Russian punks today, has a stable association with anarchism in the mass consciousness, with a protest against any form of power. Some of Letov’s texts and
phrases (for example, “Kill the state in yourself!”) have acquired the character
of precedent – they are identified and function as anarchist texts without necessarily referring to the original source. At the same time, there are elements
in Letov’s works that are difficult to reconcile with an anarchist worldview,
and in general, Letov’s anarchism is not obvious. For example, the theme
of death, which is one of the key themes in Letov’s works, is hardly associated
with anarchism, which takes the side of life. The main purpose of the article is
to clarify Letov’s attitude to anarchism, to show the role and place of the anarchist worldview in his works. The author concludes that Letov’s works is either not anarchist enough (a turn towards nationalist views) or, on the contrary, too
anarchist (a form of total protest). This situation is conditioned by structural
peculiarities of anarchist theory. Classical anarchism has a Manichaean structure
(S. Newman), as subject and power in it are clearly separated. Letov’s creativity
is not anarchist in this Manichaean sense, which requires unambiguity and clarity of its elements. Despite the evasion of Manichaean binaryism, Letov’s texts
are able to keep the link with anarchism. Letov’s anarchism has broader grounds
and expresses a total protest against reality, which condenses freedom into
a conventional communication framework, makes it predictable, and protects it
from waste.
The name of Egor Letov (1964–2008), one of the most famous
Russian punks today, has a stable association with anarchism in the mass consciousness, with a protest against any form of power. Some of Letov’s texts and
phrases (for example, “Kill the state in yourself!”) have acquired the character
of precedent – they are identified and function as anarchist texts without necessarily referring to the original source. At the same time, there are elements
in Letov’s works that are difficult to reconcile with an anarchist worldview,
and in general, Letov’s anarchism is not obvious. For example, the theme
of death, which is one of the key themes in Letov’s works, is hardly associated
with anarchism, which takes the side of life. The main purpose of the article is
to clarify Letov’s attitude to anarchism, to show the role and place of the anarchist worldview in his works. The author concludes that Letov’s works is either not anarchist enough (a turn towards nationalist views) or, on the contrary, too
anarchist (a form of total protest). This situation is conditioned by structural
peculiarities of anarchist theory. Classical anarchism has a Manichaean structure
(S. Newman), as subject and power in it are clearly separated. Letov’s creativity
is not anarchist in this Manichaean sense, which requires unambiguity and clarity of its elements. Despite the evasion of Manichaean binaryism, Letov’s texts
are able to keep the link with anarchism. Letov’s anarchism has broader grounds
and expresses a total protest against reality, which condenses freedom into
a conventional communication framework, makes it predictable, and protects it
from waste.
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“I Do not Believe in Anarchy.” To the Question of the Ideological
Foundations of Egor Letov’s Works С. 388–400. DOI 10.25205/2307-1737-2020-2-388-400