The art of protest: Pussy Riots
Pussy riot is a Moscow based feminist punk rock protest group founded in 2011 who stage guerrilla performances in unusual public locations which are then edited and turned into music videos which are then posted on the internet. Despite being based in Russia, their views are spread round the world. The group says: “anyone can be Pussy Riot, you just need to put on a mask and stage an active protest of something in your particular country, wherever you may be, that you consider unjust.”
The article discusses the role they play as punk protesters against capitalism and authoritarianism. An example of their work is their use of protest art which challenged authority, with artists including Rage Against the Machine and other historical protest art such as Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ (1937). Rage Against the Machine are notorious for their politicized lyrics, performances, and CD cover art. They tend to be defined by two key stunts. Firstly, a protest against capitalism that took place on the steps of the Wall Street Stock Exchange in 2006 which resulted in a temporary close in the money market. Secondly, they led a hugely successful attempt in 2009, orchestrated through Facebook, to stop Simon Cowell’s X factor reaching number 1 in the Christmas charts for the fifth year in a row. The campaign asked its million supporters to buy Rage’s classic tune ‘Killing in the name of’ powering it to the top of the charts.
Pussy Riot is responsible for infamous high-profile protests, such as the performance in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (2012), protesting Putin’s re-election and the relationship between the church and state in Russia. Five female Pussy Riot members entered the cathedral dressed in their signature colourful balaclavas as they approached the male-only alter and began their punk performance of the song ‘Punk Prayer: Virgin Mary, Put Putin Away’. The performance was halted as in less than a minute they were evicted from the building, however, the video they uploaded had millions of views. Their use of the media has helped their message reach and impact a vast audience of people, spreading their message globally.
Finally, the Pussy Riots explore the commodification of protest art, pointing out how revolutionary symbols and movements can be commercialized. Commodification is the process by which capitalist hegemony is preserved; the radical energy and message of the artist and their work is undermined by turning both into something to be consumed and sold in the market place for profit. The article also touches on global movements like occupy wall street, highlighting the spread of protest culture and its presence in mainstream narratives, sometimes diluting their original purpose.
Overall, the article shows the role of art, politics and protest interaction in modern society.
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