Beat and shocker

On the nature of the conflict between the smash and cirque du soleil

The trainer Edgard Zapashny at the Presidential Council of Culture reported to businessman Mikhail Gutseriev. The wines of the latter, according to the reserve, lies in the fact that he builds a platform for Cirque du Soleil, the world -famous Canadian circus company in Skolkovo. According to a patriotic dull, the appearance of a foreign circus in Russia is “unacceptable” and will negatively affect not only the Russian circus, but also on Russian sports. A year ago, the topic was already raised at a meeting of the Public Council at the Ministry of Culture. The head of the council Pavel Zatogaylo said that it is important to maintain a domestic circus school that loses to Canadian competitors because of their huge budgets. This time, President Putin reacted to the complaint of the Zapashny and promised to figure out the situation.

Representatives of Cirque du Soleil said they had their own touring program in Russia, but are not interested in either a permanent platform or, especially in the opening of their own school in Russia, such rumors also appeared. In Skolkovo, a modern hall should appear for performances that can take different shows, including circus performances. Mikhail Gutseriev, in turn, promised that he would sue the smell for slander.

At first glance, this is another story about the salvation of “domestic culture” due to budget infusions. In the same row as, for example, the idea of ​​quotas on foreign films in Russian cinemas cherished by Minister Medinsky. There is no particular doubt that the trainer, attacking competitors with a sly administrative maneuver, ultimately calculated, if not to destroy buildings in Skolkovo, then at least for new subsidies. It is characteristic of our current situation and the method of action of the reserve.

Instead of attracting new spectators by modern performances, he complained to the president.

But in reality, the conflict between the smash and cirque du soleil is much deeper. It lies in the field of ethics and generally fundamental philosophical ideas about the world. The Canadian company could never hold a overall show, because it basically abandoned the use of animals in the circus. To observe the strict discipline of the actor or even risk themselves, like kanatomors and acrobats, can people who consciously choose this profession for themselves. The use of animals in performances is inevitably associated with violence against them. Behind the curtains of the circus at the Zapashny, we would find a torture camera.

There is a sufficient number of evidence of how trainers in reality manage to withdraw animals, especially large predators, in which the reserves specialize in the arena. How animals make you jump into burning rings and make other standard tricks associated with breaking basic instincts - self -preservation, feelings of security.

The only method of training is the suppression of instincts through pain. The instrument of the "domestic circus" in the version of the Zapashny is a whip and a stun gun.

It is these values ​​of the “domestic circus school” that they want to protect in the Ministry of Culture. It is the “traditional right” to violence against animals that the Zapashny defends, demanding to limit competition from the Canadian circus.

The philosopher Peter Singer, an interview with which was recently published by the “new”, explains that since animals can also suffer, we must spread our ethical systems to them. The assertion that only human suffering is a problem is impossible to prove. The general attitude towards the humanization, characteristic of the world of recent decades, requires us to learn empathy. The principles of the Canadian circus say that it is immoral to torture living creatures to entertain the public. Moreover, the audience, which goes to such ideas, is the accomplice of the Zapashny.

And if our taxes go to support the circus of trainers, we, too, - without our consent - are recorded in the longing.

So the domestic circus school, which appeals to dishonest competition from foreigners, should first lay aside the stun gun. Then we could calmly discuss whether we need Cirque du Soleil. Which, in any case, has something to learn - and not in the sense of organizing a show, but morally. Two ideologies in absentia in absentia in absentia in absentia: violence and subordination, on the one hand, and partnership with the world - on the other. And the smash will eventually lose this dispute, which they themselves are well aware of.