10 12 2000
Irina Aristarkhova: re: Larisa's mail (Translation from Russian)


Dear Larisa, Irina Aktuganova, Andrea and Jana,

Larisa, thank you for your letter (I also don't have any problems with a familiar addressing). Yesterday I wrote a quite emotional text in a quick manner at the Singapurean night, basically trying to go on with our discussion "in spite of" and in an open goodwilling space (please, note that the surname of Irina is AktUganova, I wrote it wrong, therefore I am sorry). Hospitality in cyberspace and in cyberfeminism is a theme,about which I think and write a lot, and which I do not regard as existing automatically, but as having to come into existence each new time again.

Today I answer to Larisa.

First,
it is nice to get to know you - especially since I am a sociologist myself, and I dealt a lot with the history of sciences and culture. Until recently Weber has not been translated here, and now we finally have the possibility to read him in Russian.

""I fully agree with your statement: ""In my opinion politics and activism have to include corporeality and actuality, as well as theoretical approaches and virtuality."" In my opinion as well. In general I very vulnerably react to any fragmentation and instrumentalization of my self. Instinctively I prefer holistic forms of existence and of self-expression (this really does blockade any carrieristic development, and the western context does resist a lot more agressivly to such claims than the russian one).""

Interesting, is this because of this fashion of post-structuralism, or because of something else?

""Concerning your appeal to be aware of ethnic differences between Russian women, I understand this as the urgence to consider and interpret differences in socio-cultural positions, which exist in different national communities. Were you thinking about this, or rather ethnos in the context of biology?""

Yes, of course I was thinking of differences in socio-cultural positions.
For example, from my point of view, the Russian (and feminist) philosophizing practically ignored this topic, and not by chance there haven't been found any words for the experience of the Chechen war in the intellectual Russia. Everything is going on as if this war wouldn't exist. For me the focus on gender difference remains an empty gesture, as long as other culturally significant differences stay out of sight. To demand an acceptance of one's own difference only (e.g. female), means anew to reproduce the patriarchal "I" in such a sense, which we are trying to reformulate.

"Last years German discussion about the "Humanity park" showed that philosophers ask this question only in the form of medial sensation, as carrieristic strategy. And in Russia all the sqarreling took place beyond of society's awareness and beyond of theoretical discourse, neither did it get the attention of carrieristic positions, because in our country there is no tabu, which could bring profit to the initiator by being broken in the form of a scandalous sensation. I would like to know what thoughts you have, Irina, concerning this."

This is a big question, and I will think about it - thanks for proposing this idea.
Sunday is coming to an end, tomorrow I go to work. Definitely I will find time for reading your letters, and I hope that there also will be a little part of the night for answering.

Cordial greeting to everybody,
Irina Aristarkhova.


next message
previous message

back to discussion list
home