not describe Russia as "the major dev and Nlr. Obama's attempt to reassess our in the 'Nall Street Journal can seriously headache" ofU S. foreign policy and J , partnership or commenting on our changing affect the Russian-American relationship. the US. stops ignoring Russia's interests world, we have found that this concept can The U. S.'s attempt to deliver arms and in Eurasia, the relations between the two be applied in many ways. other defense equipment to Georgia has will be Significantly improved. Besides, already caused concern at the Kremlin and now :Moscow has a good opportunity to We begin with discussing this reset directly, could be described as a serious obstacle participate in the multilateral dialogue featuring predictions on what's ahead for our for reassessment of inter-relations. On the providing reassessment ofD. S. Foreign tvvo countries from American and Russian other hand, last week, Mr. Obama refused policy. There seems no reason to avoid this authorities, articles on how the change has to deploy a U. S. missile system in Eastern dialogue; it would be rather foolish and been perceived by our peers, and a discus­ Europe, which obviously can be described might affect Russia's international heft sion of American journalism in terms of the as a positive sign. and authority. If one doesn't participate in economic crisis and Barack Obama's presi­ So, will Barack Obama and Dmitry international debate and doesn't work out dency. Medvedev succeed? Global stability de­ the policy that is useful for him, some­ pends on the answer. 1he following is body else ""ill do it. But the idea of a reset exists beyond our a collection of experts' responses to this I can describe Russian-American fric­ changing relationship. Today we are experi­ question. tions as imminent; the problem is hardly encing changes in the global economy, world political power, the environment, and more. Journalist Our magazine reflects these other "resets." Joint pr~ject of the MSU department of}ournalism, Moscow and University of Washington Tacoma. Finally, in the interest of becoming more aware of each other's cultures and way ofllie, Staff: Pavel Koshkin (editor-in-chiif, MSU), Marisa Petrich (editor-in.-chiif, UWT) we will present a series of articles on Russian Oskana Andrienko (MSU), Eugenia Bobkova (MSU), Kathleen Burdo (UWT), Daria and American music, theater, and film. Chernysheva (MS~,Julia Gilichinskaya (NISU), Adrienne lone (UWT), Elena Kornilova (MSU), Diana Kulchitskaya (MSU), Anna Laletina (MSU), Anna Leonova Throughout the magazine, we hope to fur­ (MSU), Alex Newman (UWT),Julia Shamporova (MSU), Amina Sheikhova (MSU), ther understanding between our two coun­ Elena Shvetsova (MS~, Alexander Solomonov (MSU), Kimberly Wynn (UWT) Photo: Kommersant Photo, TASS Photo, Eugenia Bobkova,Julia Gilichinskaya, tries and contribute to the reset ·in our rela­ Anna Lalctina, Anna Leonova, Elena Shvetsova, Alex Nev"man,Jill Carnell Danseco, (UTtJIT) tionship. We feel political conflict must not Cover: Alex Newman prevent people from communicating. Before Layout: Galina Kuznetsova we can truly change world policy, we must Graphic deSigner: Aleksey Spodineyko change the way we regard one another. Instructors: Dr. Maria Lukina, Dr. Chris Dcmaske Contact: [email protected]

2 likely to be resolved during two presidential Clinton and Foreign j\·1inister Lavroy will plotted out and it will pursue over months tenures. If we improve our relations a little coordinate. The Commission will include and years to come.1he summer American­ bit, it will be an achievement. But it sounds working with groups on nuclear energy Russian summit is just the beginning. We niive [ to say] that Russia and the U. S. will and nuclear security; arms control and cannot see any kind of real reset. If Obama's become close ideological allies and strategic, international security; foreign policy and strategy is ultimately successful it will be political partners. We have to avoid exag­ fighting terrorism; drug trafficking; busi­ long arduous process. I mean it would gerated expectations and figure out the ness development and economic relations; be a little step. As the new presidential fact that Russia and the U. S. are still very energy and the environment; agriculture; administration says itself Obama's goal and different countries with different points of and civil society." . task during this visit is to state American view on international events, which might national interests to the Russians." prevent us from close collaboration." Andrew Braddel, the head Yassen Zassoursky, Vsevolod ofAssociated Press President of the Ovchinnikov, Television News, Faculty ofJour­ journalist and Russia. nalism (MSU), writer. famous researcher "I think that Mr. ofAmerican lit­ "The Russian word Obama and Mr. erature and media 'perestroika'raised as Medvedev are many hopes and ex­ already taking steps "In my opinion, pectations as the new to improve relations basically it's possible term 'perezagruska' that under Bush/Pu­ to have strong subse­ (reset). I'm sure there tin had sunk to an all-time low. Obama's quent collaboration is a potential' to readiness to come to Moscow in July shows with the U. S. A. TIle necessity to make improve our relations and I hope both sides that the young U. S. preSident is eager to this step towards a normal partnership will make it possible at least to repeat what build the new relations with the Kremlin was concerned with a willingness of US. Gorbachevand Reagan did in 1985." that he called for back in April. Now the administration to reduce all those misun­ Kremlin needs to make similar gestures, derstandings of the past. Besides, they have over Iran and a new nuclear arms reduction certainly had some economical reasons to Eric Rubin, treaty to replace START." launch this "reset."But the major point of Deputy chief of further collaboration should not be only in the U. S. Mission the poli tical sector, but also contain aspects in Moscow, Gregory Feifer, the of cultural contacts and education. For Embassy of the former Moscow instance, here, at the Faculty of,Tournalism, United States correspondent for we have The Society of American Culture ofAmerica National Public Research which has existed for the period in Moscow Radio (American of 60 years and will have its anniversary counterpart of meeting this Decem ber. It means that we "1he agreements BBC)andthe will continue to work together with our reached at the sum­ current correspon­ American colleagues in different fields of mit end a period of dent for Radio social life. " dangerous drift in U. S. -Russia relations. Free Europe \.\Thile there are many areas where the United States and Russia disagree and will "I don't think that in Mikhail Margelov, continue to disagree, there are many more 2000 and 2003 Russia was really interested the head of the In­ areas where our interests coincide. We seek in establishing better relations with the ternational Affairs to broaden these areas of cooperation in a US. On the other hand, Russia has tried to Committee in the way that is mutually beneficial and serves create confrontation "vith America and oth­ Russian Federa­ the national interests of both countries. er European countries in order to amplifY tion Council. 1he reset in our bilateral relationship will its role on the world stage. The Bush ad­ not come at the ex"Pense of our friends and ministration failed Russian polic)" if it had "There is no spirit of allies in the region. It is time to leave this any policy at all, and hoped Russia would animosity to Ameri­ zero-swn thinking behind. A better US.­ go avvay and not be a problem. So, essen­ cans in us. We are Russia relationship will increase trust and tially our relations were really dysfunctional. not going to build cooperation and ultimately enhance Euro­ What's happening now? Well, the Obama confrontational relations with them. We pean security: administration is trying to restart relations. want to help them to reset our relations." The two Presidents agreed to create a I think it's a term of public consumption. In Bilateral Presidential Commission, which fact, the Obanla administration is changing they will chair, and which Secretary of State the relations as a long-term strategy that is Gregory Feifer: Russian TV news is unwatchable

has changed since Mr. Obama has taken office? got in touch with Gregory Feifer, the I don't know if it changed immediately af­ I former Moscow correspondent of Na­ ter he took office. Certainly under the Bush tional Public Radio (NPR) and the current administration and after the first year of his reporter for Radio Free Europe, in April, presidency, especially after September 11, 2009 during the BBe debate at the For­ there were real problems in American jour­ eign literature library. He agreed to answer nalism. A lot of news ou tlets were afraid to some of my questions. The second meeting conduct serious investigative reporting or to with Mr. Feifer fell on the day when the raise questions connected with the govern­ U. S. President Barack Obama was paying a ment's official position on the war in Iraq. I visit to Moscow. I sent him a message hop­ think American journalism failed the Amer­ Gregory Feifer is a promi­ ing to get him to agree to an e-mail inter­ ican people and the world in general. That nent American interna­ view. Fortunately, he agreed to meet me in slowly started to change as Bush's preSidency tional journalist. He stud­ person during a trip to Moscow. The result continued, certainly by the time of the 2008 ied Russia and Russian of that interview follows. presidential elections. Before the prima­ Language at Harvard ries, journalists were again doing serious Uniq}ersity. From 1998 Please, briefly describe your journalism ex­ investigative work and that has continued. to 2003, he and his family perience? What about your first journalism U. S. journalism has been in a slow process of lived in Moscow. He re­ steps? recovering from the dark years of the Bush ported on Russian politics After graduating Harvard University I came administration and I hope it will continue for a number of publica­ to Russia in 1994. A lot of people were com­ doing so during Mr. Obama's preSidency. tions including The 1I10s­ ing to Russia because it was the end of com­ cow Times, T¥arld Policy munism and the building of a ne"" system. It Why and when did you decide to become Journal andAgency France was a great place to start a journalism career. an international radio journalist? I mean, Press. He has been the Actually, it took me longer than I thought it why didn't you choose TV journalism or Moscow correspondent far would. I came here expecting get a job right newspaper journalism? Radio Free Europe and away and didn't find one. I carne back to the I thought I would be a print journalist. But, worked as a journalist fa/' United States to get a l'viaster's degree. Then in the United States, National Public Ra­ National Public Radio. I came back to Russia and started working dio is one of a very few serious news outlets He currently lives in New for The Moscow Timrs and Radio Free Europe. that's truly national. It's a real institution. So York. I started writing a book and after I left Rus­ when the oppornmit)' came to work at NPR, Feifer is the author of "Spy sia again, I came here to be the Moscow cor­ I took it. I enjoy working in radio. Each me­ Handler: Memoirs of a respondent for National Public Radio. dia has its own pluses and minuses. Cer­ KGB Officer, "published in tainly, radio journalism is good. It allows you October, 2005, and "The How has the world financial crisis affected to combine descriptive language along with Great Gamble: the Soviet American journalism? Have you felt the recorded interviews to bring the listener into T#Zr in Afghanistan, "pub­ consequences of the downturn? your story. You also can use descriptive lan­ lished in January, 2009. Absolutely. I mean journalism in the States guage in television to illustrate what you're The Great Gamble exam­ was already suffering. There was already a showing. In TV, video images are the most ines the history ofthe Soviet crisis in journalism before the financial crisis. important elements. For radio, it's the use of war in Afghanistan. Feifer The economic turmoil has really sped it up. sound. decided to write the book Some of the biggest and oldest newspapers after he came into contact are now facing collapse. Newspaper reader­ What major problems is American inter­ with several war veterans. ship is dropping. I can tell you that Natio11al national journalism faced with? Do you "It was simply an amaz­ Public Radio is doing quite well in terms of think the coverage of international events ing tale that's ofcourse very listenership: there are about 30 millions lis­ is unbiased and objective? relevant to what's going on teners. It's good, but because NPR depends I think the biggest problem in American now." on many corporate sponsors who now are international journalism is the failure to giving us almost nothing; NPR had to fire 7 provide adequate conte,xt, particularly when percent of its staff. I think it will face bigger co\'ering issues in Russia. Often, journalists problems as the crisis continues. focus on only the latest developments. Be­ cause it can be difficult to get information Do you think that American journalism from inside of the Kremlin, the journalist 4 / will focus on speculation and rumors. In the several excellent web-sites, such as Gazcta. V" U.S. journalism has process, he will disregard the broader context 1"U, which I try to read every day. of the political issues and the history behind been in a slow process of those policies. Russian history is not only the recovering from dark years of What are the principles and approaches of recent past. It spans hundreds of years and a good reporter? Bush ~tdministration and should be taken into account. I can tell you the principles that are very I bope it will be so during important for me. Always keep your atten­ If you would like to find first-hand, objec­ ]VIr. Obama's presidency." tion focused on two aspects and that is the tive information about Russia, what sourc­ service to listeners, the readers, the viewers es of information would you choose? and also the story itself. VVhen something I would get in touch with the people who is happening the journalists' duty is to con­ carry out decisions and actions about which What Russian newspapers do you think vey that to the listening or reading public. I wish to report on. Unfortunately, that's provide unbiased information? Is it possi­ Sometimes one Imows the subj ect well, but often impossible in Russia. 1hat's why one ble for Russian journalism to cover events finds it difficult to present it to the audience relies on former insiders, people who know objectively within the country? in an understandable and interesting way. how the system works, people who recently Russia is often said to have no free press. Very often, especially in the States now, an left their positions of employment, and very Certainly, it doesn't really have a national opposite problem is occuring. Some journal­ good analysts ·who have connections to the free press through the medium of television. ists want to entertain the public and keep the government and can offer insight into what I find television news unwatchable. But, reader, the listener and the viewer interested is going on. However, it's increasingly diffi­ there are certainly good newspapers in Rus­ and in the process, the actual news informa­ cult to do serious investigative reporting in sia. I very much like KommeTsa17t, Novaya tion becomes secondary. For me, the biggest Russia. Gazeta, V,?domosti, Kommersa17t magazines principle is keeping the balance between the and also Russian Newsweek. There also are two approaches.

Realities behind Russian-American perceptions

A common assumption among the Rus­ certain due to differing beliefs on how those sian public is that the Russian government relations should develop. n ussian-American perceptions of each would like to see a more multipolar world One example ofho,v the 1.'10 countTies are 1'.other have been consistently statisti­ (one with multiple, equal world leaders) and working togetller to develop a better relation­ cally negative and the reasons for this are is concerned that American policy towards ship occurre.d recently in relation to weapon complex and diverse. other countries is too unipolar, with the defense systems. 'TIle United States had an United States playing the dominant role in agreement with Poland and the Czech Re­ A recent survey by the Levada Center showed constmcting international policies. The Unit­ public to put an American weapon defense a distinct trend in Russian-American percep­ ed States has supported post-soviet countries, system on its territories. However, tlle United tions of each country's policies. In this study, separating them from Russia and emphasiz­ States also needed Russia's help in convincing a striking 80 percent of the Russian public ing its own pro-Western policies in tllOse ter­ Iran to cease its nuclear programs, and this thinks tlm the poliCies of the United States ritories (i. e. Georgia and the Ukraine). system was seen as a threat to the Russian have had a negative influence on the world, President Barak Obama repeatedly prom­ military because it was positioned so closely while a just as striking 53 percent of Ameri­ ised to make efforts towards a better relation­ to the border of Russia. Consequently, the cans said that of Russian policy.lhese percep­ ship with Russia, which would mean a more American government recently decided not tions, however, are not all grounded in current multipolar world. However, his recent visit to to go through with this agreement at pres­ reality. Negative sentiments leftover from the Moscow was not as productive as expected. ent, perhaps in order to gain Russia's support Cold War are m~jor contributing factors in During the meeting, President Obama sug­ regarding Iran. the creation of these mutual negative images. gested changes in Russian policies with an It is difficult to predict the temperature 'TIle negative opinions of the public in the emphasis on the reduction of Russia's nuclear of future relations betvveen Russia and the United States are largely concerned with what armaments. Russians could interpret this di ­ United States, especially considering that the happened during the Cold War, whereas the rective from Ob=a as disempowering to the countries have no past standard for success­ Russian public is concerned with the United country that should be seen as an equal part­ ful, positive relations. Russia and the United States' policy-making at present. Additional ner with the United States. President Med­ States also seem to have different views of strain from the Bush administration made vedev,vill be visiting the United States as a what it means to have successful relations. present relations with Russia more difficult. response to Ob=a's visit to Moscow. But, it is clear that efforts arc being made by In his video blog, President Dmitry Medve­ Despite the continuing negative percep­ the governments of both countries to estab­ dev said that the Bush administration's bilat­ tions, these presidential visits illustrate an lish a new relationship and change our pres­ eral policies had caused Russian-American attempt at "resetting" relations between the ent perceptions of each other. relations to deteriorate. two countries. Nevertheless, the future is un- 5 China has nothing to gain from it, but theo­ Indebted retically, it can. It has enough resources. In Russia, it depends exclUSively on the political to dollar will. You said in one interview that you were pleased by President Dmitry Medvedev's intention to make the rouble a reserve cur­ he dollar today has become the de facto rency. Why hasn't the rouble become a re­ Tworld currency. Most countries keep serve currency yet? their gold and foreign currency resen'es See the second part of the film. There are an­ in U. S. dollars, and the U. S. eJ.:ternal debt has swers to all of these questions. been growing at an increasing speed over the past 50 years. When will the second part go out? I doubt that it will be broadcast because the Pavel Fedorov, an advisor with Morgan Stan­ rcady-made film was given to the manage­ ley, says that it is necessary to understand that ment of a broadcasting company one and a "the financial well-being of the USA is not so half months ago.1his film is very serious, and much a cunning plan by the U.S. government I perfectly understand them. as it is a free choice of other countries.Trust in the United States as the most stable democracy So we won't be able to see it on TV? is a determining factor in why other countries I think that it is impossible, at least now, be­ keep their savings in dollars. If Russia survives cause as the management of our channel told 50 to 70 years without defaults and devalua­ me, this film has to be approved by the gOV­ tion of the national currency, then, after this, ernment. And, as there is a lot of criticism of global corporations will start using the rouble our film has not made much difference yet. I the government in the film, it will likely won't as an accounting currency. For Russia to be­ think we should not overestimate our possi­ get approval. But, it has somehow appeared come a rich country, it is necessary to work bilities and influence. It is good that our chan­ on the internet, and not its final version, but more and with a greater efficiency to integrate nel TV Centre has made such film at all. I am a preliminary, pre-edited one. As a result, the Russia into the world community and develop very happy about it. final version is a little bit different. the innovative sector of the economy." Vvhy don't we pay for goods with the People who deal with this subject in America It is a pity that such difficulties emerged with rouble? What should be done to ensure might have seen this film. Did you have any the release of the second part ofyour fum. Russia's prosperity? Ilya Kolosov, host of the problems because you revealed all secrets of One should assess the situation we are in Sobytiya.25chas news program on Centre TV, their dollar? correctly. One should not build castles in the answers these questions in his film Bet$enni)' My film is not unique on this subject. There air. I repeat, such a film could not have been Dol/m ·. are some similar film s - The Money Masters, broadcast on any other channel. So, many Ihe film discusses the reasons for the suc­ MoneyAs Debt, and Zeitgeist. I took a different thanks to TV Centre. And, it is not surpris­ cess of the American economy and its impact slant, though. I showed how the influence of ing that instant approval was not given this on global finances. Following, Kolosov dis­ the U. S. dollar has been applied in our coun­ time. The film is strono-er than the first one. o cusses his film in an interview ,vith Moscow try, how it is being applied in other countries, The management said that film is a success State University journalism student Elena and what we might expect in the future. as a TV-product. In the film, I work for the Shvetsova. benefit of the channel, communicate with the Can our government take any measures to audience, and appear on screen. It is not an My first feeling after watching your film was avoid being enslaved by the dollar? easy job but it is much easier than that of the that you have revealed the great secret of Yes, it can. But, there are influential people management, who must make the right deci­ the dollar. Has your film changed anything who make good money on it. What we are sions so that the channel can continue to op­ in the financial and economic sector in our dealing with here is direct or indirect merce­ eratc. Nobody wants problems after the film country? nary interest. The Central Bank, the banking is broadcast. I have revealed nothing. I have just retold what financial system, industrialists, that is every­ clever people told me. Professionals who un­ body who is involved in selling raw materials Why did you make this film at all? So Illuch derstand something about the economy and for foreign currency, they profit by it and it is effort and time was spent. finances, who value their country, know about impossible to break them now. lhey are very It was interesting for me. it and are taking all the necessary measures. strong. Has anything changed? No. Do you enjoy it? However, at the end of the film you con­ I enjoy it greatly. When I finished the second Do you think that the information in the clude: "'There will be somebody in finance, film and gave copies to the guys who worked too, who play hard with America. "Who . £1 I" film was not convincing enough? will on It, they watched it and said: "Cool 111· will that be and when will it happen? Ihe information is clear; it is just an account Ths IS· a great pleasure, and it is great t):1It! of what is actually happening. Unfortunately, Ihere are not enough chances for Russia now. have a possibility to do what I want.

~6~ ______-- All eyes on China: moving toward a multipolar world

of Brazil,]apan, and India, is the largest im­ Beijing to commit itself to so many inter­ porter of goods from the US., and in 2008 national issues as the US., from Iraq to Af­ nce upon a time, the major powers of became the proud owner of more American ghanistan, from Iran to North Korea," the O the world existed only in the West. government debt than any other country in report states. Today, this sounds more and more like a fai­ the world. Others have suggested that the world rytale. The emerging markets of the world If that doesn't impress you, consider this: political climate is shifting to a multipolar continue to grow, and with a massive econo­ Also according to NATO, China is said to model, in which many countries have influ­ my comes massive political power. have about $ 2 trillion in foreign currency re­ ence in world polities. In a 2007 presentation at United Nations serves. By contrast, the United States budget According to Fareed Zakaria's Po.rt-A17le1·­ Headquarters, Antoine van Agtmael, author deficit is expected to exceed $ 2 trillion dol­ iean Wodd, the new world order, more so of The Emerging Markets Centwy, argued that lars this year. than ever before, includes non-state actors over the next half century, the economically China's upward trend has encouraged the (the World Trade Organization, European dominant Western countries would become suggestion that the role of the United States Union, and Al Qgeda, etc.) that playa major increasingly dependent on emerging markets. in the world economy is declining, and that role in shaping global policy. "This is a trend that will define our age," newer markets will soon overtake it. For in­ 1his, and the continual rise in power of he said. stance, the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, Chi­ other states, draws influence away from the Van Agtmael's prediction seems increas­ na) countries held their first summit this year. United States. As a result, the world will ingly relevant, even in the face of the current While the NATO Review report "VVill move from a unipolar system controlled by economic crisis. Take, for example, China. the financial crisis make China a superpow­ the US. to one "defined and directed from Showing an average growth of nine per­ er?" identifies China as the most influential many places and by many people." cent annually, China's economy is now the of the BRIC countries, it does not envision Zakaria identifies China as "the challeng­ third largest in the world, according to the country surpassing the US. as a super­ er" to US. dominance. And while some may NATO. Not only that, the country has re­ power anytime soon. feel this challenge is distant, China remains placed the US. as the largest trading partner "Both the cost and risk are too high for the one to watch.

New media transforming the world

... , 1 "1his is the most transformative technology tion of television, their situation changed: that has ever come,"l\1itchell said. fashion now follows global trends, anorexia , t ]hat do Iran, India, and Bhutan have Throughout her lecture, Mitchell used ex­ appeared, and women began to work toward " l' in common? Each of these countries amples of Twitter (a social networking service equality after seeing images of their counter­ has seen major changes as the result of media that sends updates directly to mobile phones) parts from other countries. technology. being used to organize political change, as in While the lecture and following discus­ These changes were the focus of Pat Mitchell's Iran, and a series of te-Xl: messages that helped sion identified many challenges regarding the lecture "The Media Effect: The Role of Media a trapped colleague to find her way to safety spread of media across the world, Mitchell felt as a Change Agent in Life, Work, and Global during the attack on that those who want to live in a global world Relations" at the American the Taj Palace Ho­ should have that opportunityand shouldn't be Center at the Library of tel in Mumbai. prohibited from using media by traditional­ Foreign Language in Mos­ Mitchell also ists. cow on September 23. used the example "There's a huge opportuni1)'''~tll new media Mitchell, President and of a tradi tional so­ and technology to make a huge positive effect," CEO of the Paley Cen­ ciety in Bhutan tllat, Mitchell said. ter for Media, discussed until quite recently, 1hese technolOgies have had an enormous how new technologies had no access to impact on societ)" but they also are changing influence the lives of mass media. journalism. Citizen journalists are replacing everyday people and the After the trained, major newspapers are going out of mass media. introduc- business, and s urvh~ng media outlets are ca­ tering to niche markets more and more. "1his media effect is in high gear, but it has nowhere near reached top gear," Mitchell said. l\'Htchell seemed confident that journalism would evolve to incorporate new technolOgies, making journalism faster, smarter, and more efficient. ------___L The U.S.A. and China: partners or competitors

troversial. While The Washington Post general­ in Sudan] based on tribe and skin color, this ly describes China as a dangerous competitor, will remain, sadly, The Genocide Olympics." J\ ccording to the 2008 U. S. National journalists from The New York Times and The LosAl1geles Tinw reporter Ian Buruma sug­ .r1.security Strategy signed by American Los Angeles times see this emerging power as gests that the Olympic Game "will almost: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, China is a partner. All of those media outlets, how­ certainly bolster China's global prestige." He seen by American officials as one of the Unit­ ever, are critical of China in regard to human appreciates Chinese achievements, but also ed States most major strategic and economic rights abuses, political censorship, corruption, takes into account the drawbacks and the partners. and policies aimed at Taiwan and Tibet. danger an authoritarian regime poses to dem­ The 2008 Beijing Olympics has caused a ocratic values. 'The strategy calls for increased collaboration significant shift in American-Chinese rela­ The T;fIashingtoll Post regards the 2008 Olym­ with China; however, it also clearly states tions and softened the image of China in the pics as a serious threat to liberal democracy that the United States still regards China as minds of some Americans. At the same time, in general and the United States, specifically_ the major economic and geopolitical rival. the Olympic Games brought about some un­ John Pomfret, a blogger for the Post and vocal Although the current military doctrine is certainty among journalistic communities. opponent of the Chinese Communist party, is controversial, it can be seen as a positive sign For example, Nicholas D.Kristof, a colum­ deeply concerned ,>Vith the current economic in building up American-Chinese collabora­ nist for the The New York times, said that he and political growth of China. He see the tion. is "a great fan of China's achievements" and Olympics as a "clash of Civilizations," a great: Previously, some American military lead­ he has "often defended Be~jing from unfair competition of two political systems. ers and politicians were reluctant to admit the protectionist rhetoric spou ted by American Harold Meyerson, another Post columnist, so-called "peaceful" development of China politicians, because China deserves an in­ compares the Beijing Olympics with the Rus­ because of its history of global disputes and ternational celebration to mark its historic sian invasion into Georgia and regards the human rights violations. Moreover, the Unit­ re-emergence as a major power." He cautions, Olympic ceremony as a great challenge for ed States has included China in the list of the though, that "so long as China insists on pro­ democratic values Meyerson. major American opponents such as North viding arms to sustain a slaughter [in Darfur, "The summer of '08, historians will most Korea, Venezuela and even Al-~ida. likely tell us, signaled the rise of a multi-pow­ Now President Barack Obama is trying to er, non-Western-dominated planet. It alSD establish close economic and political ties with was the time when it became clear that the China. Yet some journalists regard this trend control America exhibited in the global arena. as a threat to the U. S. economy and, moreover, in the twentieth century would not lap over to the very foundation of democracy. into the 21st," Meyerson said. For example, James R.Barth, a scholar in Has the image of China changed in the Fmance for Auburn University, explained minds ofAmericans since the 2008 Olympicsr that American markets are overfim>Ving with Yes, indeed. On the one hand, more Ameri­ Chinese goods that are competing for Ameri­ cans have begun studying Chinese culture, can ones. 'That is one major reason why the custom and cinema, according to Lisa Liao, United States should not ignore the Chinese a Chinese-American and a US. Embassy of­ economy. ficer. On the other hand, according to Feifer, "Everything I'm wearing is made in China. the Olympics have caused an increase of anti­ V/e have to be sensible about this. If Chinese Chinese sentiment within the United States cloth is cheap, convenient and of good quality, due in large part to how the American media I will buy it. I don't care that it was made in portrayed China during the Olympics. China. Demand is what we have to take into It remains to be seen whether or not an)' account," he said . significant shifts in attitudes toward China Former National Public Radio journalist will occur as result of President Obama's push Gregory Feifer believes that the mutual dis­ for an increase in Chinese-American collabo­ trust between the United States and China ration. might cause a huge problem for both because "For those who may still Eric Rubin, Deputy Chief of the U S. Mis­ "Chinese and American economies function V sion in Moscow and a former reporter at almost as one." harbored images of China as the New York Times, explained ('The US.­ Many products come to the United States a poor third-world country, Chinese relationship is the most important chiefly from China and this helps to prop up the Olympics demonstrated bilateral relationship in the world. Together, the American economy which is heavily in­ the U. S. and China account for about 30 per­ vested in it. Feifer claims that because of this the astonishing strides that cent of the world's GDP." He added that lithe symbiotic system, "both sides are interested in China has made in its economic Obama Administration's approach to China keeping their relationship going." reform for the past thirty years." has a simple premise: it is essential that the The image of China created by the journal­ United States and China have a positive, co­ Edc Ru.bin ists from the major U. S. newspapers is con- operative relationship." killing a lot of animals and birds. If glaciers melt awa}~ some areas will be flooded and others will experience drought. Gore does not offer any new informa­ tion; he simply presents current research and forms conclusions about it. Many peo­ ple have criticized the film because of this. Creators of the South Pa1"l1 series even made a satiric cartoon about Gore and his envi­ ronmental research. Gore's struggle appears there in the image of a fabricated monster, "Manbearpig." There is the opinion that An Inconvenient Truth was made to be a "Gore advertise­ ment," because the film is not just about the environment, it's also about Gore and his IVlacintosh (Gore is a member of the Apple Inc Board of Directors). In the movie, Gore b julia GilchinsJai a The film is based on research regarding frequently shows his Macbook and talks climate change, C02 levels, and the con­ about his life, his friends and his family. It n Inconvenient Truth is a documen­ dition of Arctic ice. Research sho'ws that really looks like product placement. A tary directed by Davis Guggenheim ocean temperatures have risen, glaciers are It is a film about an approaching doomsday and starring Al Gore. The film has earned disappearing, and the poles are melting.1he and even Superman cannot save the Earth almost $ 50 million worldwide, won two movie states that these cataclysms are the - but together, we can. TIle problem of glob­ Academy Awards, one Grammy Award, environment's revenge for the damage that al warming does exist and it is impossible to and won Al Gore the Nobel Peace Prize. has been done and that if global warming deny it, but Gore explains what to do to pro­ These reasons alone make the movie worth continues at the current rate, it will increase tect our world from disaster, and offers ways paying attention to. the strength and frequency of tornadoes, to reverse the effects of global warming.

Greenpeace tackles l11ultiple environmental concerllS

quires entities to pay for their C02 emissions \Vhile the U. S. is a member of the Interna­ instead of redUCing them. The current situ­ tional Convention on Climate Change, it is ation in Russia is similar. One of the main a very declarative body and doesn't act like topics of Russian-American environmental its member countries have any environmen­ collaboration concerns the problem ofinter­ tal obligations. Now the United Nations is he reset idea isn't limited to interna­ national nuclear burial sites on Russian ter­ discussing the next agreement, which will T tional and domestic policy; it includes ritory.TIlese burial sites are still not effective, be signed in Copenhagen and would replace environmental issues. \Ve asked Vladimir but potential sites have been chosen. There the Kyoto protocol. The American adminis­ Chuprov, a Russian Greenpeace officer and are government lobbies supporting the idea tration would like the ne,,,, agreement to de­ specialist in energy problems, about global of transporting nuclear waste to Russia." termine a set reduction for C02 emissions. warming, Arctic regional issues, and the Russians and Americans agree on that point. possibility of collaboration between Rus­ Demilitarized Arctic If the new agreement does not offer a set sian and American scientists. "There is an ongoing battle for the energy reduction, the U. S. will block all the efforts resources of the Arctic, although the solu­ to reduce greenhouse emissions, and also our Similarities tion seems obvious and simple. It would be chances to survive in futme." "Russia and the United States don't col­ wise for our countries just to agree that the laborate directly on environmental issues. Arctic be treated as a demilitarized territory Global Warming Yet, they have the same problems and goals. and that it be closed for commercial devel­ "What we can see in IVloscow leads us to Specifically, both countries must deal with opment, instead of fighting for oil and gas believe, anecdotally, that global warming the problem of waste created in the produc­ resources. It would be the best solution to does, in fact, exist. It is especially noticeable tion of nuclear energy. One common envi­ avoid military confrontation, but unfortu­ in the northern part of Russia ... Although, ronmental goal for Russia and the United nately, it seems unlikely." some scientists claim that this global warm­ States is to find sustainable alternative en­ ing is just a stage of a climate cycle and that ergy sources. Copenhagen agreement by 2015 the process will go the other way The United States is trying to solve the "The U. S. refused to rati~ ' the Kyoto proto­ around, it is foolish to bet our future on sci­ problem of energy conservation with the col, and it seems that the American admin­ entists who are hardly credible. As they say, help of the Waxman-Markey Bill, which re- istration has no intention of ever signing it. it's better to be safe than sorry." Resetting the system

With the declaration of the "reset" Russia and the United States seem to be opening a new chapter in their relation­ ship. The first official meetings of Presidents Obama and Medvedev should mark the beginning of this ongoing pro­ cess. However, only time will tell whether the "reset button" will result in any substantial changes in policies.

Ground-based U.S. I

I ..",. fl.

SOURCE:

The recently scrapped plan for a missile defense system in Po in U.S. foreign policy. Moscow summit outcome Vox Populi-Russian perspective • Nuclear missile deal • Treaty allowing U. S. military to fly troops and weap­ Russians 45 ons across Russian territory to Afghanistan give differ- • Joint commission aimed to enhance cooperation 40 ent answers betvfeen the 11'{0 countries to the ques­ 35 tion: "Will 30 Russia-U.S. relations im­ ~5 Missile reduction prove after 1\.1r. 20 Obama's visit • Each country to cut deployed nuclear warheads to to l'vIoscow?" 1,500-1,675 (currently 1,700-2,200) 15 • Delivery systems to be within 500-1,000 range (cur­ 10 rently 1,600) • Reductions to be achieved within seven years of new 5 treaty o ~~,~==~~~~~~ • Treaty to be signed before Start I expires in Decem­ 42% 39% 3% ber and include effective verification measures believe remain deteriorate cannot give the relations the an answer wi ll improve same

SOURCE: Levada Center Idea: Diana Kulchitskaya Graphic Design: Aleksey Spodineyko

nissile defense locations

EXISTING.

/ I? Missiles

"" ...~ . ~ Radar CANCElLED

Missil~s

Radar " ." 'I. I !~ Congressional Budget Office

~1d and the Czech Republic proved there has been a serious shift American views on Russia New York talks highlights and its policies

The negotiations betvvee n the tvvo world leaders were focused on Iran and further sanctions towards the Iranian administration. No Mostly favorable opinion Mostly "R ussia:r position is quite simple: sanctiom l'a1'e1y 15% 4% unfavorable pl'oduce a positi·ve l'esult, but sometimes they are 36% ine·vitable. " President M edvedev

'7bis sbould be l'eso!ved diplomaticnlly and I am on l'ecord as being committed to negotiate with han in a sel'ious fashion to resolve this issue. " Pl'esident Obama Very unfavorable 38%

SOURCE: Gallup Poll American thoughts: a view from the inside

situation for most people in the world, but about the existence of amazing Broadway who can prove that it has a negative influ­ shows. Now, we have the opporrunity to see he United States of America allowed ence on our health if we only drink one cup many of them in our cities and throughout T me to see another side of everyday life a day? the world. when I was a student there. Don't think that Perhaps the most invasive aspects of I radically changed myviews. But, I did no­ American culture American culture are those that have be­ tice that Americans feel more empowered It is impossible to discuss every aspect of come a part of our everyday lifestyle. V"e to communicate freely and honesdy; they American culture, even in just one city. For wear jeans by American Eagle or Levi's, assume they have the freedom to do what argument's sake, let's say that the United Keds by Converse, Adidas and Puma. We they want until they are told otherwise. States has several hundred museums con­ eat Hershey's chocolate and lVl&.l\1s. We It's not my interest here, though, to discuss sisting of some of the most expensive col­ listen to the music on our iPods. These have Russian stereotypes ofAmerica. I am more lections in the world. Given this point, there now become a part of our culture. interested in dispelling a common Russian can be no doubt that America has played a idea that our country does not need any re­ leading role in both traditional and modern American Literature and Journalism lationship with the United States; that we culture. U. S. writers and journalists have opened would be better off without any American For example, during the 1950s and 1960s, new spaces in the human mind. Literature in influence. Let's play with our imagination. the United States became a revolutionary the nineteenth and t\ventieth centuries ush­ leader in the art world through artists such ered in original ways of thinking about form Close your eyes and look at the world with­ as Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Andy and content. During the 1970s, journalism out the United States. Don't worry. It's not a Warhol, and Roy Lichtenstein. They proved went into a new direction called "New Jour­ nuclear war or natural disaster. Simply, our that one can focus on the common and trivi­ nalism," with early practitioners including world has never known about this country. al in everyday life and still create great works Truman Capote, Hunter Thompson, and It doesn't exist and that's all. What things of art. Thomas Wolfe. The United States also was would we be missing out on: American music rendered the same level of the country that decided that people must influence on the word. It offered new genres have an opportunity to hear different view­ American food of music ranging from jazz and rock, to soul points from the mass media. The first thought that comes to most people and pop, to R&B and rap. And, the list goes Russian modern broadcast journalism minds is that it is unhealthy: ingredients are on. There are famous jazz legends such as demonstrates that we can't live without high-calorie and meat includes GMO and Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong alongside American entertainment formats. other harmful products. Yes, SOmetimes this popular rock bands including Aerosmith, Every year our television companies pur­ is true, but do you think that students from Bon Jovi, The Connells, The Eagles, Guns chase American programming. There's noth­ different countries have enough money to N' Roses, Metallica, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, ing to prevent them from producing their eat organic food every day? As usual they are just to name a few. We can continue the list own programs, but today American pro­ not financially weli off and they haven't got of singers from the United States: Michael gramming is in higher demand.

the time to eat in a sit-down restaurant . .f\!so, I lackson, 1-:\ary IBli ge,' Alishia 2I?ac, I Now, we have to wake up and! top play­ much of this unhealthy American food is .. R.Keliy, Missy Elliot, etc. The i ing with our imagination. Are you sure that elicious. Let me straighten out so e facts. in ly endles . You may like ~' 1 ~"'~'- you are able to throw all of facts out? One hundred and eighteen countries all music, but, of course, Jlou My answer is definite - no. av d m- ove the world have McDonalds, W1 a to- 'TIle United States onstrated, American culture had great tal a 32,060 restaurants, according to find­ and complicated influence (,) modern

ings recently published in Ved01110Sti.1piS is life. We can't deny this Lll'.U1UM

12 Ready to reset former senator Bill Bradley, to enable young long-term visit to America. I had three dif­ people from the countries of the former So­ ferent jobs over the summer, and experienced viet Union "to learn about democracy first­ yet another part of American daily life. IVly hand through experiencing it," thus to "en­ previous experience really helped me to feel sure long-lasting peace and understanding at home while being abroad. , JI( Jhen you hit the reset button what between the U.S. and Eurasia." By now I have been a participant of t"l"0 l' l' do you expect? In computer games, So, does it prepare future leaders who exchange programs, and clearly there is no it restarts the game, losing the player's would be able to press the reset button in better way to learn about the country than by unsaved progress. What happens in life whatever relations when necessary? getting involved in its daily life. It's crucial. though? I would say yes, and most FLEX alumni The perception of a country really changes, I talked to would say the sam e. Youth ex­ and the media, for instance, can't influence It's obvious that in reality we can't just leave change teaches open-mindedness and de­ your opinion as much as it used to, because our "progress" behind. Even if ""e start things velops tolerance for differences and positive you know for sure there is another side of the anew, we have some baggage from the past. regard for others.1his seems simple, but we story, and so you don't make bizarre judg­ So did I when I was about to fly to America do need those basic things in any kind of re­ ments on the spot. this summer. In my case, my "baggage" was lationship. Ifwe go back to the start, we'll see that the my previous e.xperience of being an exchange I lived with an American family, was en­ concept of exchange programs grew out of a student in the United States three years ago. rolled in a public school, and took part in ac­ desire for nations to build bridges of under­ Here's some history. While still in high tivities in the local community, just to name standing after World Vlar II, and that's what school, I became a finali st in a scholarship a few things. As a result, I became a fan of it is still about today. program, Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX), exchange programs, and practically as soon If you feel a strong need for some kind of and through my involvement in that pro­ as I got back home I started thinking of get­ a reset button in your life, it may be a good gram, I spent an exceptional year overseas. ting involved in another one. idea to get enrolled in an exchange program. The program was designed 17 years ago, 1his summer I took part in a popular pro­ As for me, I am ready to hit the reset button and the major goal of it was, according to gram Vvork&Trave1, and that was my second anytime.

international policy. Now Europe is also in­ Rhea Penaflor, a journalist from the Phil­ Promoting cluded in a process of global experience ex­ ippines and active participant in educational change. For example, in 1999 media-special­ programs all over the world, suggests that education ists of the Czech Republic launched a web "anY'.. vhe re you go or whatever you read or project called Transitions Online (TaL). see can be propaganda. This is just every­ Taking into account all this information, where. However, we can make a conscious . I" , we should consider the relevance of the term effort to resist it or not. But what is impor­ "propaganda." rvlichelle Jeffreys Lee, coor­ tant is being able to know its underlying uring the Cold War, some American dinator of 1he Fund for American Studies principle. Propaganda is not a bad thing. It D organizations, such as the Fund for based in Vlashington, D. c., is convinced still gives people the opportunity to choose American Studies (TFAS), sponsored by that this organization isn't a propaganda what their ideologies are. In the end, they the U.S. Congress, were considered to be tool. will be the judge." propaganda tools whose missions were to "The Fund for American Studies allows Arman Elsherbiny, collaborator of Bib­ popularize American values and ideas. Has students to intellectually focus on issues of liotheca Alexandrina in Egypt and a TFAS the perception of these groups changed freedom and liberty," says Lee. "Free mar­ alLUnnus, echoed Penaflor's position: "Nowa­ during the past 10 to 15 years? kets and free societies do not just belong to days, I don't believe that tlus kind of propa­ America or to \Vestern societies. Liberty is ganda still has a great impact on people. We Being an alumna of the European Journalism the right of all people everywhere. And the live in a 'global village' thanks to internet, Institute organized by TFAS, I can say that struggle to promote and protect freedom new media, and new technologies in com­ the public interest in different educational takes place every day in every societ)" even munication. People are no longer recipients. projects for journalists, politicians, and social though some societies are more free than Instead, they are active consumers of infor­ sector collaborators now is eh1:remely high. others. Propaganda is used by authoritarian mation; it is like a tw'o way communication It is obvious that in today's global world regimes to attempt to control citizens; pro­ process." there is not only one player in the field of paganda is advertisement, not education." So the choice of the language is just a ques­ But a true rock musician is impossible \vith­ tion of our mood. out ambitions and we are sure our music is awesome. Americans were the first who of­ ''''hat music creatively inspires you? fered us help, shot a photo session for us, The heart of our creativity is the garage rock and recorded the first video. Our album got of the 1960s with surf elements. It is The awards for good design in Chicago in 2008. Kinks, The Stooges, The Sonics, The Milk­ We wrote music for the Russian movie "Syn­ shakes, and other bands who comprised the drome" and it won The Hollywood News 1960s fare - wild, primitive, but melodic and Award in July 2009. Americans chose us sev­ mad rock. eral times to be an opening band in their con­ certs in Moscow. Iggy Pop is among them. he Types is a Russian rock band that Is Russian and American rock different? And we trust his taste. T plays American rock in English. I can­ What is American rock for you? not reveal the exact recipe of their music, but Rock is a wide concept. It does not matter to How did you become an opening band in some components are evident. The majority us if it is Russian, American or somewhere Iggy Pop's and The Offspring's concerts? ofthe songs are garage rock (the music played else. It's still rock. There are bands whose Did you enjoy talking with the musicians? by MC5 and The Stooges in the late sixties). creativity is pleasant to us and we don't care Everything happened absolutely une.xpect­ Other components are the glam rock ele­ about their nationality. But, at the same time, edly. Stars usually listen to several bands for ments of Sweet, T -Rex, and David Bowie; the there are great Americans whose contribu­ the opening of their concerts. Iggy listened classic punk of the Dead Kennedy's and The tions to the development and birth of rock and chose us. The same happened with The Ramones; a little of Elvis; and some disco. As music are invaluable -like Chuck Berry, Bill Offspring. a whole, it's proletarian glam and bourgeois HalC}~ Elvis Presley, etc. Unfortunately, there Our communication was very natural, de­ punk at best. Only a few can transform such a are no similar figures in Russian rock. spite that he is c,xtremely popular - Iggy mix into art and The Types' are among them. Pop is the legend, the father. There were no The Types live are a combination of rock mu­ How do the Russian public and people from problems in conversing with any of the musi­ sic and fashion - the initial idea of true rock other countries react to your music? cians. It was like a dialogue with any of our 'n' roll. The Types shining suits and tidy ties Great! It does not depend on the place of our musician friends - we discussed sound, in­ offset the grungy punk that the band plays. performance or the social status of the listener. struments, impressions after the concert. We These guys know how to rock. Be sure to keep All people have a party at our concert. Every­ were just colleagues, and for us it was a great an eye out for The Types' nearest gig. F ollow­ one cares about our music. ' Ve play in abso­ occasion. ing is an interview with the lead vocalist of lutely different places - in underground rock The Types, Dmitry Astakhov. clubs, in posh restaurants for oligarchs, in the Can Russian rock be popular in America? largest Russian stadiums where absolutely dif­ Like a mass phenomenon? I think not. At Why does the Russian band sing in Eng­ ferent people gather together. We play fairly, the same time, there were and there are great lish? Why did you stop singing songs in professionally, with love. People love it. musicians in Russia who can be popular all Russian? The European and Russian public are a over the world. This culture was forbidden in We think the English language fits the music little different. People in Europe are less zom­ the Soviet Union, and such a band could not we play more harmoniously. This music was bie-like because of the mass media; they make have been famous. Now we live in another born in the English language and the phonet­ their own choices, have their own tastes, and country and I think we will see Russian rock's ics of this language mean a lot for rock. For don't listen to the crowd's opinion. There are introduction into worldwide culture. If it was us, the vocals are the also an instrument, like, few such people in Russia. possible for a lot of Russian classical music for example, a guitar. It's strange that nobody During our last European tour, people sang performers, it could be possible for such gal­ questions why we don't use a balalaika instead with us and it was extremely difficult to leave lant guys as us . ;) of a guitar, but everybody gets excited over the scene - we had six encores. So we had a the language. We use the English language as real success there. How do you see the future of rock music in one of the paints in the musical palette. We Russia? like this shade, that's all. Do you think The Types would be popular It is difficult to tell. I do not reflect on the VIle had a period of RUSSian-speaking cre­ in America? future of phenomena, even of rock music. The ativity, now we sing in English. By the way, I'm sure they would. We know that there are future of my family and friends is much more there is a song in Spanish on our last album. a lot of cool domestic rock bands in America. important to me. b AlC::KNewman lem \vith the socially-conscious performance backdrop. The lyTics, "Dad, I need a gun to be of Cultural Odyssey, however, is that there is a man/Shut up, bitch, or I'll blow your head ". .. I believe an m·tist is Jupposed to 'aiJIict no transition from the pain of the problems off," asserted with harsh reality the torment the comfollable and com/OIl the cifJlicted. '" to how we can help heal them. of young men drawn into gangs by violence, Rhodessa JoneJ, actress Idris Ackamoor, founder of Cultural Od­ poverty, and racism. yssey and main speaker, began the evening "This [performance] is the epitome of art ~ltllral Odyssey, an avant-garde enter­ \vith a lecture on using art as social commen­ as social activism," Ackamoor said. Ctainment group, is a non-profit travel­ tary.This preceded a medley that employed But this wandering into the dark folds of ing show with a social-political twist. The experimental percussion (beads on dnuns, human injustice fails to produce anything but theatrical group, founded in 1979, includes for example), the chorus of "The Lion Sleeps a heavy heart and the need for an Advil. storytellers, singers, saxophone players, and TOnight," and the vocals of actress Rhodessa At the conclusion of the performance, actors. Gultuml Odyssey landed in Moscow Jones. Jones said, "Let us go home and feel grate­ on Tuesday, September 21, 2009, to perform J ones played multiple parts in a monologue flu and be blessed ... " which is probably the for Russian students and answer questions of pseudo-melodic, wailing improvisation exact response this Picasso of experimental about art and social concerns. that, however artistic and raw, was disturb­ music, acting, and social commentary will re­ ing, afflicted, and near to ulcer-producing. ceive. Though the message is honorable, the Reality is like a wound.I t stings when touched The characters represented in the dialogue medium leaves one feeling deflated and de­ even slightly, but if ignored, it inevitably fes­ were in turn victims and perpetrators of ev­ moralized. Realistic and well-done, perhaps. ters.The essence of avant-garde theatre is the erything from sexism to abuse. Revolutionary? Not quite. rejection of cultural boundaries (sometimes The lines, "CPS took my kids, bitchlYou Art is indeed a precursor to action, but any venturing into the realm of taboo) in order to gave CPS your kids," reproduced the con­ revolution (reset anyone?) needs more than clean out the wound, to address these societal versation of a drug-using mother and her outrage. It needs direction and, at the risk of realities, despite how it may hurt. The prob- neighbor against a haunting, percussion only sounding cliche, it needs hope.

The Types: C'Mon and press play

performance for the popular American band The Offspring when he true testament of an iconic band is the ability to record an they visited Moscow on December 3, 2008, at the Olympiysky Sta­ T album that a consumer can play and listen to in its entirety dium. repeatedly. 'This is completely plausible when it comes to indulg­ The Types may be a Russian band, but their most popular songs ing oneself in the up-beat, foot-tapping, head-bobbing, ecstatically "C'Mon" and "Radio," as well as their entire album, The Types, is played eJ.."ploding audio of the musical phenomenon known as The Types. exclusively in English. This cross-Clutural blend of a Russian band The Types, a Russian rock band, is the epitome of rock 'n' roll. performing in English adds a critical piece to the complex puzzle in For American music connoisseurs, The Types' superlative sound reconnecting Russian and American relations with just the press of could be described as a fusion oflhe Offspring, Blink 182, Weezer, a button - play.lhe splendid music of The Types has the capability and Elvis. This blend of musical deliciousness along \vith the harsh to unite two countries whose relationship is at a point of reset. By vibrato of Dimitry Astakhov, the lead singer and keen keyboardist, pushing play, our countries move forward toward a common goal of compliments the lyrics of The Types exponentially. Accompanying unit)' through the universal love of music.1he Types are an exquisite Astakhov in the group are the skillfully intense guitarist and back up connection between Russia and America in a union of musical glory vocalist Alexander Troshin, the mastermind of the bass guitar Leo - simply brilliant. Maloletnev, and the dynamiC drummer Constantine Ignatenko. For 1Il01'e information 01/ 1he Types, please go to www.thetypes.m or According to The Types' MySpace profile, they were the opening visit www.m).space.coml thetypesm. r~'

he role of a country's first lady and the and expanded. Although she has no official an elegant first lady, those who work hard T expectations that come with it differ role or salary, the first lady is a highly visible to promote causes - usually ones which from country to country. In many Western and significant position in the U. S. govern­ are not politically divisive - are respected countries, the role is highly public; in oth­ ment, and the American public has many in their own right. In recent years, Nancy ers, such as Russia, the first lady continues expectations of their president's wife. Reagan founded the drug awareness cam­ to live her life as a private citizen. 1he first lady is first and foremost the paign "Just Say No;" Hillary Rodham Clin­ hostess of the White House. Beyond her job ton focused her eHorts on trying to reform In Russia, "the institute of the first lady is of appearing with her husband publicly, ~he the American healthcare system; and Laura still quite young, so there are no huge expec­ first lady can serve her nation according to Bush supported childhood literacy groups. tations on the part of the Russian public," her own interests. Whether this is taking an Current first lady, Michelle Obama, is a said Alena Doletskaya, the editor-in-chief of active role in policy-making, devoting herself seemingly perfect combination of the fash­ Russian Vogue magazine. to charitable causes, or focusing on family re­ ion icon and the caring, concerned citizen. Starting in the Soviet era, the mission sponsibilities, she remains in the public eye. Her issue of choice is supporting military of the first lady was to raise children, keep Dolley Madison was the first to popularize families, and a close eye is being kept on her house, and support her husband in his quest the first ladyship. She attracted news cover­ fashion choices. She also has decided to fo­ for a more perfect communist state. Russian age by working to assist orphans and women, cus on supporting her family, leaving a suc­ people saw their first lady only at grand state dressing in elegant fashions, and undertak­ cessful career to do so. events or at certain international meetings. ing daring risks to save important histori­ Obama is hailed as a Jackie Kennedy, but her Mikhail Gorbachev's wife, Raisa Gor­ cal memorabilia. Until Eleanor Roosevelt, decision to play an active political and social bacheva, was more public than her predeces­ Madison was the model for first ladies. role, pursuing an agenda of her o\'m, makes her sors and took the social duties of her role se­ Eleanor Roosevelt was an extremely pub­ more controversial. l\IIany Americans believe riously. A lot of Russian people didn't like her lic first lady. She traveled for her husband, that she should take a less active role in politics because she was fashionable and charismatic, Franklin D.Roosevelt, because he had po­ during her first ladyship, and expect her to fo­ and they felt she should be less public. lio and could not travel himself Addition­ cus more on charitable causes and her family. The balance between publicity and isola­ ally, she hosted a radio show and authored a 1he differences between the expectations tion was difficult for Ludmila Putina, the weekly newspaper column. for the first ladies in the United States and "vife of Vladimir Putin, the former preSident While Madison and Roosevelt each con­ Russia can be explained by a difference in and current prime minister of the Russian tributed to the development of the role of culmre. No matter what the American first Federation. During Putin's presidency, she the American first lady, the most iconic first lady chooses do, she is expected to remain remained in her husband's shadow. lady was undoubtedly Jacqueline Kennedy. visible while she takes care of her husband Little is known about the new Russian The epitome of what the public wants from and family, serves her nation through chari­ first lady, Svetlana Medvedeva, or her family. the wife of the president, Kennedy's cha­ table acts, and acts as a role model for, and a It seems that 1\1edvedeva is eager to appear risma matched her husband's and her ward­ visible representation of, American women. publicly, but after the inactivity of the previ­ robe set fashions for decades to come. She is But for many Russian people, it is ac­ ous first lady, she doesn't want to push the not particularly remembered for her policy ceptable and expected that the first lady will traditional boundaries of her role too much. or charitable efforts other than patronizing remain in the shadow of her great husband. The role of the first lady in the United the arts, but instead for how she presented In either case, the first lady must fulfill the States, unlike in Russia, has a history as long herself and how well she fit into the role as e),:pectations of the public and support her as the country itself Since Martha Washing­ the hostess of the White House. husband in order to reflect positively on the ton, the position of the first lady has evolved Regardless of Americans' preference for president and her country. complete departure from Soviet-era films. Instead of taking pride in Russian-style film­ ailed as Russia's first blockbuster, making and continuing the tradition, the film HTimur Bekmambeto,"s Night rVatch is seemed to be an attempt to copy H ollywood considered to have marked Russia's entry into films. the world of 21st century film. "Night Watch, in my opinion, was shit. .. I didn't understand anything. The plot is not The film, which focuses on the ancient strug­ understandable ... Everything flashes, shoots, gle between Light and Dark, capitalized on blows up, and it is bad, stupid, inartistic," said special effects and action sequences. It was so Russians well-known Russian director Alexey Bala­ popular with American audiences that Bek­ banov. "Even my little son, who visits all the mambetov was hired to direct the Holly-w'ood respond premieres, said, 'Daddy, this movie is very film J;Vcl71ted. bad.'" Night Watch is a low-budget (ringing in at to Hollywood Hollywoodizatian may not be appreciated $ 4.2 million), Russian action-fantasy film by Russian film purists, but this tactic never based on novels by Russian author Sergei £1i.ls to entertain Anlerican audiences. Though Lukyanenko. Wanted is a high-budget (at $ 30 Ihe response to Night Watch was similar. the film was popular in tlle United States, the million) American action movie about a secret Although the films lack substance, they were fact that tlle film was in Russian and required society of assassins. Both films fit right in with well-received by audiences. In Russia, Night audiences to read subtitles made it less com­ the Hollywood summer blockbuster crowd. Ulatch was heavily promoted, and the unoffi­ petitive. Both of the films reli ed heavily on special cial slogan for the film was "Our Answer to 20th Century Fox, capitalizing on the suc­ effects, stunts, and action scenes to entertain Hollywood."1his appeal to patriotism allowed cess of Night Watch and taking advantage of audiences without forcing them to think too Russian audiences to feel that, by supporting the linguistic barriers presented by the origi­ much. Both scripts and plots were considered the film, they were helping Russia compete nal film, announced plans for a \IIlesternized uninspiring by critics, with Entertainment with Hollywood. remake -"Westernized" meaning "with VVeekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum going so far as to "I always felt a little embarrassed for Rus­ American actors speaking English." call Wanted "unintelligible and idiotic." D e­ sian movies .... It was like the Stone Age in In the United States, audiences loved Night spite this, critics found the film entertaining. terms of special effects and editing. This one? Wat.:h for being H ollwoodesqu e. In Russia, "[VUmtedis] made for fans offilms that really You can love it or not, but it's a vcry high­ audiences only loved it because of advertising just want to see some great visuals, some amaz­ quality film," said Russian film critic Aleksei and propaganda. As Balabanov said, "Ihere is ing sequences, and some terrific performances," VProstyakov. no advantage neither for art, nor for our in­ said Richard Roeper of Ebert (5 Roeper. Many people felt that Night Watch was a dustry."

Barbucks: Starbucks' transformation to European cafe

the Starbucks empire. In 1971, he and the also re-hired tarbucks, the Goliath ofcoffee corpora­ Arthur Rubinfeld, president of Stions' has felt tremendous pressure re­ global development opened cendy in the United States from rival com­ the first Starbucks store in panies McDonalds and Dunken Donuts. Pike's Place Market in Seattle, Since many Americans have felt the impact W ash. of the economic crisis, they have been in­ Ihis year Starbucks introduced a European clined to purcbase their coffee drinks from inspired cafe called the 15th Ave Coffee and in Seattle's Pike Place Market 38 the cheaper establishments. Tea on Capitol Hill in Seattle. The cafe does years ago. It's eclectic and raw, featuring lo­ not display the signature Starbucks sym bol cally sourced and reused materials that are 1l1e increase in American consumption of normally featured above the entrance. How­ one-of-a-kind," said the press release. lower priced coffee drinks has leveled the ever, Starbucks whole bean coffee and Tazo At cafes in other parts of the world, in­ playing field. But the masterminds at Star­ tea will be served. cluding Russia, a full bar is usually present bucks have developed a new game plan that According to a press release from Star­ containing hard alcohol, wines, and beers. includes serving alcohol to increase profit bucks, the development of 15th Ave Coffee 15tll Ave Coffee and Tea will not carry hard margins. and Tea is an attempt to increase evening alcohol, but ""ill serve wine and beer, accord­ According to New York Times journalist business by serving alcohoL ing to USA Today. Brad Stone, the executives at Starbucks are "1his coffeehouse design is reminiscent of Starbucks may continue this growth of going back to their roots by re-hiring chief a European mercantile and draws inspiration Europeanized style cafes if there is a strong executive H oward D. Shultz. Shultz founded from the original Starbucks location opened response from consumers. 1Z r

FrOID the Cold War to the big screen

famous ones such as Air Force, 15 Minutes, Rollerball, and lvJiami Vice. He also acted owadays some Russian actors have with Vladimir Mashkov in the TV show N made quite a successful career in ''Alias'' - both were given "bad guy" roles, Hollywood. It's hard to imagine, but, in appealing to the stereotype of Russian vil­ ,Jazz concert I counterbalance, Hollywood stars take part lains shown since the Cold \lVar. in different Russian movies. Has the reset Recen d)~ American audiences have start­ I caI!tivates begun earlier than we thought? ed to watch modern Russian movies. One of the first films was Night T1Iatch by Timur I It all began in the USSR. During the Cold Bekmambetov. He definitely knows what aUQiences \lVar, it was very hard to leave the country, he is doing, because after his h'lfo Russian almost forbidden for most of citizens. De­ movies had been so well-received by Amer­ spite this diffictuty, Savelii Kramarov, one ican audiences, he was invited to the United of the greatest Russian actors, succeeded. States as a guest director of the new block­ n the 17th ofSeptember, Nicole Hen­ 'Vhen Russian directors stopped inviting buster film, Wanted. O ry, a popular American Jazz singer, him to produce films in Ru ssia, he decided There is one actor who wants to break gave a concert at the Durov Art Cafe in to ask the government if he could move the stereotype of the Russian person who Moscow, and later played another one in from the Soviet Union. He was rejected. drinks vodka and plays a balalaika. His the town ofZvenigorod. In 1981, he 'lI'fote a letter to American name is Dolf Lundgren. After he visited President Ronald Reagan, which was full of Russia several times, he decided to make a H enry played with prominent Russian Jazz complaints concerning his destiny. This let­ movie about a true, strong-spirited Russian musicians Oleg Butman, Natalya Smirnova, ter was read on the radio station The Voice person. and Anton Davidyanrs, all of whom who are of America several times. Ihat same year, In the last few years, some American involved in the Jazz Passion Project. he immigrated to the United States. There actors have taken part in different Rus­ Henry is often compared with prominent he took part in different movies, such as sian movies. The most constant American , American singers such as Whitney Houston Moscow on the Hudson, a bittersweet story member of the Russian film industry is l\.1i­ and Patty Smith because of her vocals and set against the backdrop of the Cold 'Var, chael Madsen. He acted in Smaty~lay udoch­ style. Being interested in different artistic pre-perestroika years of the early 1980s. He ki (Clear Out), Muzhsk~y sezon. Barkhatl1aya fields since her childhood, including paint­ also acted with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Tevo!yuts~ya (A man's .,·eason - velvet revolu­ ing, cello, piano, and choir, Henry could not the movie Red Heat. tion) and Put (The way). He admitted that imagine that as an adult she would be per­ After the Soviet era, when the Iron Cur­ he likes to return to Russia because he is forming jazz in different countries through­ tain was removed, the political crisis had lost in admiration ofit. out the world. begun, so there was no work for actors in "America is a child in comparison with She became famous first in Japan, where the new Russia. Those who had fortitude Russia. What a ctuture, what architecture," her albums made the Top 10 and she was went to the United States to pursue their he said. I dubbed the "Newcomer of 2004." She later dreams - people like Vladimir Mashkov, Part of the film The Bourne Supremacywas

I achieved popularity in her homeland, the I Oleg Menshikov, Valeriy Nikolaev and oth­ shot in Russia. Oxana Akinshina, a young United States. ers. l\1ashkov was even ofFered a part as the and successflu Russian actress, took part in Henry's Moscow performance brought boyfriend of Lara Croft (AngelinaJolie) in the movie. Now American directors choose together a lot of Russian people. Women in Tomb Raider, but he refused because he was Russian actors or actresses for Russian evening dresses and men in suits and ties sat occupied with his own Russian project. roles, rather than following their former around the tablecloth and candle-covered Former boxer OlegTaktarov had decided methods: "Do you speak Russian?" - "A tables. On the stage, the musical instruments to move to the United States after seeing little bit"- "Ok, you're hired." This is the were prepped and waiting. success in Russia. After some roles in low­ way of the so-called reset as it develops in The show began when the lights dimmed. budget American movies, he acted in some Russian-American film industry. Suddenly, there was a beautmu female voice singing smooth and sensitive music. The audience was impressed and quieted im­

mediately, and Henry received flowers and a I standing ovation at the end of her first song. lhe concert didn't finish until well after 11 p. m., but everyone stayed until the end. lhe atmosphere was perfect for people to enjoy the evening with friends. 18 OksanaAndrienko is a fourth year student co-founders of the International League of at Iv1oscow State University (Iv1SU) in the Young Journalists, and she enjoys studying faculty ofjournalism. She hopes to become multiple foreign languages. a public relations manager and she is inter­ Behind ested in foreign languages, classical music, Dr. Maria Lukina is an Associate profes­ as well as playing and composing music. the scenes sor and the deputy dean at MSU's faculty ofjournalism. She teaches classes on basic Eugenia Bobkova is a third year student journalism, reporting, and interviewing, and at ]'\,1SU in the faculty ofjournalism with her research focus is on internet journalism. a focus in radio broadcasting. She hates Elena Komilova is a fourth year student working under pressure, but loves a chal­ at ]'vISU in the faculty of journalism. She Alex Newman is a senior at U\iVT major­ lenge and she has developed a life principle aspires to become a professional singer. ing in communication. Her passions include to never lose her individuality in her work writing, poetry, directing, and acting. because her journalistic work comes from Pavel Koshkin is a fourth year student the heart. at MSU in the faculty ofj;urnalism. He Marisa Petrich is a senior at U\iVT major­ enjoys American and British journalism, ing in communication. She has a habit of A senior at University of Washington Ta­ international relations, playing guitar, sports, taking on far too many activities, and hopes coma (UVVT) studying international m'lirs, and the Disney characters Timon and to one day experience "free time." Kathleen Burdo has spent basically the Pumba. entire time in Moscow trying to convince Julia Shamporova is a fourth year student Chris to let her smuggle home a kitten. Diana Kulchitskaya is a first year at Iv1SU in the faculty ofjournalism. She is One day, she will have a career negotiating PhD student in the faculty of journalism at specializing in American and British jour­ backroom deals benveen countries, but until MSU. She enjoys international journalism nalism, she would like to work as a foreign then she will pretend to be a journalism and languages, and she would like to be a journalist, as well as become a news anchor student because that is where all the cool foreign correspondent one day. and an internationally acclaimed actress. kids are at. Galina Kuznetsova is an alumnus to the Amina Sheikh ova is a fourth year student Daria Chemysheva is a fourth year student faculty of journalism ofl'v1SU. She enjoys at IvISU in the faculty of journalism. Her at Iv1SU in the faculty of journalism. She listening to music, especially Diana Ross"'I ambition in life is to become a director of hopes to become a television journalist with 'iVill Survive,"while she works. documentary films. a focus on entertainment, as well as a proud owner of a dachshund. Anna Laletinais a third year student at Elena Shvetsova is a third year student 1\I1SU in the faculty of journalism. She at MSU in the faculty of journalism. She Dr. Chris Demaske is an Associate profes­ wants to have the ability to never sleep so enjoys traveling and meeting new people, is sor of communication at UWT. She teaches she can meet as many people and engage in very interested in photograph}, and hopes a variety of communication and journalism as many activities as possible. to become a photo journalist one day. courses, and her research focus is on issues pertaining to First Amendment law. Anna Leonova is a fourth year student in Alexander Solomonov is a second year the international departme~t of the faculty student at MSU in the faculty ofjournal­ Julia Gilichinskaya is a fifth year student ofjournalism at l\·1SU. She is one of the ism. His dream in life is to design and live at MSU in the faculty ofjournalism . She in a modest home located in Spain. enjoys watching all cartoons, especially D~nald Duck, aspires to be a helicopter Aleksey Spodineyko is a third year student pilot, and she'll write her graduate work at 1\-1SU in the ['lculty of journalism. He about the flying phenomenon known as enjoys being a DJ at nightclubs and his pas­ Superman. sion lies in photography and graphic design.

Adrienne lone is the director of the l'vlath Kimberly Wynn is a senior at U\iVT +Science+Leadership= The l'vISL Program majoring in communication. She enjoys with the Institute ofTechnology at UWT. watching and playing sports, spending She enjoys participating (but no one knows quality time with family, friends and her why) in Ironman Triatholons. beloved boyfriend Danny Lewandowski Jr., and hopes to one day work for ESPN.

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