It was a poster I had seen on a notice board at university that read 'The Russian Revolution: It's Relevance Today' in bold, sexually nondiscriminatory lettering.
How could I not go!? Naomi Campbell currently resides in Moscow. And we all know that Russia is cool in that fucked up kitschy sense. It's all about lithe gymnasts walking around in fur and silk scarves, sipping on vodka infused coffees in contemporary art museums that exhibit works featuring Cold War era propaganda with The Beatles' lyrics stenciled over it in fluorescent spray paint.
Listen. That's just how Russia is.
This 'get together' started at 6:30 and I turn up at 6:25, because that is what being on time is all a-fucking-bout.
It's held at a university, but we are not in a lecture theatre. Just an ordinary room with some chairs dragged into 4x5 rows in the middle. There is a long table of books with titles like "Open the Veins of America" and "Marxism" on one side, and poorly printed black and white copies of various Russian Revolution 'snap shots' over two walls. They said there would be a 'display' and I guess that was it.
I make my way to the row of seats second from the back. Before I sit I am welcomed by one of the 'staff' of Socialist Alternative. She cheerfully inquires why I'm here and I cheerfully lie that I am a history major. (She didn't seem that interested in Cold War era propaganda with The Beatles' lyrics stenciled over it in fluorescent spray paint, so what's a guy to do?)
She goes on to bombard me with questions about my political allegiance and what social issues I'm concerned with. I play like a limp penis and deflect as much as possible. She's already tried to sell me their monthly magazine and asked if I was coming to the 'protest for gay marriage' on Saturday.
Under the pretence of "I'm just going to look at the 'display'" I leave her and am accosted by another. She points out certain pictures to me and just describes what is clearly visible both via the actual photo and the captions that are written below each photo. "This one's where all the Soviets are together at a factory. And this one over here is the Soviets in... in like, their Soviet meeting hall." I quickly begin to wonder whether she knows anything about the Russian Revolution either.
Anyway, at 7 the actual 'guest speaker' reads her paper thing about the relevance of the Russian Revolution. I drift in and out of her talk and this:
At the end no one asks questions, but they have a 'discussion' where various members of the audience made statements. Mid statement I am once more here:
After they passed around more leaflets and sign up sheets and a 'donations' bucket (I donated!) they formally finished whatever the fuck I just went to and offered free snacks and refreshments for those who'd like to stay and chat. I leave and whilst waiting for the elevator to make its way to the goddamn 6th floor I am again 'accosted'.
"I'm sorry to badger you," he says. But if he were really sorry he wouldn't have badgered me.
"But would you like to put down your name and contact details?"
"Hhhhhm, no...[long pause]
"Right... what's your name?"
I hesitate... "Liam."
"I'm [whatever he said]
NOTE: There are important details concerning the physical appearance and detailed descriptions of everyone I came across tonight. But, and this is important, I won't be putting that on the internet. Because that is maybe too mean. But just so you know, these people are really funny. And I'm sure they're just trying to make the world a better place. But, you know, really funny! I need to call someone and tell them all about this. This is too good to bottle up inside and too mean for the internet.
No comments:
Post a Comment