Shof's Russian Culture Education Thread

[Shofercia]

I never asked this, but, are you actually from Russia?

Cause I'm pretty sure you said you don't live there currently.

I live in Cali. I was born in Nizhniy Novgorod

So about that:

Impeach False Csars. Legalize Elections. Theft is theft. Minin & Pozharsky, 1612

[OMGeverynameistaken]

I never asked this, but, are you actually from Russia?

Cause I'm pretty sure you said you don't live there currently.

I live in Cali. I was born in Nizhniy Novgorod

So about that:

Impeach False Csars. Legalize Elections. Theft is theft. Minin & Pozharsky, 1612

Campaign to return Fort Ross to Russia?

On the note of culture, behold, the glories of the Motherland:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHw90NYdwyI

[DrakoBlaria]

Question: Why does every ruskie have a camera in his car?

[OMGeverynameistaken]

Question: Why does every ruskie have a camera in his car?

Insurance reasons. There was a profusion of 'swoop and squat' insurance scamming in Russia for a long time.

[The Great America]

Do you know about Eduard Khil?

[Transnapastain]

Question: Why does every ruskie have a camera in his car?

I'll gladly accept correction from OP if I'm wrong, but another Russian user on our forums, also now living in the US< was a naval infantrymen and MVD officer in Russia previous. I asked him the same question and he advised the abundance of dash cams is exactly what you think its for; to prove fault in an accident, both for the police and the insurance company.

Given how many Russians drive, this does not amaze me.

Hey Shofercia, did you learn to drive there, or here?

[Cadaver breadsticks]

to prove fault in an accident, both for the police and the insurance company.

You mean it's not to document accidents they purposely seek out to gain youtube views? MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE IS A LIE!

[OMGeverynameistaken]

to prove fault in an accident, both for the police and the insurance company.

You mean it's not to document accidents they purposely seek out to gain youtube views? MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE IS A LIE!

Now now, there's plenty of other reasons to have dashboard cams everywhere.

Like meteors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRnUru6-1lI

[Shofercia]

I live in Cali. I was born in Nizhniy Novgorod

So about that:

Impeach False Csars. Legalize Elections. Theft is theft. Minin & Pozharsky, 1612

Campaign to return Fort Ross to Russia?

Nah. Although I wonder if the Russians played any role in the Grizzly becoming Cali's State Animal.

Do you know about Eduard Khil?

Yes. He's awesome. Unfortunately the only thing that Americans know about him is "Trololo".

I prefer his performance in this song to Trololo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIwxynwUxLA

Question: Why does every ruskie have a camera in his car?

I'll gladly accept correction from OP if I'm wrong, but another Russian user on our forums, also now living in the US< was a naval infantrymen and MVD officer in Russia previous. I asked him the same question and he advised the abundance of dash cams is exactly what you think its for; to prove fault in an accident, both for the police and the insurance company.

Given how many Russians drive, this does not amaze me.

Hey Shofercia, did you learn to drive there, or here?

In Russia

If it's short distance, I prefer to drive in Russia. If it's long distance, (over 30 miles,) I like it better here, much less stressful

Also, what I love about Russians, is that we find the Good amongst the Bad. For instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGEiA80ZL08

Yes, we drive crazy, but we also help out. What will some of NSers get out of this? "Haha, that lady Crossed before she walked across the road."

[Grand Britannia]

In Soviet Russia, buildings visit YOU!

Did you watch the entire movie, or just the first part?

Also, awesome, and in context In Soviet Russia joke, good job

What'd you think about the movie?

You know, I find it funny that the movie didn't feel foreign at all. I felt right at home with it.

[Murray land]

I've been wanting to add Russia to my list of languages

[Minroz]

Tag for interest, if you don't mind.

[DrakoBlaria]

Tag for interest, if you don't mind.

Bookmark button. It is a thing

[Shofercia]

Did you watch the entire movie, or just the first part?

Also, awesome, and in context In Soviet Russia joke, good job

What'd you think about the movie?

You know, I find it funny that the movie didn't feel foreign at all. I felt right at home with it.

I've been thinking for a while how to respond to this post, and I also wanted to give others more time to watch the movie, or my procrastinating skills told me

Thank you for your genuine response. I was pleasantly surprised to hear it. When I watched Blackadder, it also reminded me of home. "This is absolutely tip top secret... So only me, my officers, and the entire English speaking World is to know!" I'm curious though, what parts did you relate to the most? The least? What parts reminded you of home?

The movie is as genuine as it gets. This was the USSR middle class. This was how they lived, breathed, talked, etc. I know it, because it reminded me of my life in the USSR. We had those exact same apartments, (well the bathtub and restroom had separate rooms, and it was four-five people to an apartment, not two,) but it was still fairly comfy. The Banya, well, ours wasn't as luxurious, but it was still nice, and the rush hour traffic, the transportation, memories of home... I guess Putin was right when he said "he who doesn't miss the USSR has no heart..."

New Year's was also something truly special, I guess the best way to describe it is the Russian Christmas Spirit. It's hard to describe, so I'll let a really popular New Year's Cartoon do it for me: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1mvjDkFik8 The wolf is the bad kid who breaks the rules and gets punished, and the rabbit is the good kid. Note that I'm talking about society's rules, not just the legal system.

Going back to the movie, I like the not so subtle criticism of the Soviet Bureaucracy; he has to visit numerous cabinets, but only gets three changes, and becomes a "robotic" bureaucrat in the end of the intro cartoon. The movie place together several contradicting narratives. Who's the lead, the guy or the girl? Where does it take place, Moscow or St. Petersburg? How can so many same buildings each have unique stories?

A similar conflict was seen by the furnishings in the USSR. On the outside, each apartment was same. On the inside, it was unique! Yes, we had many of the same furniture in our apartment, but the position was slightly different. Another thing that I think the movie does really well, and why you felt right at home with it, is because, irrespective of where we live, we're all humans, just wanting to be happy

So what do you think?

[OMGeverynameistaken]

If we're talking Soviet-era films, Ivan Vassilivich Changes Professions has to be on the top of the list, doesn't it?

Sometimes the humor was a bit over the top, but it was an amusing movie.

Also, this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuokcvfSZzc

[Shofercia]

If we're talking Soviet-era films, Ivan Vassilivich Changes Professions has to be on the top of the list, doesn't it?

Sometimes the humor was a bit over the top, but it was an amusing movie.

Also, this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuokcvfSZzc

It is! But there's only one Soviet movie that was viewed over a billion times, (probably because the average Russian saw it at least 20 times, which is true in the case of yours truly ) and that's Irony of Life. Also to get the finer points of that movie, you have to know a bit of Soviet History, otherwise you won't get a good chunk of the jokes, i.e. "Kruym bral, Astrahan' bral, Koshelek ne bral!"

To understand Irony of Life, all you have to do is to know what the Middle Class is, and everyone here knows that, or, at least I hope so

But if you want a great Soviet military movie mixed with music, I recommend "V Boi Iduyt Odni Stariki" - it's a classic!

[Minroz]

Since we asked about politics and movies.

I'm going to ask questions regarding Russian food. Is there any Russian dishes/ delicacies you've recommended to try, especially for first-timers?

[Petrovsegratsk]

I've always imagined Russian culture as being rather gray[1]. Everybody is morbidly depressed, drinks vodka[2] and throws glass against the wall/floor for entertainment[3].

But I'm interested

[1]Baltic States
[2]Russia
[3]Jews*

*Apparently they throw glass during their weddings. It counts.

[Pasovo-nacoBo]

Can people reach me some Russian.

You see, my friend....is....err...
(Ukranian)

[Minroz]

Is anyone there?

Sorry if I bumped. :x

[Albion Rhodesia]

To be honest, I was never a fan of Soviet Era cinema(but that's mostly due to political leanings and of course growing up with the USSR as the enemy), however I will say this the current Russian Film Industry definitely has put out some interesting films in recent history. The top two that come to mind are:

"The Admiral"(A retelling of Admiral Kolchak's life)
"The 9th Company" (The VDV in Afghanistan).

[OMGeverynameistaken]

To be honest, I was never a fan of Soviet Era cinema(but that's mostly due to political leanings and of course growing up with the USSR as the enemy), however I will say this the current Russian Film Industry definitely has put out some interesting films in recent history. The top two that come to mind are:

"The Admiral"(A retelling of Admiral Kolchak's life)
"The 9th Company" (The VDV in Afghanistan).

I suggest "The Sovereign's Servant" (basically the Russian version of 'The Patriot,' but in the Great Northern War,) and 'Tsar' (the life and times of Ivan IV being crazy,) both are amusing, even if their historical accuracy is questionable.

[Newzie]

Started learning Russian yesterday. Any tips?

[Glorious Existence]

Just watch-

Кин-дза-дза!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kin-dza-dza!

[San Jose Guayabal]

I have some knowledge about Russian Culture (I like it) and I have a doubt on this

Alaska was a part of the Czarist Russia?