Difference between revisions of "Template:The Russian Soul"
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<u>'''Russians:'''</u> My life is a tragic mess and I've somehow found myself living in Norlisk (an industrial city located above the Arctic Circle). But it's OK. I have a Russian soul and I eat suffering for breakfast. | <u>'''Russians:'''</u> My life is a tragic mess and I've somehow found myself living in Norlisk (an industrial city located above the Arctic Circle). But it's OK. I have a Russian soul and I eat suffering for breakfast. | ||
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+ | There is definitely a set of characteristics, often referred to as “the Russian soul”, that make Russians unique. Expats who say there isn’t, as well as Russians who say foreigners will never be able to understand it (умом Россию не понять), are both wrong.<ref> Edward Adrian-Vallance, https://www.facebook.com/edward.adrianvallance | ||
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+ | {| span style="background:#E6EED5; border-spacing: 5px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 1px solid black;" | ||
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+ | The mind cannot understand Russia | ||
+ | (умом Россию не понять) | ||
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+ | The Great russian poet Fyodor Tyutchev (Фёдор Иванович Тютчев) wrote a beautiful poem, which is very popular in Russia: | ||
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+ | You will not grasp her with your mind | ||
+ | Or cover with a common label, | ||
+ | For Russia is one of a kind - | ||
+ | Believe in her, if you are able... | ||
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Revision as of 19:22, 26 September 2020
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The famous “Russian soul” was to no small extent the product of this agonizing uncertainty regarding Russia’s proper geographical, social, and spiritual position in the world, the awareness of a national personality that was split between East and West. —Tibor Szamuely, The Russian Tradition (1974). Just because Russians “don't smile” does not mean that inwardly they are soulless drones or secretly conniving. Russians smile when they have a genuine reason. Russian smiles are authentic. Furthermore, although they deeply value intellectualism and education (erudition), they are leery of (antithetical towards) being ruled by logic. In fact, Russians value the ability to fully experience and act on their passions and emotions. The Russkaya dusha (Russian soul) is well known in the arts, where it manifests itself as emotion, sentimentality, exuberance, energy, the theatre and flamboyant skill. But Russian soul is much more than just the arts. It is the very essence of Russian behavior. The Russian soul can turn up suddenly in the most unexpected places—and just as suddenly disappear. Just when foreigners believe that Russians are about to get down to serious business, they can become decidedly emotional and unbusinesslike.
The Russian soul is often derided in the West as a fantasy of artists, composers, and writers. If the Russian soul ever really existed, this argument goes, it was the product of a traditional agricultural society that had very little in material goods to offer. In a modern industrial society the Russian soul is quickly forgotten and Russians become as realistic, practical, materialistic, and unromantic as Westerners.[1][2] As in many aspects of Russia, the truth is more complex and lies somewhere in between. Russians do have a rich spirituality that does indeed contrast with Western rationalism, materialism, and pragmatism. Russians suffer but based on the amount their popular literature discusses suffering, Russians seem to enjoy this suffering. Obsessed with ideas, their conversations are weighty and lengthy. Russians often reject the American’s rational and pragmatic approach. Instead personal relations, feelings, and traditional values determine their course of action. In contrast, Westerners tend to view themselves as pragmatic, relying on the cold facts.[3][4]
Even today emotions and personal feelings still matter to Russians. The future of the Russian soul brother Russians. It has survived centuries of church and state domination and 70 years of communism. Will it also survive, they wonder, the transition to the free market and democracy, and the call of Western culture?[10]
There is definitely a set of characteristics, often referred to as “the Russian soul”, that make Russians unique. Expats who say there isn’t, as well as Russians who say foreigners will never be able to understand it (умом Россию не понять), are both wrong.[13]
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- ↑ Richmond, Yale. (2008). From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
- ↑ Edward Adrian-Vallance, https://www.facebook.com/edward.adrianvallance
- ↑ Richmond, Yale. (2008). From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
- ↑ Edward Adrian-Vallance, https://www.facebook.com/edward.adrianvallance
- ↑ Richmond, Yale. (2008). From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
- ↑ 55
- ↑ Herbert, Wray. ‘To suffer is to suffer’: Analyzing the Russian national character. (June 30, 2010). Association for Psychological Science. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/were-only-human/to-suffer-is-to-suffer-analyzing-the-russian-national-character.html
- ↑ Oleg Yegorov. February 22 2019. Why do Russians benefit from suffering? https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/330011-russian-suffering
- ↑ Jonah Lehrer. 2010. Why Russians Don't Get Depressed. https://www.wired.com/2010/08/why-russians-dont-get-depressed/
- ↑ Richmond, Yale. (2008). From Nyet to Da: Understanding the New Russia. Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
- ↑ Li Mu, https://www.facebook.com/li.mu.5015
- ↑ Edward Adrian-Vallance, https://www.facebook.com/edward.adrianvallance
- ↑ Edward Adrian-Vallance, https://www.facebook.com/edward.adrianvallance