“Politburo” versus the specter of communism during the 1993 Constitutional Crisis

A clip from “Politburo,” a weekly commentary show from Aleksandr Politkovsky, a former host of “Vzgliad.” This episode aired in the days following the April referendum that solidified Yeltsin’s position, and, in particular, follows People’s Deputy (and Yeltsin opponent) Alexander Rutskoy's first salvo in the so-called "Kompromat Wars," in which he made public 11 suitcases’ worth of material allegedly documenting Yeltsin's corruption. The episode ends with some May Day-themed anti-communist “chastushki” (Russian limericks).

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Primetime hypnotic tele-healing with Anatoly Kashpirovsky

Anatoly Kashpirovsky (1939-), a “psychic” authority on perestroika-era "new thinking," uses the power of suggestion to heal the Soviet people of ailments physical and spiritual.

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Cover for “Red Hogwash” [“Krasnaia Burda”], issue 1, October 1990 by G. Malyshev.

The first issue of Red Hogwash's cover depicts a man in the costume of the Statue of Liberty lighting a cigarette with the torch.

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The World of New Russians store, Palekh-style tray

A World of New Russians lacquered tray depicts several wealthy criminal businessmen, their bodyguards and their nude female companions enjoying luxury living in a private pool, near a private mansion, all depicted in the style of Russian folk art.

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Kommersant Board Game

Kommersant attempted to represent the 90s market economy via a Monopoly-like of two economies, an inner and an outer, with racketeering as a recurring threat.

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Shaburov Sasha Christ

Alexander Shaburov developed a series of performances about artistic identity, which included both mocking and pastiching the cult leader Marina Tsvigun (AKA "Maria Devi Christ" ) whose group attempted to seize the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv in 1993.

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