Who Is Pussy Riot?
Pussy Riot is not exactly a "band," like the media has suggested. They are more of a performance collective, with between 10-15 members, who stage politically motivated performances and acts of dissension, like kissing uniformed policemen or holding protest concerts. In an interview with the St. Petersburg Times, the collective said that it had been inspired by U.S. band Bikini Kill, saying, "What we have in common is impudence, politically loaded lyrics, the importance of feminist discourse, non-standard female image." The members perform in clashing colored tights and dresses, wearing balaclavas obscuring their face and combat boots, and all of their performances are political in nature, with songs about Vladimir Putin.
What Did They Do?
In February, members of the group staged an impromptu performance inside of Moscow's Christ Savior Cathedral, a Russian Orthodox institution. During the performance, they screamed, "Mother Mary please drive Putin away," before Putin was elected president for the third time. The girls performed and jumping around for about 60 seconds before they were detained, and three girls were arrested: 24-year-old environmentalist and mother Maria Alyokhina, 30-year-old computer programmer and LGBT activist Yekaterina Samutsevich, and 22-year-old philosophy student, artist, and mother Nadezhda Tolokonnikova.
Who Is Involved?
Aside from the three girls who were arrested, outspoken political musicians have consistently made statements. Paul McCartney asked for their freedom, while Bjørk dedicated her song "Declare Independence" to the girls. While in Russia, Madonna spoke out for the trio. According to Wikipedia, basically any band who has ever taken an interest in politics (Beastie Boys, Peaches, Yoko Ono, Pattie Smith, and Rise Against, to name a few) have all spoken out in support of the band.
Why Should We Care?
Suddenly, the words "Pussy Riot" have appeared in headlines from Fox to The Huffington Post (which has, in many ways, indicated that their protest is effective), forcing the world to think about "art collectives" and guerrilla initiatives. The trial, and the subsequent media interest, proves that in a major country that purports to support democracy, freedom of speech can still be systematically denied. This also serves as a reminder that the need for outspoken feminism — and not just in countries where women's rights are outrightly denied — is still vital. Lastly, at least for us, it means that the power of "punk" — DIY projects, activism, and music imbued with politics — is not dead, at all.