SUMMARY: Ilya Gerasimov revisits Venedikt Erofeev's iconic poem Moscow-Petushki (1969–1970) through the double lens of its aesthetic, theological, and political polemic with Mikhail Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita and Julia Vaingurt's reading of Erofeev as an embodiment of the "weakness" trope in late Soviet culture. The author argues that Erofeev rejected Bulgakov's elitism and Faustian modernist ideal of heroic action. Erofeev's polemic with the Faustian cult of power and the implied belief that "might is right" is highlighted by Vaingurt's concept of "weakness." However, the acceptance of weakness as intrinsic to human nature is only one aspect of Erofeev's complex worldview. Gerasimov argues that key to this worldview is the understanding of an individual as endowed with multifaceted personality irreducible to any rigid set of qualities or single social identity, as exemplified by the poem's main protagonist, Venichka. Gerasimov suggests that Erofeev created this protagonist using the trope of Ahasver – the Wandering Jew, – emphasizing his role as a timeless witness to the supreme truth rather than a Christ-like figure. His life takes the tragic turn when the open future suddenly closes, collapsing into the endless repetition of the same under a new disguise. Gerasimov defines the postmodern condition as this radical change of cultural temporality defying modernity's futurism, evolutionism, and progressivism. Experienced time as standing still, the culture of postmodern era imagines the future as no longer offering a distinct alternative to the present. Erofeev's poem transcends a simple dichotomy of power and weakness, instead exploring the possibility to find personal freedom and meaning of life in an era where modernist ideals have become obsolete.

SUMMARY: Tim Roberts examines the evolving discourse surrounding American imperialism, tracing its historical rationalizations and critiques from the late nineteenth century through the present day. He highlights the tension between American exceptionalism, which often denies or justifies imperial actions, and counterarguments that emphasize parallels with other empires. The analysis covers various scholarly interpretations, including the Wisconsin School's focus on economic drivers, postcolonial perspectives on cultural impacts, and debates about the nature of American power in a globalized world. Finally, Roberts considers contemporary "empire-talk" in response to the Trump administration's rhetoric and actions, noting a potential, though debated, shift toward more overt forms of imperialism. Резюме: Тим Робертс анализирует историю осмысления американского империализма с конца XIX в. до наших дней. Он обращает внимание на противоречие между дискурсом американской исключительности, зачастую отрицающим или оправдывающим имперскую политику, и подходами, подчеркивающими параллели с другими империями. В поле зрения автора оказывается висконсинская школа с ее фокусом на экономических факторах, постколониальные исследования, отдающие приоритет культурным воздействиям, и современные дебаты о природе американской гегемонии в глобализированном мире. В заключении Робертс обсуждает современный имперский дискурс как реакцию на риторику и действия администрации Трампа, отмечая дебатируемую сейчас возможность перехода к более открытым формам империализма.

SUMMARY: This essay is a contribution to the continuing forum "The Prospect of Studying World Russian Languages, Literatures, and Histories." As a native speaker of the Izhem-Komi dialect and drawing on his recent life experience in Quebec, Nikolay Vokuev argues against the obsession with linguistic purity. He suggests that rigid standards of "clean" speech function as tools of colonial dominance and social exclusion. Vokuev proposes a shift toward viewing language as a "commons" – a shared resource enriched by hybridity and "xenophony." He advocates for the pluralization of Russian languages to resist the static, dead norms imposed by the center. Vokuev concludes that embracing "dirty" language and peripheral dialects is essential for cultural dynamism and political decolonization, ensuring that Russian language remains a living tool belonging to a multitude of diverse voices.