Irony and EmigrationIrony and Emigration

Dovlatov and Co.Dovlatov and Co.

Russians Abroad: Waves of Emigration

1917-20 The “White Russian” emigration: upper and middle class, remnants of White armies.

Centres of immigration: Germany, France, Yugoslavia, China.

Famous émigrés: Vladimir Nabokov, Sergei Diaghilev

Canada’s Ignatievs: Michael Ignatiev

Russians Emigration post 1945

1945 – “Second Wave” – Displaced persons.

1972- “Third Wave”. Jewish and other persecuted minorities, a result of the Jackson-Vanik amendment.

Post 1991- just people looking for a better life, mostly scientists, programmers, professors. RAD bulletin 107: Click here.

Jews in RussiaJews in Russia

Jews became a feature of the Russian empire Jews became a feature of the Russian empire when it absorbed Belorussia and Poland in the when it absorbed Belorussia and Poland in the late 18late 18thth century. century.

The “Pale of settlement” provision prevented The “Pale of settlement” provision prevented Jews from moving to the rest of Russia, including Jews from moving to the rest of Russia, including the capitals of Moscow and St Petersburg.the capitals of Moscow and St Petersburg.

““Numerus clausus” limited Jewish admissions to Numerus clausus” limited Jewish admissions to high schools, universities.high schools, universities.

PogromsPogroms occurred throughout the 19occurred throughout the 19thth century, century, but especially after the assassination of but especially after the assassination of Alexander II in 1881, and during the 1905 Alexander II in 1881, and during the 1905 revolution.revolution.

Jews in the USSRJews in the USSR

The Jews largely sympathized with The Jews largely sympathized with the Revolution and were for a time the Revolution and were for a time treated well: Jewish theatres and treated well: Jewish theatres and literary life prospered.literary life prospered.

Many Soviet cultural figures were Many Soviet cultural figures were Jewish or part Jewish: Boris Jewish or part Jewish: Boris Pasternak, Osip MandelPasternak, Osip Mandel’’shtam, Isaac shtam, Isaac Babel, Sergei Eisenstein, Dziga Babel, Sergei Eisenstein, Dziga Vertov, Vladimir Vysotsky.Vertov, Vladimir Vysotsky.

A Jewish Homeland in the USSR?A Jewish Homeland in the USSR?

Birobidzhan Jewish Autonomous Region created in 1934 with Yiddish as the proposed language.

Project fails as Jews assimilate, Project fails as Jews assimilate, abandon Yiddish.abandon Yiddish.

During the 2nd WW the Jewish Anti-During the 2nd WW the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee raised money in Fascist Committee raised money in the US for the Soviet Government.the US for the Soviet Government.

The The ““Anti-CosmopolitanAnti-Cosmopolitan”” Campaign Campaign

With the creation of the state of Israel in With the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 a campaign of harassment of Jews 1948 a campaign of harassment of Jews begins. begins.

Jews lose their jobs. Jewish doctors Jews lose their jobs. Jewish doctors accused of a plot to kill Stalin.accused of a plot to kill Stalin.

The word The word ““yevreyyevrey”” (Jew) disappears from (Jew) disappears from the lexicon.the lexicon.

Silent discrimination – the 5Silent discrimination – the 5thth point in the point in the passport.passport.

Solomon Mikhoels (1890-1948)Solomon Mikhoels (1890-1948)

Actor, director of Actor, director of Moscow State Jewish Moscow State Jewish Theatre. Theatre.

Chaired the Jewish Chaired the Jewish Anti-Fascist Anti-Fascist committee.committee.

Murdered on StalinMurdered on Stalin’’s s orders on January orders on January 12/13, 1948.12/13, 1948.

Given a solemn state Given a solemn state funeral.funeral.

Jackson-Vanik AmendmentJackson-Vanik Amendment

The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is contained in The Jackson-Vanik Amendment is contained in Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act. Title IV of the 1974 Trade Act.

It denies unconditional normal trade relations to It denies unconditional normal trade relations to certain countries, including the USSR, that had certain countries, including the USSR, that had non-market economies and that restricted non-market economies and that restricted emigration rights.emigration rights.

Normal trade relations may be extended to a Normal trade relations may be extended to a country subject to the law only if the President country subject to the law only if the President determines that it complies with the freedom of determines that it complies with the freedom of emigration requirements of the amendment.emigration requirements of the amendment.

The “Third Wave” of Russian EmigrationThe “Third Wave” of Russian Emigration

Jackson-Vanik has been an extraordinary success Jackson-Vanik has been an extraordinary success in securing freedom of emigration in the Soviet in securing freedom of emigration in the Soviet Union and its successor states.  Since 1975, Union and its successor states.  Since 1975, 573,000 refugees -- many of them Jews, 573,000 refugees -- many of them Jews, evangelical Christians and Catholics -- from areas evangelical Christians and Catholics -- from areas of the former Soviet Union have been resettled in of the former Soviet Union have been resettled in the United States.  The Russian Jewish community the United States.  The Russian Jewish community in the United States today numbers between in the United States today numbers between 750,000 and 1 million, though some estimates 750,000 and 1 million, though some estimates are twice as high.  An estimated 1 million more are twice as high.  An estimated 1 million more Jews have immigrated to Israel during that time. Jews have immigrated to Israel during that time.

Source:http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/Source:http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2001/11/20011113-16.htmlreleases/2001/11/20011113-16.html

New Russian Presence AbroadNew Russian Presence Abroad

Identify as Russian first and foremostIdentify as Russian first and foremost Many intellectuals: programmers, Many intellectuals: programmers,

scientists, musicians, poetsscientists, musicians, poets Sergei Brin (co-inventor of Google)Sergei Brin (co-inventor of Google) Keep Russian traditions alive in Keep Russian traditions alive in

emigrationemigration Russian television, theatre, internet, Russian television, theatre, internet,

food storesfood stores

Brighton Beach, NYBrighton Beach, NYCentre of new immigrationCentre of new immigration

In Canada… Steeles and Bathurst, TorontoIn Canada… Steeles and Bathurst, Toronto

Russian Toronto Website

Russian Ottawa Website

Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990)Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990) Father Jewish, Father Jewish,

mother Armenianmother Armenian

Dropped out of Dropped out of universityuniversity

Worked as a prison Worked as a prison guard, guide to guard, guide to Pushkin museum- Pushkin museum- in Pushkin Hills, in Pushkin Hills, journalist in Tallinn journalist in Tallinn (Estonia)(Estonia)

Dovlatov the writerDovlatov the writer One of a group of young Leningrad One of a group of young Leningrad

writers of the 1960swriters of the 1960s Influence of Hemingway, J.D. Influence of Hemingway, J.D.

Sallinger (Sallinger (Catcher in the RyeCatcher in the Rye)) 1972-75 worked as a journalist in 1972-75 worked as a journalist in

EstoniaEstonia Stories circulated in Stories circulated in samizdat samizdat (i.e. (i.e.

self-published)self-published)

Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990)Sergei Dovlatov (1941-1990)

Some appeared in print in émigré journals.Some appeared in print in émigré journals. 1978 Dovlatov expelled from Union of 1978 Dovlatov expelled from Union of

Journalists, obliged to emigrate to US.Journalists, obliged to emigrate to US. Achieved fame only in emigration.Achieved fame only in emigration. Co-publisher of Russian newspaper Co-publisher of Russian newspaper The The

New American.New American.

Memorial plaque on house in St Memorial plaque on house in St PetersburgPetersburg

DovlatovDovlatov’’s techniques technique

Autobiographical basis – grows out of his Autobiographical basis – grows out of his experiences in the Leningrad experiences in the Leningrad underground, as a guard in the underground, as a guard in the ““zonezone”” i.e., i.e., prison camp, as a stonemason, etc. prison camp, as a stonemason, etc.

Short stories grouped together in a cycle, Short stories grouped together in a cycle, but each autonomous.but each autonomous.

Written in a racy, colloquial styleWritten in a racy, colloquial style Humour frequently derives from the Humour frequently derives from the gapgap

between Soviet rhetoric and reality.between Soviet rhetoric and reality.

DovlatovDovlatov’’s Themess Themes

StealingStealing VodkaVodka Illegal activitiesIllegal activities SexSex Ironical self-deprecationIronical self-deprecation

The irony of Soviet life: the The irony of Soviet life: the ““anecdoteanecdote””

Life made tolerable through humour: Life made tolerable through humour: based on the contradiction between based on the contradiction between solemn official language and myths and solemn official language and myths and the absurd realitythe absurd reality

Themes: political absurdities, shortages of Themes: political absurdities, shortages of everything, sex and marriage, vodka, the everything, sex and marriage, vodka, the desire to be in Parisdesire to be in Paris

Stock characters and circumstancesStock characters and circumstances

Jewish humour: Jewish humour: RabinovichRabinovich The archetypal Russian Jew: crafty, hates the The archetypal Russian Jew: crafty, hates the

Soviet Union.Soviet Union.

Rabinovich fills out a job application form. The Rabinovich fills out a job application form. The official objects: "You state that you don't have official objects: "You state that you don't have any relatives abroad, but you do have a brother any relatives abroad, but you do have a brother in Israel.in Israel.”” - "Yes, but - "Yes, but hehe isn't abroad, isn't abroad, I I am am abroad!" abroad!"

Seeing the pompous and lavish burial of a Seeing the pompous and lavish burial of a member of the Politburo, Rabinovich shakes his member of the Politburo, Rabinovich shakes his head sadly: "What a waste! I could have buried head sadly: "What a waste! I could have buried the whole Politburo with this kind of money!the whole Politburo with this kind of money!””