Press release from UNC Asheville:
Pussy Riot Panel Discussion
with Maria (Masha) Alyokhina and Alexandra (Sasha) BoginoWednesday, November 16 at 7pm
Panel Discussion, Humanities Lecture Hall. Ticketed event.
For tickets and more information: cesap.unca.eduUNC Asheville student tickets $5. All other tickets $15.
UNC Asheville student tickets on sale in Lipinsky 215 box office Thursday, Nov. 3 – Friday Nov. 4, 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Cash only. One ticket per Onecard. All other tickets on sale online only starting Saturday, Nov. 5 at 9:00 a.m.
Pussy Riot is a Russian feminist punk rock protest group based in Moscow. Founded in August 2011, it has a variable membership of approximately 11 women ranging in age from about 20 to 33. They stage unauthorized provocative guerrilla performances in unusual public locations, which are edited into music videos and posted on the Internet, as well as reported widely by international media. Their lyrical themes include feminism, LGBT rights, opposition to the policies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they regard as a dictator, and links between Putin and the leadership of the Russian Orthodox Church.
In 2012, five members of the group staged a performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, protesting the Orthodox Church leader’s support for Putin during his election campaign. In March, three of the group members were arrested and charged with hooliganism. On August 17, the three members were convicted of “hooliganism motivated by religious hatred,” and each was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
The trial and sentence attracted considerable criticism, particularly in the West. The case was adopted by human rights groups including Amnesty International, and by a number of prominent entertainers. Having served 21 months Maria Alyokhina was released on December 23, 2013. She now travels the world speaking against the issues mentioned above in Russia. On this tour, Alyokhina is joined by Pussy Riot’s Mediazona collaborator & reporter, Alexandra (Sasha) Bogino. Since October, 2015 Bogino has been working as a reporter at Pussy Riot’s independent media outlet, Mediazona.
The panel will be moderated by Lori Horvitz, who is a professor of English at UNC Asheville, where she also directs the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program. Her essays have appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies including The Guardian, Epiphany, Bustle, Chattahoochee Review, South Dakota Review, Hotel Amerika and Southeast Review. Her book of memoir-essays, The Girls of Usually, was published in 2015 by Truman State University Press. Dr. Horvitz will be joined by student Emily Navarro, WGSS Major at UNC Asheville.
Cosponsored by the Office of the Associate Provost, the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program and Cultural Events & Special Academic Programs
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