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Denis Chuzhoy: Laughter in Exile: Navigating Free Speech and Comedy amid the Russia-Ukraine War
October 8 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
| Please join the Fletcher Eurasia Club and the Tufts Russian Program for a lunch seminar with Russian comic Denis Chuzhoy, also known as Dan The Stranger. Denis will discuss how the Russia-Ukraine war has impacted free speech, civil society, and culture in Russia, particularly the Russian comedy scene. He will also talk about his experience as a Russian émigré over the last three years and the differences between Russian and English language jokes and audiences. We encourage you to listen to his recent podcast interview and read in advance some recent articles about his new life in Germany, how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted his standup comedy career, and the rise of Eastern European dark humor in Berlin. The Eurasia Club weekly lunch seminar series engages with students, faculty, staff, and researchers to foster a better understanding of the region among members of the Fletcher community. Members of the wider Tufts community are also welcome to attend. Please register via myFletcher to attend the event in person. If you would like to submit discussion questions for the speaker in advance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Lunch will be served following the conversation. Denis Chuzhoy (‘Dan the Stranger’) is an independent stand-up comedian from Russia. Given the censorship of Russian television, he deliberately built his career using only social media, YouTube, and direct communication with his audience. He has spoken about topics ranging from politics and mental health to social justice issues. Dan has released four specials in his native language that have received between 1 and 3 million views. When Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he declared his anti-war stance and left the country. After living in Istanbul and Berlin, he is now based in Barcelona, where he is working on his first special in English. |