KVN: Live television and improvised comedy in the Soviet Union, 1957–71

Janco, Andrew

doi:10.7228/manchester/9780719082399.003.0008

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“…Initiated by enthusiasts, KVN appeared at the Khruschev's Thaw, the period when there were more freedom and opportunities of self-expression for the Soviet youth than in the earlier decades, the show gained popularity in the 1960s, was closed for political reasons in 1972 (Evans 2016: 201;Janco, 2013), relaunched in 1986, and since then has been broadcasted on the First state channel of the USSR, then the Russian Federation. It turned out to be a long-lasting program which survived the USSR, Perestroika, the turbulent 1990s, the upsurges and crises in the 2000s, Covid-19, and is on in 2023.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Political Humor in KVN (1986–1999)

2024

Media Education (Mediaobrazovanie)

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The article traces evolution of political humor in popular Russian television game KVN in 1986-1999. The online survey, which involved 100 KVN fans aged 41-65, helped to figure out what political sketches or gags are the most memorable and might reflect the problems of the period. The author analyzes the show's content taking into consideration the main political and economic events which took place in the USSR during Perestroika and later in the Russian Federation in the 1990s. Having studied KVN's archive video materials (1986)(1987)(1988)(1989)(1990)(1991)(1992)(1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999), a documentary series History of Russian humor (2012), academic works of Russian and Western scholars, and mass media publications on the game, the author noticed the change in humor modus during those years. Tough criticism of the Soviet system combined with hopes for positive changes in the late 1980s. The teams joked on domestic issues, corrupt politicians, disintegration, territorial losses, and admired the Western lifestyle in the 1990s. The game seemed to be above politics, but indirectly supported Boris Yeltsin during 1996 presidential campaign. KVN players were "homo sovieticus": they had common memories, background, and experience. The game worked as "soft power" uniting teams from the former USSR republics in one cultural territory.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Political Humor in KVN (1986–1999)

2024

Media Education (Mediaobrazovanie)

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

KVN: Live television and improvised comedy in the Soviet Union, 1957–71

Cited by 1 publication

References 0 publications

Political Humor in KVN (1986–1999)

Political Humor in KVN (1986–1999)

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