Hearing Perestroika: Love, Gender, and Sexuality in the Rock Music of the 1980–90s

In the late 1980s, the peculiar sarcasm and political commentary of Russian rock songs aligned with the spirit of glasnost or "openness" promoted by Mikhail Gorbachev. It was at this moment that Soviet rock music emerged from the margins to center stage and in many ways became the voice of Perestroika. Whereas songs such as “Changes!” by Kino, “Bound by One Chain” by Nautilus Pompilius, and “Everything Goes According to Plan” by Grazhdanskaya Oborona were understood as harsh criticism of the Soviet system, other songs by these bands contain far more complex messages — ones whose political metaphors critics generally failed to explore. A Foucauldian remark offers the best description for the role played by love and sexuality in these songs: “Today it is sex that serves as a support for the ancient form — so familiar and important in the West — of preaching.” (Foucault, The History of Sexuality: An Introduction) This presentation will examine the impact of political and economic conditions on the development of Perestroika rock music and the ways in which popular emotions on change were mediated in romantic lyrics.

The original music videos will accompany this poster presentation. Upon discretion of the Program Committee, this poster presentation can be included in a session on a relevant subject.