Oakton Community College Pussy Riot Discussion

In our discussion this week we explore several different texts relating to Pussy Riot: Nadya Tolokonnikova’s Read & Riot: A Pussy Riot Guide to Activism, and Pussy Riot’s Make America Great Again,I Can’t Breathe, Police State. Please read through the prompts below carefully, and then post your comments and responses. Remember the following ground rules for the discussion: (Please no plagiarism and don’t use external sources. Use the sources I provided the pdf and vidoes. Thank you!)

• Post ONE comment in response to one of the prompts below. Each comment should be at least ONE paragraph (6-8 sentences)

1.How would you describe Nadya Tolokonnikova’s Read & Riot: A Pussy Riot Guide to Activism? What sort of a text is this? What is the function of this text? Does this text belong to a specific genre, or even a mixture of different genres? If so, which one or ones? What do we learn about Pussy Riot (and their political activities) from reading this text?

2.Comment on the structure of the text. How is the text divided and subdivided? What is the effect of this particular structure? Is one of these sections or divisions (i.e. “Rules”) more important than the others? If so, which section (or “Rule”) is this, and why do you think that this particular section (or “Rule”) is most important? What is the focus of this section, and what material is presented to explore this particular focus?

3.Comment on the following passage that opens the writer’s lively and insightful discussion in Rule no. 10: BE A (WO)MAN:

Feminism is a liberating tool that can be used by male, female, transgender, transsexual, queer, anybody. Feminism allows me to say: I behave how I feel, I deconstruct gender roles and play with them, I mix them up voluntarily. Gender roles are my palette, not my chains. (209)

Discuss, using any of the materials you have read or watched in relation to Pussy Riot’s activities to help you support your point of view.

4.Choose any one of the performances captured on video that you have watched (Make America Great Again, I Can’t Breathe, Police State): What is this performance about? How does the performance present and explore its main concerns? Is the performance ultimately successful or effective? Use any of the materials you have read or watched in relation to Pussy Riot to help you explore this particular performance.

5.Do you have any further insights, thoughts, ideas, questions or confusions about Pussy Riot and their political performances that you would like to share with other class members here on the discussion board?