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Brodsky was a Soviet dissident and a very original, innovative, creative thinker. One of several things I remember is him writing about the torture and impriso
by forapurpose 8y ago
Brodsky was a Soviet dissident and a very original, innovative, creative thinker.
One of several things I remember is him writing about the torture and imprisonment he suffered. All he said was that he didn't talk about it, because it only served his abusers to do so. They tortured him to terrify others - as an act of terror. By torturing one dissident, they intended to subdue all who spoke to him and read him. If he repeated it, then the act and its power were magnified, repeated over and over. If he said nothing, they were powerless; it was just one act at one moment and in small room.
- nbabitskiy 8y agoBrodsky was by no means a dissident, at least in the Russian sense of the word. He was vocally and arrogantly apolitical. He didn't know politburo members' faces, and disliked both Soviet and anti-Soviet activists. Also, no sane Russian of his generation would consider writing self pitiful account of inprisonment and torture, consisting of about a month in prison and 3 weeks in a psycho asylum. He personally knew dozens of people that have served 10-20 years without even a legal trial.
- forapurpose 8y agoThe parent brings to mind Steve Jobs responding to the email of a critic: And what have you done? What have you created?