Russian Police Choir

[Jane Shuffelton]

Tom,

No matter what I try, I can't get that alphabet video to play.  Does anyone
have a  way to access it?  When it showed up, I hit the record button on my
t.v. as fast as I could, but that's not the same as making it available to
students.  I also was emailing a fellow Russianist high school teacher - we
agree that the video could be Russia's best gift to our language programs.
Since the alphabet is what attracts many to try Russian, it would be super
as a promotion tool.  Not to even get into the implications for the new
revised Standards emphasis on "Reflecting on cultural
products..." (available at www.actfl.org. Or what one could imagine doing
with the video in a more advanced class, or with heritage learners.  I
could go on and on - it was electrifying just to think that a country would
identify its culure first and foremost with its language/writing system.

Tom, I agree with you more than 100% about the policeman's chorus and
perceptions of Russia.  Was horrified in church this morning to hear
prayers for the unfortunate people in the Sochi area whose homes have been
displaced -- the only mention of the Olympics.  And that is just one
example of the pervasive negative and/or mocking commentary on Russia, now,
and so very often.  "Why did they gloss over Stalin in the history
segment?"  Really - would we include choreography on slavery or the
expropriation of Native American lands in a similar show?  "Jane, don't you
think Russia is terribly dangerous?"  That was just before I nearly became
a witness at a police shoot out at a suburban Wegmans right here.

With apologies for a bit of a blog-sized reply, but have been thinking
about that ceremony all weekend.

Jane Shuffelton


On Sun, Feb 9, 2014 at 9:18 AM, Beyer, Tom <beyer at middlebury.edu> wrote:

> It's nice to see the bright and surprising side of Russia, its people and
> culture. Many of us have devoted a life to understanding and appreciating
> them better, and to opening the eyes of our students to that world. Another
> lovely segment is devoted to the alphabet. Share it with your students and
> prospectives.
>
>
> http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/russian-alphabet-comes-life?ctx=top-moments
>
> This is a proud nation and  proud people. Mutual understanding will not be
> built upon demeaning or embarrassing them.
>
>
>
> From: Brunilda Lugo de Fabritz <amarilis at BUGBYTES.COM<mailto:
> amarilis at BUGBYTES.COM>>
> Reply-To: "SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures
> list" <SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU<mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU>>
> Date: Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 4:05 PM
> To: "SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU<mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU>" <
> SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU<mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU>>
> Subject: [SEELANGS] Russian Police Choir
>
> Truth is stranger than fiction. My eyes could not believe it until I saw
> it. Serious semiotic analysis of this video welcome.
> Humorous. The uniforms and diction do not match --- this
> Russian Police Choir in formal uniform, in operatic voices, sing Daft
> Punk's Get Lucky.
>
>
> http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/russian-police-choir-performs-get-lucky-opening-ceremony?ctx=top-moments
>
> Sent from Windows Mail
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
> options, and more. Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
> http://seelangs.wix.com/seelangs-------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>   Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                         http://seelangs.wix.com/seelangs
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                        http://seelangs.wix.com/seelangs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/pipermail/seelang/attachments/20140209/5ce5b162/attachment.html>