The Golden Youth

The title of this blog post is a cliche overused in Russian socio-political, youth-related or pop-culture-observational analyses. Leaking into common language, the notion of “golden youth” has long shifted from a set phrase or a group definition to an easily recognized social phenomenon with two definitions:

“Золотая молодёжь” /zolo-TAH-ya mah-lah-DYO-zh/ = “Golden Youth”
1. Outstandingly bright, goal- and career-oriented representatives of a promising young generation;
2. Children of successful, rich and prominent parents, who usually subsist on their wealth and connections.

Not to say the two cannot overlap, but in general the groups exist separately from each other.

The South Park (2×2) Saga

A letter arrived at Moscow’s Basmanny inter-district public prosecutor’s office Thursday.

South Park shouldn’t trash Russian kids’ minds, it said, in essence.

Drama has been unfolding around a small channel transmitting to Moscow and St. Petersburg, 2×2, known for its 24/7 cartoons (“masterpieces of world ruffian culture”) broadcast. Those who’ve ever watched the channel wouldn’t have a hard time recognizing that 2×2 is targeting adults, and anyone under 14…well, that’s the kind of thing they hide from their parents. It’s “South Park,” “The Simpsons,” “Futurama,” “Family Guy,” “Beavis and Butt-head,” along with such classics as “Pinky and Brain,” “The Flintstones,” “Popeye” and “Batman” – over 70 action, comedy, anime, trash and art-house shows. (The full list is here)

In March, the heads of four Protestant churches of Russia approached the General Prosecutor Yuri Chaika, requesting to defy 2×2 of its licence to transmit “subliminal and obvious propaganda of pedophilia and homosexualism as norms of sexual relationships, propaganda of anti-social way of life.” Rossvyazohrankultura (a federal agency on media oversight and culture protection) issued a warning to the channel, while 2×2 took two cartoons – “Happy Tree Friends” and “The Adventures of Big Jeff” – off air for their violence.

And they thought it was over.

A dangerous profession.

The setup: The U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia. Two lines of eager yet tired people hoping for stamps in their international passports. I have finally reached the window, a few minutes away from receiving my third student visa (U.S. student visas require annual renewal).

The embassy official: “Where are you going?”
as: “Lincoln, Nebraska”
eo: “Do you plan to return?”
as: “Most definitely” (a standard answer)
eo “What is the purpose of you trip?”
as: “I go to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln”
eo: “What do you study?”
as: “Journalism and political science”
eo (looking up from his paperwork): “You want to be a journalist?”
as: “Yes”
eo: “Quite a dangerous profession in Russia. Are you not afraid to get killed?”