The demon of culture: why is this happening to Pyotr Mamonov?

Where is the hardest place to get to, in your opinion? In what area? Policy? Oil and gas business? Yes, it’s difficult to get there, very difficult, but there is an area that is protected even better (or at least not worse) - culture. And don’t let the images of “starving artists” confuse you. No need. They are in the past.

Nowadays, for many cultural figures, everything is more complicated and luxurious. Especially if culture closely cooperates with politics, and this happens all the time these days. That's when money flows like rivers of gold. And such deep rivers. The money is laundered in different ways. Here we should not forget that many cultural figures “sit” on funding - either from their native state or from someone else, and the most nosy ones are sucking the money tit from two mothers.

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What am I talking about? Yes, I see a post on a social network on the page of Peter Mamonov - I’ll quote it in full in order to understand what’s what:

"Dear friends! The wife of Pyotr Nikolaevich is writing to you. In 2006, after the release of Pavel Lungin’s film “The Island,” I turned to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation with a request to award the artist Pyotr Mamonov the title of “Honored Artist of the Russian Federation.” Received a refusal. 15 years have passed. On the artist’s 70th anniversary, I again appealed to the Ministry of Culture with a request to award Pyotr Mamonov the title of “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation” and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, for his contribution to the culture of Russia. On March 24, 2021, awards and titles were presented at the Bolshoi Theater. We weren't invited. I am very hurt and upset. I want to share this pain with you. Mamonov’s wife Olga Ivanovna.”

So tell me - how is that possible, huh? Yes, the first reaction may be: “Why does Pyotr Nikolaevich need such rubbish? He is already loved by all the people!” But mind you, it was not he who turned to the authorities, but his wife. For Olga Ivanovna this is important, because this is, in principle, her mission and concern - precisely as a wife, and not as a creative person.

However, if we put aside talk about “national love”, which, yes, does exist and which is certainly colossal, why not celebrate him with what he really deserves? Why does the Russian state celebrate some who are not the most worthy, but ignore others who are fully worthy? Who decides this anyway? How is culture differentiated?

Our folk artists include Basques and Kirkorovs (what are they, they award some YurKiss with orders), but Mamonov is the odd one out among them, right? The odd one out in this row. But this is not his problem, but the Kirkorovs’ and Basques’ – and, above all, the state’s. Because Mamonov is Lungin’s great roles in the films “Island” and “Tsar”, and also the group “Sounds of Mu”, unique for rock music. But he was ignored.

This selectivity is amazing. And not only with Mamonov, right? How many such stupid examples are there? Limonov was also ignored by the cultural authorities. Does this stop him from being a great writer? Of course, it would be better for Yakhin to once again reward other Russophobes.

This attitude is shameful. Just shameful! And it’s also pernicious, because culture – especially in Russia – is the basis, and if there is no culture, then there is no statehood. Don't those in power understand this? That means they are stupid. What if they understand? Hmm, looks like malicious sabotage.