5x5

The outgoing 2009 in the field of culture was heterogeneous. Of course, it was in that which could even please the most exquisite gourmet from culture, and what upset even the most non -election viewer.

But, first, about what delighted.

1. The NET festival survived, despite the crisis. This year, the best theater festival of Moscow not only did not slow down, but also expanded its program by including parallel projects in it. Of course, the audience still needs rebooting, and not one. But still, the halls are full, and if they leave, then not in the middle of the action played, but in pauses. It is pleasant that the theater’s alternative (from the point of view of mass taste) is provided not only by the state, but also by philanthropists, in this case, the Prokhorov Foundation, first of all, is known for the fact that it holds expensive festivals and book fairs in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. However, do not forget that the famous impresario Sergey Pavlovich Diaghilev, was also largely a product of a private cultural initiative in Russia, like the Moscow Opera Zimin.

2. Diaghilev anniversary. There were no events of such a scale as the anniversary of Diaghilev. Usually, all really important dates are launched on the brakes - so recently it was with the centenary of Shostakovich, inexpressive, far from the present, the celebration of the Gogol's anniversary also turned out. Diaghilev was lucky much more: exhibitions in several museums of Moscow and St. Petersburg, conferences, books ... The album “History of the“ Russian Ballet ”, real and fantastic in the drawings, memoirs and photos from the archive of Mikhail Larionov”, as well as the accompanying program from films and lectures to the exhibition in the Tretyakov Gallery, organized together with the Fund, is especially impressive. "Catherine." What is the matter? In international brilliance named after? In the abundance of ownership among the wealthy Russians in London and Paris, the favorite Diaghilean places? Or is it just joyful that at least someone managed to be a successful manager, most often contrary to circumstances?

3. Development of Runet. The intellectual forces of Russia almost completely hid on the territory of the Russian Internet. This is still the only site on which the famous freemen is observed, in general, beneficial to all participants in the process. Some get at least some opportunity for a public exchange of views and expressing their attitude to the activities of the authorities. Others in a calm atmosphere observe the trends in the non -certified part of society, on occasion catching potential victims there for witch, spy -farm and other processes.

4. Change of power on the TV channel "Culture". The arrival of new people to the leadership of the TV channel has been expected for a long time. The “culture” looked painfully dull, the system of censorship reigning there was painfully ridiculous. This summer, they even managed not to report the resignation of Vedernikov from the post of the main conductor of the Bolshoi Theater. Not only are the most important characters not allowed to the screen (entry only to proven people) that with the “night flight” of Maximov, the last live broadcast on the channel disappeared, so the manner of commenting on the current process, past and present, more and more often resembles Soviet stylistics. Another thing is what can be done on a separate channel if the general rules of TV-life are still given to obscurantism?

5. "Votsk" in the Bolshoi Theater. Dmitry Chernyakov put another masterpiece in Bolshoi. Finally, our opera directing became outstanding even against the background of the European one. It remains to wait for the opera directors of the Chernyakov scale to appear at least a couple of a three (there are still one and a half dozen in Germany), and the musical life itself will finally exclude situations when at first-class concerts even in 15 millionth Moscow a third of the hall is empty. Moreover, only a rich offer is not to do here. Culture exists as a complex organism, where everything turns out to be important. We have almost three daily newspapers with full -time musical observers, and the classic in the box comes down mainly to Matsuev and Spivakov. Such a cultural policy of the hall cannot be filled. However, this does not apply to Votzeck.

And now about what upset or at least forced to experience unpleasant emotions.

1. Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev. The manner of the current Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeev to dismiss people causes a slight dumb. Either the rector of GITIS asks for the exit without explanation, then the director of the Tretyakov Gallery, who worked for many years, dismisses him after returning him from the hospital. Whatever the controversial leaders they were, nevertheless, they did their job. But our cultural ministers do not want to be like Henri Malro, or at least on Jacques Lang.

2. Nikita Mikhalkov and his “congress of winners”. There are so many about the steep and step -like disposition of the main filmmaker of Russia that I want to leave him to pieces to his own movie heroes. Yes, the point is not in him, and not in the economic decisions of the Mikhalkov team, which led to the loss of the UC almost all of his property . It is much more notable for what happened to the team of Marlene Khutsiev and his like -minded people. The dissenters are not just subjected to public reproach from those who are hiding behind the sympathy of power , they are finally displaced on the periphery of public life, and literally. The expulsion of the editorial office of the magazine “The Art of Cinema” from the premises that had been involved in it for decades is a classic example of how politics begins to use for their own purposes “dispute of business entities”.

3. The decision to demolish the building of the Central House of Artists on the Crimean Val . After in recent years, the dialogue of society with the authorities was actually canceled, giving way to decorative organizations, much has happened. But the way one of the few of its cultural sites from the face of Moscow dared one stroke of the pen from the face of Moscow, even amazing the species. In defense of the Central House of Artists and the Tretyakov Gallery in the same building with it with it, who did not stand up! But the decision was made behind the obvious advantage of some and the obvious impotence of others. The situation, unimaginable, of course, in civilized Europe.

4. Petrika phenomenon. It is ridiculous to observe how even the Academy of Sciences was connected to the study of the “Petrick’s phenomenon”, a self-taught inventor with the title of Academician RAEN and five more academies, including the Academy of Security, Defense and Law and Law enforcement, which was recently closed on the proposal of the Prosecutor General. Petrik even invented and demonstrates it now amazed power. Of course, some progress is observed in comparison with the times of Lysenko - Petrik’s opponents are not planted yet. Of course, the presence of one of his “inventions” of the speaker of the State Duma Boris Gryzlov as a co -author suggests what they are doing there in the Duma. Maybe the society specially throws the phenomena of the Petrikov type to distract him from the successes of the football team? Or is the self-excretion of such unique ones programmed by the cultural mechanism itself, which needs such an adrenaline for some other purposes?

5. The situation of small publishers . They survive, and this is pleasing, but the amount of forces spent on this struggle has increased significantly last year. And it scares. Without small publishers, our book market will turn into a parody of a political life: plunging everything, well -fed mammoths go around, and a small person no longer has the strength to dodge their hooves. And most importantly - to whom to publish a non -ma, incomprehensible literature? The disappearance of independent, albeit medium -sized, structures is the main threat to diversity. Another thing is how much the variety is appropriate today in our country, and how great its chances of existence in one separate area are. It is either everywhere or nowhere. Is it really necessary for Petrik to leave a place?

These are five successes and five disappointments of the year 2009. Let's hope that next year there will be fewer disappointments, and more luck.