Saturday, December 4, 2010, at 3 PM
Theatre of Photography and Image – Nice
As part of the Year of Russia, the Directorate of Historical Heritage, Language, and Niçoise Culture, under the guidance of Jean Marc Giaume, Deputy Municipal Councillor, is organizing a series of conferences providing a comprehensive view of the Russian presence in Nice through the monuments, artists, and politicians who have helped shape our region.
Speaking of Russian literature brings to mind three names: Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Chekhov. Of the very rich Russian culture, these three writers are the most known abroad and are the most popular in Russia. However, Anton Chekhov, the unique Russian miniaturist, holds a special place. He marked the beginning of a new era for drama, literature, prose, and storytelling.
For him, brevity is the sister of talent. Chekhov, the short story writer, manages in a brief page to convey the complexity, richness, and tragedy of an entire life. Through his style, he performs a real revolution in Russian literature.
For Chekhov, “the artist must be an impartial witness.” There are no characters sharply divided into good or evil. There are just characters trying to live with what nature has granted them in terms of talents or flaws.
Laughter and tears are always present elements in his books, even if they are not always explicitly expressed. Chekhov shows but never denounces, leaving that right to his readers. He forces us to reflect on our lives, to look into the depths of our hearts, because for him “indifference is always a paralysis of the soul.”
