Graduate Institute of Russian Studies, NCCU

When Entertainment Meets Politics: Anti-War Voices, Exile and the Rise of Patriotism

What happens when taking a political stance can change an artist's life and career?

Since Russia's  full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the country's entertainment industry has been transformed.

Some performers have spoken out against the war and left Russia, others have faced restrictions over their political views,

while pro-government artists have gained prominence through patriotic music. The entertainment industry has become more than

a source of popular culture, it offers a revealing insight into Russia's political climate, social divisions and national identity.

In this episode, host Tsui Lin and co-host Nana explore how Russian artists have responded to the war, examining the tensions

between personal conviction, political power and public image.

What's in this episode?

• A legendary star couple leaves Russia: How Alla Pugacheva (Алла Пугачёва) and Maxim Galkin (Макси́м Га́лкин) have navigated the consequences of their anti-war stance.
• Rock music as political dissent: How DDT frontman Yuri Shevchuk (Юрий Шевчук) has challenged political authority through music and public statements.
• Rap as a voice of protest: How Noize MC & Anacondaz has used his music to confront social injustice and war.
• The rise of patriotic music: How SHAMAN (Шама́н) as become a prominent figure in Russia's contemporary patriotic music scene.
• Celebrity scandals and internet memes: What Philipp Kirkorov's (Филипп Киркоров) public controversy reveals about the pressures facing Russia's entertainment industry.

Watch the full episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHw_FyDW2GA (A Chinese-language programme)

Explore the present through history, understand politics through culture, and discover a different perspective on Russia and the world.