for the First time in the history of modern Russia was burned all copies of the book – a collection of erotic short stories, written by our contemporary writers. The surviving copy of the book has taken root at the University of California exactly on the shelf “Banned in Russian”, which means “Banned in Russia”. This week the book was reissued, but abroad – in Canada. Why in Russia began to fall under the ban of the book and how unique this story is our interview with one of the authors of the current Constitution, Professor of Economics, doctor of juridical Sciences Ilya Shablinsky.
Ilya Georgievich, this is the first case of burning books in “the stake” in modern Russia?
the First place. But I’m afraid not the last. Set a precedent that jeopardizes our literature.
I’ve been tracking this story since the beginning (I was attracted as an expert on constitutional law).
so, five years ago, in early 2015, a collection of erotic short stories was published in Russia and was supposed to go on sale. Publishing house leaders have tried to accommodate all the requirements of the act: copies were sealed in plastic with markings, the age label plus 18. But then something unexpected happened. Bookstores (their workers), found out something about the content of the demanded guarantees. The lawyers of the publishing house, postponing things, glumly read of the novel and the verdict: there can be problems.
First: there are few detailed descriptions of sexual acts. Second, in several stories used profanity and one (Volodya Lorchenkova) characters literally explain it. Well, the cover of the book shocked.
Followed a scandal. Part of the circulation drove to the shops, and then drove back and unloaded into the warehouse. And part stayed. Quite a large slide, sealed books. She spent a year and a half. The publisher has made a couple of attempts to make it to stores. But they were all intimidated by the new laws. After several months of hesitation the decision was made: all instances (without several copyright) burned in the yard of the warehouse. So. It looks crazy, but true.
– And what shocked book cover?
– used On the cover photo of a naked (from the back) of the female dummy and the girl who embraces him. Photo Sergey Kozienko. Great job! Stylish and unhackneyed. In the opinion of the censors, the dummy must be cowards, at least.
Comments of the author-compiler of the collection, a member of the Union of Russian writers, literary criticism, Natalia Rubanova: “the authors of the novels and well-known writers, winners of laprairie, such as, for example, Valeria Narbikova, Tatiana Dagovic, Vadim Levental, Andrey Bychkov, Maria Rybakova, recently departed the talented writer Ivan Zorin and others.
I deliberately scamponethe shaft of his prose by different writers. The book passed the editorial Board and no one called prudish fears. Exactly the opposite. And then the so-called Champions of morality publishers were scared as hell text Denis Epifantsev, “James”, where the theme of homosexual love, love of Android.
The panic among functionaries from the literature resulted in some very funny stories of Vladimir Lorchenkov. A kindergarten, really! But no – considered pornography, put out the light… After the ban the books of some managers of the publishing house slowly “took possession” of the surviving instances. The funny thing is, even on paper books are not allowed – probably again and again scared “what if something happens.” And suddenly someone dragged sedition, read, excited, and go myself to love as he loves! Sin-what. All of this it would be funny if not so sad. In General, probably some circulation going under the knife for reprocessing, waste paper, if not sold for a long time, alas: Yes, this is a terrible practice… better deal, not destroy books! But this inquisitorial decision, as with a collection of love-erotic short stories, not yet. That too directly in the oven. So all in an adult way. Beautiful, must have burned the girl.
What laws violate the book?
– In the opinion of the lawyers of the publishing house, the law against propaganda of non-traditional relationships and the norm of the law on mass media banning swearing. But, in my firm opinion, the authors and compilers of the collection could not be accused of propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors. First of all, because the book was intended for sale to persons under age. What were transmitted and the symbol on the cover of “18+”. By law, this sign prohibits the distribution of information products among minors.
in addition, they talked about the collection of works of art. By the same law (“On the protection of children from information harmful to their health and development”), the restrictions do not apply to products that have artistic or other cultural value.
you Also need to remember that a collection of short stories is not a mass medium, and is not subject to the provisions of the law on mass media. Including obscene language. If the author believes it is possible to exactly realize your plot plan – that’s his business. The state must guarantee the freedom of literary creativity, as, indeed, any other art. The freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. But in life, as you can see, forget sometimes.
five years Later, a canadian publisher interested in this story. He wrote to the authors, have obtained their consent and decided to republish the book. The collection “I’m in Lisbon. No one” came to light a week ago: while sky��lshoy circulation, but it will depend on reader demand. Authorship is almost the same, with some exceptions. For example, there is Jan Leon Vishnevsky, he did not respond to the invitation to participate in the proceedings. A notorious Lorchenkov my little story (about a raccoon, the crab, very funny) is still seized.
the Writer Ivan Zorin, unfortunately, recently died quite young and famous novelist. You will be able to reach the reader the owner that to the market not made in 2015? Like all censorship slingshot can be overcome by using modern technologies. But… Unclear how it will be effective. Orders for the book have come to the publisher Alex Mintz from Israel, Germany, Canada, USA. But the main thing – Russian market. And it is important that as many people as possible who are interested in literature knew the story, knew that our how shall I say… the ideology of the “state of conservatism” impact on literature, on literary life – Why this happened in Russia? It can be dangerous? – I think the role played by the atmosphere of prohibitions and restrictions. Like we had during the Soviet time. We say “state”, but every time the decision to take two or three officials – ordinary people, often not too much to read in life, often Slabnevich in nature. But they have their own tastes, and they take the opportunity to impose them on others. For these people, now, alas, a pretty good time. Publishers and stores are just afraid. We want to be Russia again emigrated writers who write “not”, as someone used? Or, perhaps, again to prohibit the works of Bunin, Nabokov? Or Eduard Limonov? Yes, there are people who are willing to deny everything. They do not, in my opinion, should set the tone in our lives. Can we consider the incident the result of censorship? No formal. After all, the decision was taken by self publishing. But indirectly censored, of course, influenced by its harmful role of continue to play. Like the censorship Department itself we have, however, other devices performing the same function. Yes, like it or not, but we have come to some kind of constitutional right – in this case the freedom of creativity, literary creativity. And we’re – the country where born the authors of “Dark alleys” and “Lolita”. Although, Yes, admittedly, out of these books initially not us.
