This book is created to represent Russia’s cultural and historical heritage in a modern way. Let us look at Russia as a source of global tendencies… altering the thinking and way-of-life globally. Its pages represent a panorama of the contribution of our country into world-culture, politics, economics and science. For example, few people remember that the modern beauty ‘vital-statistic’ standard of 36-24-36 was created by a Russian artist under the French nom-de-plume Erte.
The book is essentially visual and all of the images receive detailed captions. You may say this is an enlightening book, searching Russian cultural heritage to find over 300 personalities and more than 400 symbols.
It’s important that is not solely dedicated to fine arts and history, it also features pop culture, fashion, hi-tech, gastronomy and the entertainment industry. These are the themes rarely featured by official historians. The very profession of Fashion Model, as a prestigious occupation for a female, was introduced by Russian girls—daughters of Russian aristocracy—who emigrated from Russia after the Revolution of 1917. However, Stanislavski’s system is probably the most successful export of know-how of Russian origin. Every time you watch a new film on your TV, a blockbuster or an independent film, you see it in full action. Another Russian export is the Kalashnikov rifle, certainly as successful an export as that of Stanislavski.
Both Stanislavski and Kalashnikov, along hundreds of other symbols, complete a bright mosaic of Russia’s image. Each of you might have your idea of Russia that is not included, but, with so many described, it would be hard to pin-point anything that’s missing. However, Russia has produced many creative and talented people, whose ideas have helped kick the planet and its technologies into the future. Our country faces the difficult challenge of becoming either one of the world’s innovative leaders or remain only as a source of raw materials.