Poster 34: Russian punk-protest collective Pussy Riot's demonstration in the Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow, as well as the ensuing arrests and trial of three group members, garnered massive media coverage internationally. Human rights organizations and the Western press almost unanimously backed the protestors. However, Pussy Riot was received with overwhelming negativity within Russia itself. This analysis seeks to explore why this is the case, and ultimately concludes that a convergence of factors including Pussy Riot's ineffective use of the Internet, their use of shock value to promulgate their message, and the Russian government's successful manipulation of the legal system and public broadcast media led to Pussy Riot's infamy within the borders of Russia. The consequences of Pussy Riot's demonstration speak not only to Russia's current climate for political dissent, but also to its future.
