{"id":603,"date":"2023-07-18T11:00:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-18T18:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/live-usc-dornsife.pantheonsite.io\/alexander-zholkovsky\/?page_id=603"},"modified":"2023-10-27T12:31:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T19:31:11","slug":"bib241","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/","title":{"rendered":"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n \n

<\/a>Alexander ZHOLKOVSKY (USC, Los Angeles)<\/p>\n

I will identify a recurrent pattern in Fazil Iskander\u2019s prose: his characters\u2019 obsessive recourse to elusive utterances, ambiguous gestures, and other deliberately conspicuous, yet covert messages, whose meaning is playfully decoded and commented upon by the narrator and other characters.<\/p>\n

In an earlier study[1]<\/a>\u00a0I traced the changes in the functioning of the Walter-Scottian motif of \u201cthe protagonist\u2019s eye-contact with authority figures\u201d in:\u00a0The Captain\u2019s Daughter<\/i>\u00a0(Grinev\u2019s with Pugachev),\u00a0War and Peace<\/i>\u00a0(Prince Andrew, Nicholas and others\u2019 with Napoleon, Alexander and others) \u2013 and in Iskander\u2019 \u201cBelshazzar\u2019s Feasts\u201d (Uncle Sandro\u2019 with Stalin). In Pushkin eyes happily meet, in Tolstoy they fail to, while in Iskander the point is to avoid the deadly gaze of the Leader.\u201d That story is saturated with multiple variations of \u201cvisual contact,\u201d and at the dramatic moment of the encounter with Stalin, this \u201cvisualness\u201d develops into fully-fledged \u201ctheatricality\u201d:<\/p>\n

In his solo act as a dancer, Sandro slides on his knees all the way up to Stalin, his eyes covered by a turban (\u0431\u0430\u0448\u043b\u044b\u043a). Then, as Stalin removes the turban and looks into his eyes, wondering where he could have seen him, Sandro, sensing danger, ventures a guess: perhaps <\/a>in a documentary about the ensemble. In fact, as he realizes later, they had met some thirty years ago, when the little boy Sandro was a witness to Stalin\u2019s murderous activity but scared by his withering gaze into not telling the police.<\/p>\n

At the time, I focused on the eye-contact motif only as part of the Walter-Scottian paradigm, but resuming recently my Iskander studies, I was struck by the pervasiveness of the theatrical layer in his narratives.<\/p>\n

As a test case I\u2019ll examine his early piece \u201cRasskaz o more\u201d (\u201cA Story about the Sea\u201d; 1962)[2]<\/a>, in which the \u201ctheater\u201d is placed in the service of the tale\u2019s master theme of initiation. The short story is for and about children — and a safely \u201cSoviet\u201d one. But the future master and his invariants are already there.<\/p>\n

The narrator starts by recalling how as a seven-year old he learned to swim \u2013 by himself.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u042f \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043d\u044e, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u043d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c, \u0437\u0430\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043c\u043d\u044e, \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u043d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043f\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c.\u00a0\u041f\u043b\u0430\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c \u044f \u043d\u0430\u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0441\u0430\u043c\u00a0<\/b>(Swimming \u2013 that I learned by myself<\/b>)… \u0430 \u043a\u0442\u043e \u0443\u0447\u0438\u043b \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c, \u043d\u0435\u0438\u0437\u0432\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e. \u0412\u043e\u0441\u043f\u0438\u0442\u044b\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0438 \u043a\u043e\u043b\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043d\u043e\u201d.<\/p>\n

The plot boils down to the following:<\/p>\n

First the protagonist recounts how he and a friend would dive to retrieve ancient coins. One day he picked up from the bottom something glittering, which turned out to be the metallic lids of modern bottles. He comments: \u201c\u041c\u043e\u0440\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0434\u0448\u0443\u0442\u0438\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0430\u0434 \u043d\u0430\u043c\u0438\u201d (The sea had a joke at our expense.)<\/p>\n

Then he goes back into earlier childhood. One day he for the first time \u201cfelt that the sea held [him]. It was a completely new feeling. As if the sea and I understood each other… And I learned it\u00a0myself<\/b>. Enriched myself without robbing anybody.\u201d He was exhausted but continued trying to swim, at one point started drowning and at the last moment was rescued by a young man lounging at the beach with his date. Once he came to, the man encouraged him to go back into the water to solidify his new skill.<\/p>\n

It becomes clear that the protagonist did not learn all by himself but had actually relied on the help of the \u201ccollective\u201d, — the guidance of, to coach this in Soviet terms, an older comrade. Soviet ideologemes can also be recognized in the words about \u201cnot robbing anybody,\u201d as opposed, obviously, to the capitalistic enterprise of retrieving sunken treasures.<\/p>\n

From this brief paraphrase I have deliberately omitted everything that distinguishes Iskander\u2019s very special treatment of the plot \u2013 its theatrical layer. The fact is that, as I said, his characters do not so much interact openly and directly, as perform in front of one another elaborate scenes. Often they keep silent, striking instead telling postures and assuming various facial expressions. When they do speak, rather than stating what they mean, they say something else, expecting the other to infer their intended message. This invites the interlocutor to decode the pantomimes and parse the indirections. The text abounds in such phrases as: \u201c\u0436\u0435\u043b\u0430\u044f \u043f\u043e\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0442\u044c\u201d (wishing to show), \u201c\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u044f \u0432\u0438\u0434\u201d (pretending), \u201c\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u044b\u201d (as if), \u201c\u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u043d\u043e\u201d (like), \u201c\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c\u201d (it seemed), as well the vocabulary of comprehension: \u201c\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0438\u043b\u201d (observed), \u201c\u0437\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0447\u0430\u043b\u201d (noticed), \u201c\u0434\u043e\u0433\u0430\u0434\u043a\u0430\u201d (a guess), \u201c\u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b\u201d (understood)… Reading Iskander, one is immersed in the world of intense semiotic interaction. Or, to put it another way, the narrator and his characters join the writer in coauthoring the narrative, thus producing a doubly artistic text, with their own stories and scenes inside the overall story.<\/p>\n

To an extent, this technique is a borrowing from Tolstoy, see similar passages in\u00a0War and Peace<\/i>:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u041a\u043d\u044f\u0437\u044c \u0410\u043d\u0434\u0440\u0435\u0439 \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043b \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0443\u00a0\u0432 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u043a \u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/b>,\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b<\/b>\u00a0\u0441 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0432\u044b\u0445 \u0441\u043b\u043e\u0432\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043e, \u043d\u043e \u0438 \u0442\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0436\u0435\u043b\u0430\u043b \u0431\u044b \u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b>\u00a0\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u041a\u0443\u0442\u0443\u0437\u043e\u0432\u201d (\u0442. I, \u0447. 2, \u0433\u043b. 3).\u00a0\u201cPrince Andrew bowed his head in token of having understood from the first not only what had been said but also what Kutuzov would have liked to tell him\u201d (Bk. II,\u00a0ch. 2;\u00a0p. 130).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u041d\u0435\u0432\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e \u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f\u0439\u043a\u0430\u00a0\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0434\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435 \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0439 \u0432\u0437\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434 \u043d\u0430<\/b>\u00a0\u0442\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u041d\u0430\u0442\u0430\u0448\u0435. \u041e\u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u043b\u0430<\/b>\u00a0\u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u0435 \u0438 \u0435\u0439 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00a0\u043e\u0441\u043e\u0431\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0443\u043b\u044b\u0431\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0434\u0430\u0447\u0443 \u043a \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435\u0439 \u0445\u043e\u0437\u044f\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0443\u043b\u044b\u0431\u043a\u0435<\/b>\u201d (\u0442. II, \u0447. 3, \u0433\u043b. 15).\u00a0\u201c\u2026 the hostess\u2019 eye involuntarily rested longer on the slim Natasha. She looked at her and gave her alone a special <\/a>smile in addition to her usual smile as hostess\u201d (Bk. 6, ch. 9; p. 500).<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c\u0414\u0440\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0439 \u043a\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0434\u0438\u043d\u0435\u0440, \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0440\u0436\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044f \u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u0446\u0435\u043c \u0441\u043a\u043b\u044f\u043d\u043a\u0443, \u0431\u0440\u044b\u0437\u0433\u0430\u043b \u043e\u0434\u0435\u043a\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043d\u0430 \u0432\u044b\u0445\u043e\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043b\u0438\u0446\u043e \u0438\u043c\u043f\u0435\u0440\u0430\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430 [\u041d\u0430\u043f\u043e\u043b\u0435\u043e\u043d\u0430]\u00a0\u0441 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u043c \u0432\u044b\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u043c, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0435 \u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b\u043e<\/b>,\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043e\u043d \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d \u043c\u043e\u0433 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b>, \u0441\u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0438 \u043a\u0443\u0434\u0430 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u043e \u0431\u0440\u044b\u0437\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u043e\u0434\u0435\u043a\u043e\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0443\u201d (\u0442. III, \u0447 2, \u0433\u043b. 26).\u00a0\u201cAnother valet, with his finger over the mouth of a bottle, was sprinkling Eau de Cologne on the Emperor\u2019s pampered body with an expression which seemed to say that he alone knew where and how much Eau de Cologne should be sprinkled\u201d (Bk. X, ch. 2; p.867)[3]<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

This common motif functions differently in the two authors. In Tolstoy, it is part and parcel of his sweeping unmasking of the artificiality — in extreme cases, theatricality (as in Murat and Napoleon), — of his negative, un-natural characters. With Iskander, the point is rather a playful and enjoyable display of the inevitable ambiguity of human behavior. In his prose, the ongoing spectacle of artful pretense, signaling and decoding occupies a central place. It is rooted in traditional Abkhazian culture (reproduced with loving irony), which is based on omens, customs (ethnic and Muslim), clan mentality of tacit mutual understanding, concepts of honor, shame, impervious male self-discipline and the like. Iskander\u2019s \u201ctheatrical scenes\u201d are oftentimes power plays — symbolic duels, sometimes bouts of rivalry among equals, other times combats between an underdog and an authority figure seeking to subjugate the resisting opponent. The\u00a0couleur locale<\/i>\u00a0typically involved in such scenes is often combined with the aura of dissident allusiveness, — Thaw-style Aesopian subversion of official clich\u00e9s, including sexual taboos.<\/p>\n

Systematic classification of Iskander\u2019s pantomimes is a separate project. Today let me just illustrate their pervasive presence in what appears to be a simple children\u2019s tale.<\/p>\n

As I said, it is an initiation story, and it comes with its characteristic features: a dangerous physical test \u2013 a symbolic death of the initiate \u2013 and his return to life in the new capacity of a mature member of the community. The rite of passage involves not only mastering the practical skill of swimming but also assimilating certain social and existential values. And there is a sexual dimension to it.<\/p>\n

To begin with, acquiring a new understanding of things, in particular, of nature. If early on , \u201cthe sea had a joke at our expense\u201d, the main episode opens with the words \u201cthe sea and I understood each other\u201d. Which launches the entire spectacle of pantomime, pretense and second guessing. Let us tune into this performance, as it runs in counterpoint to the swimming lesson proper. (In what follows, Iskander\u2019s text is in Russian, with the relevant phrases highlighted and translated, and my italicized and bracketed annotations in English.)<\/p>\n

\u201c\u041e\u0442\u0434\u044b\u0445\u0430\u044e\u0449\u0438\u0445 \u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e\u00a0\u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0442\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(recognize) \u043f\u043e \u043d\u0435\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0435\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0431\u0435\u043b\u044b\u043c \u0442\u0435\u043b\u0430\u043c \u0438\u043b\u0438 \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0442\u0435\u043c\u043d\u043e\u043c\u0443 \u0437\u0430\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0443 [interpretation of relevant features<\/i>]. \u041d\u0430 \u0432\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0438\u043d\u0435 \u043a\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0433\u043b\u044b\u0431\u044b… \u0434\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430… \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u043a\u043d\u0438\u0433\u0443 — \u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0435\u0435,\u00a0\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0432\u0438\u0434 (<\/b>made it look like), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0442, \u0442\u043e\u0447\u043d\u0435\u0435,\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0440\u044f\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(pretended), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u044b\u0442\u0430\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c [statement of pretense<\/i>]. \u0420\u044f\u0434\u043e\u043c \u0441 \u043d\u0435\u0439… \u0441\u0438\u0434\u0435\u043b \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c… \u041e\u043d \u0435\u0439\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e-\u0442\u043e<\/b>\u00a0\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(was saying something) [importance of pragmatics not semantics of his speech<\/i>]. \u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430… \u0441\u043c\u0435\u044f\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u0438 \u0449\u0443\u0440\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0442\u043e \u043e\u0442<\/b>\u00a0(perhaps because of) \u0441\u043e\u043b\u043d\u0446\u0430,\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0442\u043e \u043e\u0442\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(or perhaps because of the fact), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0441\u043b\u0438\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u0431\u043b\u0438\u0437\u043a\u043e \u0438 \u0441\u043b\u0438\u0448\u043a\u043e\u043c \u043f\u0440\u044f\u043c\u043e \u0441\u043c\u043e\u0442\u0440\u0435\u043b \u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u0435 [alternative interpretations of her ambiguous behavior<\/i>]. \u041e\u0442\u0441\u043c\u0435\u044f\u0432\u0448\u0438\u0441\u044c, \u043e\u043d\u0430\u00a0\u0440\u0435\u0448\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(determinately) \u043e\u043f\u0443\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043b\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0443, \u0447\u0442\u043e\u0431\u044b \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c [attempts to shed ambiguity and look unyielding<\/i>], \u043d\u043e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043e\u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e-\u0442\u043e<\/b>\u00a0\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(kept saying something)[irrelevance of semantics<\/i>], \u0438 \u043e\u043d\u0430 \u043e\u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c\u00a0\u0441\u043c\u0435\u044f\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(laughed) [less ambiguously — yielding<\/i>]… \u041e\u043d \u0435\u0439 \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0432\u0440\u0435\u043c\u044f\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e \u043c\u0435\u0448\u0430\u043b \u0447\u0438\u0442\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b>\u00a0(pleasantly prevented her from reading)\u00a0[<\/b>mutual ambiguity to the point of oxymoron<\/i>]. \u042f\u00a0\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u0438\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(observed closely) \u0437\u0430 \u043d\u0438\u043c\u0438… \u0438, \u0445\u043e\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(understood nothing)\u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0445,\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(understood), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0438\u043c \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e [intuitive ability to \u201cread\u201d adult behavior, in particular, love code<\/i>]. \u041f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c \u0438\u043d\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430… \u043c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e\u043c\u00a0\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(glanced) \u0432 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0443 \u043c\u043e\u0440\u044f,\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u044b<\/b>\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0437\u044b\u0432\u0430\u044f \u0435\u0433\u043e \u0432 \u0441\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0438<\/b>\u00a0(as if invoking it as a witness<\/i>) [mime;\u00a0the phrase \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442 \u201c\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u044b\u201d\u00a0<\/i>(as if);\u00a0personification of the sea as a universal mediator<\/i>]. \u041e\u043d\u00a0\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(looked) \u0432\u0435\u0441\u0435\u043b\u043e \u0438 \u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e,\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0430\u0435\u0442 (<\/b>as befits) \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a\u0443, \u0443 \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e [mime<\/i>].<\/p>\n

… \u0418 \u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u044f\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b (<\/b>realized), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u043e\u043d\u0443 [merging of physical and intellectual initiation<\/i>].\u00a0\u041d\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430\u044e \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443 (<\/b>I don\u2019t know why), \u0432\u044b\u043d\u044b\u0440\u0438\u0432\u0430\u044f,\u00a0\u044f \u043d\u0435 \u043a\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(I didn\u2019t scream) [attempt at understanding one\u2019s own unnaturally disciplined behavior<\/i>].\u00a0\u0412\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e\u0436\u043d\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(Perhaps), \u043d\u0435 \u0443\u0441\u043f\u0435\u0432\u0430\u043b,\u00a0\u0432\u043e\u0437\u043c\u043e\u0436\u043d\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(perhaps), \u044f\u0437\u044b\u043a \u043e\u0442\u043d\u0438\u043c\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043e\u0442 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0445\u0430 [alternative interpretations<\/i>]… \u041d\u043e \u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f… \u043c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430\u00a0\u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f<\/b>\u00a0\u0434\u043e\u0433\u0430\u0434\u043a\u0430\u00a0<\/b>(unpleasant guess), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043e\u043d \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u044b\u0433\u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0432 \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0435… \u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0431\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0435\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u0443\u0431\u0430\u0448\u043a\u0435… \u0421 \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0439\u00a0\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u043c\u044b\u0441\u043b\u044c\u044e\u00a0<\/b>(with this sad thought) [attempts to figure out intentions of potential rescuer<\/i>] \u044f \u043e\u043f\u044f\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0437\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0432 \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0443, \u043e\u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c<\/b>\u00a0(seemed) \u043c\u0443\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0438\u00a0\u0440\u0430\u0432\u043d\u043e\u0434\u0443\u0448\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(indifferent) [interpretation of personified inanimate element<\/i>; see above the \u201cjoke that the sea had on us\u201d)]<\/i>… \u0418 \u0442\u0435\u043c\u00a0\u043e\u0431\u0438\u0434\u043d\u0435\u0439<\/b>\u00a0(more humiliating) \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u0442\u043e\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0443 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0430… [moral interpretation of danger<\/i>].<\/p>\n

\u0412 \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u043d\u0438\u0439 \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u043f\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0443\u0436\u0430\u044f\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0443, \u044f \u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433\u00a0\u0437\u0430\u043c\u0435\u0442\u0438\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(noticed), \u0447\u0442\u043e\u00a0\u043b\u0438\u0446\u043e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043d\u044f<\/b>\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0443\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u0432 \u043c\u043e\u044e \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u043d\u0443<\/b>\u00a0(the guy\u2019s face turned in my direction) \u0438\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e-\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u043c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043d\u0443\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0430 \u043d\u0435\u043c<\/b>,\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0442\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(and something showed passingly on it, as if) \u043e\u043d \u0441 \u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043e\u043c\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0430\u0435\u0442\u00a0<\/b>(remembering) \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f [mitual attempts at interpretatioin; pantomime; the phrase \u043e\u0431\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442 \u201c\u043a\u0430\u043a \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0442\u043e\u201d\u00a0<\/i>(as if)<\/i>]. “\u042d\u0442\u043e \u044f, \u044f! —\u00a0\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u043a\u0440\u0438\u043a\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c<\/b>\u00a0( I wanted top shout) \u043c\u043d\u0435… \u0432\u044b \u0434\u043e\u043b\u0436\u043d\u044b \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f\u00a0\u0432\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043c\u043d\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00a0(remember me)<\/i><\/b>!” [bravely repressed desire to communicate verbally life-and-death information]. \u042f \u0434\u0430\u0436\u0435\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0441\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043b\u0438\u0446\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(tried to make an indifferent face) [attempted facial gesture \u2013 theater at the price of life!<\/i>]; \u044f \u0431\u043e\u044f\u043b\u0441\u044f, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0432\u043e\u043b\u043d\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435 \u0438 \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0445 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u00a0\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0438\u043b\u0438<\/b>\u00a0(distorted) \u0435\u0433\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f\u00a0\u043d\u0435<\/b>\u00a0\u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0435\u0442\u00a0<\/b>(wouldn\u2019t recognize)[discussion of (in)adequacy of one\u2019s own facial gesture<\/i>]. \u041d\u043e \u043e\u043d \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f\u00a0\u0443\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(recognized) [successful signaling<\/i>], \u0438 \u0442\u043e\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0441\u0442\u0430\u043b\u043e \u043a\u0430\u043a-\u0442\u043e \u0441\u043f\u043e\u043a\u043e\u0439\u043d\u0435\u0439, \u0438 \u044f \u0443\u0436\u0435 \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u043e\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0438\u0432\u043b\u044f\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0435, \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0430\u044f \u0441\u043e\u043c\u043a\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u043d\u0430\u0434\u043e \u043c\u043d\u043e\u0439.<\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e-\u0442\u043e \u0441\u0445\u0432\u0430\u0442\u0438\u043b\u043e \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0438 \u0448\u0432\u044b\u0440\u043d\u0443\u043b\u043e \u043d\u0430 \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433 <\u2026\u042f>\u00a0\u043e\u0447\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0438<\/b>\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(came to and realized),\u0447\u0442\u043e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c\u00a0\u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0432\u0441\u0435-\u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438<\/b>\u00a0\u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u00a0<\/b>(rescued me, after all) [merging of physical and intellectual initiation<\/i>]… \u041e\u0442 \u0440\u0430\u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438… \u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c \u0442\u0438\u0445\u043e \u0438\u00a0\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0440\u043d\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(gratefully)\u0441\u043a\u0443\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c. \u041d\u043e \u044f \u043d\u0435 \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0431\u043b\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0434\u0430\u0440\u0438\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(did not thank him), \u043d\u043e\u00a0\u043c\u043e\u043b\u0447\u0430 \u0438 \u043d\u0435\u043f\u043e\u0434\u0432\u0438\u0436\u043d\u043e \u043b\u0435\u0436\u0430\u043b \u0441 \u0437\u0430\u043a\u0440\u044b\u0442\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043c\u0438\u00a0<\/b>(lay silent and unmoving) [deliberate \u201czero\u201d pantomime<\/i>]. \u042f \u0431\u044b\u043b\u00a0\u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u00a0<\/b>(sure), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u0442<\/b>\u00a0(isn\u2019t worth) \u0435\u0433\u043e \u043d\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043a\u0448\u0435\u0439 \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0436\u0434\u044b [interpretation<\/i>], \u0438\u00a0\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043e\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0434\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u0441\u0435\u0440\u044c\u0435\u0437\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044c\u044e \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435\u0433\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/b>\u00a0(sought justification in the seriousness of my condition) [explanation of zero signal as pretense<\/i>]. —\u00a0\u041d\u0430\u0434\u043e \u0441\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/b>\u00a0\u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0434\u044b\u0445\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435,<\/b>\u00a0(artificial respiration is needed) — \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0434\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0441 \u0434\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438… [grave interpretation of the protagonist\u2019s condition<\/i>]. —\u00a0\u0421\u0430\u043c \u043e\u0447\u0443\u0445\u0430\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/b>, (will cope)– \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0438\u043b \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c… [positive interpretation<\/i>].<\/p>\n

\u0427\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435 \u0438\u0441\u043a\u0443\u0441\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0434\u044b\u0445\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435, \u044f\u00a0\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(I knew) [adequate interpretation of the words<\/i>] \u0438\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u044d\u0442\u043e\u043c\u0443<\/b>\u00a0(as a result) \u0441\u0435\u0439\u0447\u0430\u0441 \u0436\u0435\u00a0\u0437\u0430\u0442\u0430\u0438\u043b \u0434\u044b\u0445\u0430\u043d\u0438\u0435<\/b>\u00a0(held my breath) [intensification of pretense for gaining expected gesture of intimacy \u2013 the kiss of life<\/i>]. \u041d\u043e \u0442\u0443\u0442…\u00a0\u0438\u0437\u043e \u0440\u0442\u0430 \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u043f\u043e\u043b\u0438\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430\u00a0<\/b>(water poured out of my mouth). \u042f\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0432\u043e\u043b\u0435 \u043e\u0442\u043a\u0440\u044b\u043b \u0433\u043b\u0430\u0437\u0430<\/b>\u00a0(couldn\u2019t help opening my eyes) [involuntary \u2013 symptomatic \u2013 gesture refuting previous pretense<\/i>]\u2026 \u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0443 \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u043b\u043e\u0431\u00a0<\/b>(put her hand on my forehead) [successful, if modest, intimate communication<\/i>]\u2026 \u042f\u00a0\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043d\u0435 \u0448\u0435\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b>,\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e\u0431\u044b \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0443\u0433\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0435\u0435 \u043b\u0430\u0434\u043e\u043d\u044c<\/b>\u00a0(I tried not to move so as not to scare off her hand) [continuation of pretended zero signalization for the sake of maintaining extant communication<\/i>].<\/p>\n

—\u00a0\u0422\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438, \u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438<\/b>), —\u00a0\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(throw up, throw up, — said) \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c [first case of direct verbal communication<\/i>]… \u041a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430 \u043e\u043d\u00a0\u0437\u0430\u0433\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0440\u0438\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(started speaking), \u044f\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(realized), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044b \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0438\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0443\u0449\u0435\u0440\u0431 \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442 [pragmatic interpretation of words<\/i>]. \u042f \u0441\u043e\u0441\u0440\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0447\u0438\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0438 “\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b” [interpretation and implementation of direct verbal signals<\/i>]: \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0432 \u0436\u0438\u0432\u043e\u0442\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u0432\u043e\u0434\u044b. \u0412\u0435\u0434\u044c \u044d\u0442\u043e\u00a0\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0430\u043b\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(meant), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u044f\u00a0\u0432\u0441\u0435-\u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438 \u043f\u043e-\u043d\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u0449\u0435\u043c\u0443 \u0442\u043e\u043d\u0443\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(that, after all, I had been actually drowning)[interpretation of symptomatic gesture as proof of veracity of previous playacting].<\/p>\n

— \u0411\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0448\u044c \u0442\u0435\u043f\u0435\u0440\u044c \u0437\u0430\u043f\u043b\u044b\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c? —\u00a0\u0441\u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0438\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(asked) \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c… [direct verbal communication<\/i>]. — \u041d\u0435 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0443, — \u043e\u0445\u043e\u0442\u043d\u043e\u00a0\u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0438\u043b<\/b>\u00a0\u044f (I answered). \u041c\u043d\u0435\u00a0\u0445\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u044c<\/b>\u00a0(wanted) \u0435\u043c\u0443\u00a0\u0443\u0433\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(please him)[feigned verbal communication]. — \u041d\u0430\u043f\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043d\u043e, —\u00a0\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(said) \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c… [direct verbal communication<\/i>]. \u042f\u00a0\u0440\u0435\u0448\u0438\u043b\u00a0<\/b>(realized), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u044d\u0442\u043e \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0431\u044b\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0432\u0437\u0440\u043e\u0441\u043b\u044b\u0439 \u0438\u00a0\u0434\u0435\u0439\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430\u0434\u043e \u043d\u0435\u043e\u0431\u044b\u0447\u043d\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(unusual action)action was called for [successful interpretation of previously misunderstood speech; completion of intellectual initiation<\/i>]. \u042f \u0432\u0441\u0442\u0430\u043b \u0438, \u0448\u0430\u0442\u0430\u044f\u0441\u044c, \u043f\u043e\u0448\u0435\u043b \u043a \u043c\u043e\u0440\u044e, \u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e \u0434\u043e\u043f\u043b\u044b\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(easily swam to) \u0434\u043e \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435\u0433\u043e \u043e\u0441\u0442\u0440\u043e\u0432\u043a\u0430 \u0438\u00a0\u043b\u0435\u0433\u043a\u043e \u043f\u043e\u043f\u043b\u044b\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(easily swam) \u043e\u0431\u0440\u0430\u0442\u043d\u043e. \u041c\u043e\u0440\u0435\u00a0\u0432\u043e\u0437\u0432\u0440\u0430\u0449\u0430\u043b\u043e \u0441\u0438\u043b\u0443, \u043e\u0442\u043d\u044f\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0445\u043e\u043c<\/b>\u00a0(gave back the strength taken away by fear) [success of physical initiation].<\/p>\n

\u041f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c…\u00a0\u0443\u043b\u044b\u0431\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043c\u043d\u0435, \u0438 \u044f \u043f\u043b\u044b\u043b \u043d\u0430 \u0443\u043b\u044b\u0431\u043a\u0443\u00a0<\/b>(smiled to me and I swam towards his smile), \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043d\u0430\u00a0\u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/b>\u00a0\u043a\u0440\u0443\u0433 (life-saving balloon). \u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430 \u0442\u043e\u0436\u0435\u00a0\u0443\u043b\u044b\u0431\u0430\u043b\u0430\u0441\u044c<\/b>\u00a0(was smiling)\u2026 \u041e\u043d\u0438 \u043c\u0435\u0434\u043b\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e \u0448\u043b\u0438\u00a0\u0432\u0434\u043e\u043b\u044c \u0431\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0433\u0430\u00a0<\/b>(along the coast)… \u042f \u043b\u0435\u0433 \u043d\u0430 \u0433\u043e\u0440\u044f\u0447\u0443\u044e\u00a0\u0433\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0443\u00a0<\/b>(pebbles), \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0430\u044f\u0441\u044c \u043f\u043b\u043e\u0442\u043d\u0435\u0435\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u0436\u0438\u043c\u0430\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f<\/b>\u00a0(cling to them) \u043a \u043d\u0435\u0439, \u0438\u00a0\u0447\u0443\u0432\u0441\u0442\u0432\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043b<\/b>,\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043a<\/b>\u00a0\u0432 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0432\u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u0442\u00a0<\/b>\u043a\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043a\u043e\u0435, \u0441\u0443\u0445\u043e\u0435\u00a0\u0442\u0435\u043f\u043b\u043e<\/b>\u00a0\u0440\u0430\u0437\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0435\u0442\u044b\u0445\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043c\u043d\u0435\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(and felt the warmth of the pebbles enter my body).\u00a0<\/b>\u0422\u0430\u043a \u043e\u043d \u0438 \u0443\u0448\u0435\u043b \u043d\u0430\u0432\u0441\u0435\u0433\u0434\u0430\u00a0\u0441\u043e \u0441\u0432\u043e\u0435\u0439 \u0434\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u043e\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(with his girlfriend)… \u043c\u0438\u043c\u043e\u0445\u043e\u0434\u043e\u043c \u0432\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0443\u0432 \u043c\u043d\u0435\u00a0\u0436\u0438\u0437\u043d\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(life)\u201d [pebbles are one more mediator, along with the sea; this finale reconfirms the boy\u2019s bonding with his seniors, loving intimacy between adults and general union with nature and life itself<\/i>].<\/p>\n

As we can see, the pantomimic thread of the narrative intertwines consistently with the athletic one. Especially spectacular are the pivotal combinations: the pointedly indifferent (\u043f\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/i>, literally \u201clenten, pious\u201d) face of the drowning narrator and later his <\/a>feigned breath-lessness. Exaggerated as they are, these pantomimes are in tune with the nature of the rite of passage: a symbolic behavior addressing the relevant social group. The protagonist learns not \u201cby himself,\u201d but under the guidance of \u201ctribal elders.\u201d<\/p>\n

The specific choice of the \u201celder\u201d characters is determined by yet another archetypal aspect of initiation: sexual. As \u201cadults,\u201d Iskander casts a young man and his love interest, whose courtship parallels the protagonist\u2019s initiation, offering him a subject for intellectual testing. But the boy doesn\u2019t achieve mere understanding: he experiences a \u201cmimetic desire\u201d[4]<\/a>\u00a0to become like them, that is, to somehow participate in their nascent sexual intimacy, which, he realizes vaguely, awaits him in his future as a male. In the plot, this takes the form of mutual visual contacts, a sense of bonding and even a sort of physical intimacy with the girl. Remarkably, an early manifestation of this motif was cut from a children\u2019s edition.<\/p>\n

I also omitted, almost completely, one characteristic component of the sexual subplot. It is quite conspicuous in the narrative, but I saved it for its moment of glory. On the brink of death, the protagonist keeps doubting \u2013 mistakenly \u2013 whether the young man would sacrifice, for the sake of rescuing him, his fancy clothes. Psychologically, this represents the boy\u2019s low self-esteem, which, in the course of initiation and precisely at the moment of symbolic death, will be proven wrong, as the older man authoritatively confirms the boy\u2019s value. Plot-wise, this is implemented through the use of the archetypal motif of \u201croyal garments\u201d to be donned by the initiate once he has passed the test. In the story, the initiate doesn\u2019t put on the garments but rather has them symbolically thrown at his feet (with the additional Soviet connotation of discarding false, material values).<\/p>\n

Combining the \u201cclothes\u201d motif, also quite theatrical, with those of sexual initiation and bonding with adults breeds a panoply of overt and covert details. A major narrative \u201cfind\u201d is the way rescuing the boy while ditching the expensive clothes lets the young man show himself to the girl in the best possible light — and thus pass a sort of wedding test, both symbolically and physically, by parading in front of her semi-naked. This cluster of motifs reaffirms the mutual identification and bonding between the initiate and the \u201celder.\u201d<\/p>\n

To demonstrate the most salient moments of this combined \u2013 sex-and-clothes \u2013 subplot, let us restore and highlight the omitted passages:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u0414\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430\u00a0\u0432 \u0441\u0438\u043d\u0435\u043c \u043a\u0443\u043f\u0430\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0435\u00a0<\/b>(blue swimsuit)… \u041f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c\u00a0\u0432 \u0431\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0435\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u0443\u0431\u0430\u0448\u043a\u0435 \u0438 \u0432 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043d\u044c\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u0442\u0443\u0444\u043b\u044f\u0445, \u0431\u043b\u0435\u0441\u0442\u044f\u0449\u0438\u0445 \u0438 \u0447\u0435\u0440\u043d\u044b\u0445, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0434\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0444\u0438\u043d\u044c\u044f \u0441\u043f\u0438\u043d\u0430\u00a0<\/b>(young guy in a snow-white shirt and brand new shoes, glistening and black, like a dolphin\u2019s back) \u2026. \u041e\u043d\u00a0\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b<\/b>\u00a0(looked) \u0432\u0435\u0441\u0435\u043b\u043e \u0438 \u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e,\u00a0\u043a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0430\u0435\u0442 (<\/b>as befits) \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a\u0443, \u0443 \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u0441\u0435\u00a0\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(good) [mime<\/i>] \u0438 \u0435\u0449\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u043b\u0433\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0432\u0441\u0435\u00a0\u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(good). \u041c\u043d\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e<\/b>\u00a0(pleasant) \u0438\u0445 \u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044c, \u0438 \u044f\u00a0\u0432\u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0433\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043b<\/b>\u00a0\u043e\u0442 \u0441\u043c\u0443\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0438 \u0441\u043b\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/b>\u00a0(I shook with the vague\/obscure and sweet awareness), \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430-\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443\u0434\u044c \u0438\u00a0\u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435\u00a0<\/b>(me, too, would have something like that)…<\/p>\n

\u041d\u043e \u0432\u0434\u0440\u0443\u0433 \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0432 \u0433\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435 \u043c\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430\u00a0\u043d\u0435\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f<\/b>\u00a0(unpleasant)\u0434\u043e\u0433\u0430\u0434\u043a\u0430, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043e\u043d \u043d\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u044b\u0433\u043d\u0435\u0442 \u0432 \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0435\u00a0\u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u043e\u0442\u0443\u0442\u044e\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0431\u0440\u044e\u043a\u0430\u0445, \u0432 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0431\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0441\u043d\u0435\u0436\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u0443\u0431\u0430\u0448\u043a\u0435, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u044f \u0432\u043e\u043e\u0431\u0449\u0435 \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u044e \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0447\u0438 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0445 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043a\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043d\u044b\u0445 \u0432\u0435\u0449\u0435\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(in such well-pressed pants, such a show-white shirt, that I absolutely am not worth the wasting of such beautiful things)…<\/p>\n

\u0412\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0439 \u0440\u0430\u0437 \u044f \u0432\u044b\u043d\u044b\u0440\u043d\u0443\u043b \u043d\u0435\u043c\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e\u00a0\u0431\u043b\u0438\u0436\u0435\u00a0<\/b>(closer)… \u0438 \u0442\u0435\u043f\u0435\u0440\u044c\u00a0\u0441\u043e\u0432\u0441\u0435\u043c \u0431\u043b\u0438\u0437\u043a\u043e \u0443\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u043b \u0442\u0443\u0444\u043b\u044e \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043d\u044f, \u0447\u0435\u0440\u043d\u0443\u044e, \u043b\u043e\u0441\u043d\u044f\u0449\u0443\u044e\u0441\u044f, \u043a\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043a\u043e \u0437\u0430\u0442\u044f\u043d\u0443\u0442\u0443\u044e \u0448\u043d\u0443\u0440\u043a\u043e\u043c.<\/b>\u00a0\u042f \u0434\u0430\u0436\u0435 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b \u043c\u0435\u0442\u0430\u043b\u043b\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0447\u043d\u0438\u043a \u043d\u0430 \u0448\u043d\u0443\u0440\u043a\u0435. \u042f \u0432\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043c\u043d\u0438\u043b, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0430\u043a\u0438\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0435\u0447\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u043c\u043e\u0438\u0445 \u0431\u043e\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0430\u0445 \u0447\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0447\u0435\u043c\u0443-\u0442\u043e \u0442\u0435\u0440\u044f\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c, \u0438 \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0446\u044b \u0448\u043d\u0443\u0440\u043a\u043e\u0432 \u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044c \u043f\u0443\u0448\u0438\u0441\u0442\u044b\u043c\u0438, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043a\u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438, \u0438 \u0438\u0445 \u0442\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u043e \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044c \u0432 \u0434\u044b\u0440\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438 \u043d\u0430 \u0431\u043e\u0442\u0438\u043d\u043a\u0430\u0445, \u0438 \u044f \u0445\u043e\u0434\u0438\u043b \u0441 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0432\u044f\u0437\u0430\u043d\u043d\u044b\u043c\u0438 \u0448\u043d\u0443\u0440\u043a\u0430\u043c\u0438, \u0438 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0437\u0430 \u044d\u0442\u043e \u0440\u0443\u0433\u0430\u043b\u0438. \u0412\u0441\u043f\u043e\u043c\u0438\u043d\u0430\u044f \u043e\u0431 \u044d\u0442\u043e\u043c, \u044f \u0435\u0449\u0435 \u0431\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0448\u0435 \u043f\u043e\u0436\u0430\u043b\u0435\u043b \u0441\u0435\u0431\u044f\u00a0<\/b>(and quite close up I saw the guy\u2019s shoe, black, glistening, tightly laced. I could even see the metallic tip of the lace. I recalled that such tips on my shoes for some reason often got lost, so that the lace-ends became fluffy. Like brushes, and I had trouble threading them through the holes on the shoes, and I would walk around with unlaced shoes and be scolded for that. Recalling that, I pitied myself even more)\u2026<\/p>\n

\u042f \u0431\u044b\u043b \u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0430\u0441\u0435\u043d\u0438\u0435\u00a0\u043d\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u0438\u0442 \u0435\u0433\u043e \u043d\u0430\u043c\u043e\u043a\u0448\u0435\u0439 \u043e\u0434\u0435\u0436\u0434\u044b\u00a0<\/b>(wasn\u2019t worth his wetted clothes)… — \u0421\u0430\u043c \u043e\u0447\u0443\u0445\u0430\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f, — \u043e\u0442\u0432\u0435\u0442\u0438\u043b \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0435\u043d\u044c, \u0438 \u044f \u0443\u0441\u043b\u044b\u0448\u0430\u043b, \u043a\u0430\u043a\u00a0\u0445\u043b\u044e\u043f\u043d\u0443\u043b\u0430 \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430 \u0432 \u0435\u0433\u043e \u0442\u0443\u0444\u043b\u0435\u00a0<\/b>(and I heard water make a bubbling sound inside his shoe)…<\/p>\n

\u042f… \u0443\u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u043b\u00a0\u043b\u0438\u0446\u043e \u0434\u0435\u0432\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438, \u0441\u043a\u043b\u043e\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0434\u043e \u043c\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(the girl\u2019s face over mine). \u041e\u043d\u0430\u00a0\u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u043b\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u043a\u043e\u043b\u0435\u043d\u044f\u0445<\/b>\u00a0(was kneeling) \u0438, \u0445\u043b\u043e\u043f\u0430\u044f \u0436\u0435\u0441\u0442\u043a\u0438\u043c\u0438, \u0432\u044b\u0433\u043e\u0440\u0435\u0432\u0448\u0438\u043c\u0438 \u0440\u0435\u0441\u043d\u0438\u0446\u0430\u043c\u0438,\u00a0\u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0430 \u043d\u0430 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0436\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043b\u0438\u0432\u043e \u0438 \u043d\u0435\u0436\u043d\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(looking at me with tender pity). \u041f\u043e\u0442\u043e\u043c \u043e\u043d\u0430\u00a0\u043f\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0436\u0438\u043b\u0430 \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0443 \u043c\u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430 \u043b\u043e\u0431, \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0430 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u0430 \u0442\u0435\u043f\u043b\u043e\u0439 \u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0439\u00a0<\/b>(put her hand on my face, her palm warm and pleasant). \u042f \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0440\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043d\u0435 \u0448\u0435\u0432\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f,\u00a0\u0447\u0442\u043e\u0431\u044b \u043d\u0435 \u0441\u043f\u0443\u0433\u043d\u0443\u0442\u044c \u0435\u0435 \u043b\u0430\u0434\u043e\u043d\u044c\u00a0<\/b>(so as not to scare her palm away)…<\/p>\n

\u0420\u0443\u0431\u0430\u0448\u043a\u0430 \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0435\u043c\u043d\u0435\u043b\u0430, \u043d\u043e \u0443 \u0441\u0430\u043c\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0442\u0430 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u0430 \u0431\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0439, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u0438 \u0440\u0430\u043d\u044c\u0448\u0435: \u0442\u0443\u0434\u0430 \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430 \u043d\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u0430\u043b\u0430<\/p>\n

(The shirt went dark, but at the collar was still white as before: the water hadn\u2019t gotten there)… \u042f \u043f\u043e\u043d\u044f\u043b, \u0447\u0442\u043e\u00a0\u0440\u0430\u0441\u043f\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044b \u0437\u0430 \u043f\u0440\u0438\u0447\u0438\u043d\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0443\u0449\u0435\u0440\u0431 \u043d\u0435 \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442\u00a0<\/b>(no repayment for the damage was due). \u042f… “\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0432\u0438\u043b”:\u00a0\u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e\u00a0<\/b>(it felt pleasant)…<\/p>\n

\u041e\u043d \u0442\u0435\u043f\u0435\u0440\u044c \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0434\u0435\u043b\u0441\u044f \u0438 \u0441\u0442\u043e\u044f\u043b \u0432 \u0442\u0440\u0443\u0441\u0430\u0445. \u041b\u0430\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0438 \u043a\u0440\u0435\u043f\u043a\u0438\u0439, \u043e\u043d \u0438 \u0440\u0430\u0437\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044b\u0439 \u043a\u0430\u0437\u0430\u043b\u0441\u044f \u043d\u0430\u0440\u044f\u0434\u043d\u044b\u043c\u201d<\/p>\n

(Now he undressed and was standing in his shorts). Well-built and strong, even without clothes he looked dressed up).<\/p>\n

The quoted passages speak for themselves. Perhaps I whetted your curiosity regarding the sentence once banned by Soviet editors. It\u2019s the second of these two:<\/p>\n

\u201c\u041e\u043d \u0433\u043b\u044f\u0434\u0435\u043b \u0432\u0435\u0441\u0435\u043b\u043e \u0438 \u0443\u0432\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e, \u043a\u0430\u043a \u043f\u043e\u0434\u043e\u0431\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435\u043a\u0443, \u0443 \u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e \u0438 \u0435\u0449\u0435 \u0434\u043e\u043b\u0433\u043e \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0432\u0441\u0435 \u0445\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e.\u00a0\u041c\u043d\u0435 \u0431\u044b\u043b\u043e \u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e \u0438\u0445 \u0432\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0442\u044c, \u0438 \u044f \u0432\u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0433\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043b \u043e\u0442 \u0441\u043c\u0443\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0438 \u0441\u043b\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f, \u0447\u0442\u043e \u043a\u043e\u0433\u0434\u0430-\u043d\u0438\u0431\u0443\u0434\u044c \u0438 \u0443 \u043c\u0435\u043d\u044f \u0431\u0443\u0434\u0435\u0442 \u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435\u201d.<\/b><\/p>\n

What was so\u00a0risqu\u00e9<\/i>\u00a0about it? In fact, a lot.\u00a0\u0425\u043e\u0440\u043e\u0448\u043e<\/i>, a well-mannered 60s teenager\u2019s reference to orgasm; the recurrent\u00a0\u043f\u0440\u0438\u044f\u0442\u043d\u043e<\/i>, also fraught with erotic overtones, especially in the context of the girl\u2019s climactic touch; the suspicious\u00a0\u0441\u043c\u0443\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435<\/i>,\u00a0\u0441\u043b\u0430\u0434\u043a\u043e\u0435<\/i>\u00a0and\u00a0\u0432\u0437\u0434\u0440\u0430\u0433\u0438\u0432\u0430\u043b<\/i>; and the elusive but suggestive \u201c\u0442\u0430\u043a\u043e\u0435\u201d. Remember, the boy is only seven. For Sigmund Freud, small wonder. But for a Soviet author of the 60s — and his editors, a big deal. In an ironic editorial slip, however, even that pious version still kept the passage about the unmistakably phallic metallic lace-tips for threading through vaginal lacing holes, so envied by the little owner of the pathetically unmanly fluffy <\/a>laces.<\/p>\n

The \u201cStory about the Sea\u201d appeared in the\u00a0Iunost\u2019<\/i>\u00a0magazine in 1962 (vol. 10: 69-73) as one of Iskander\u2019s very first two short stories (until then he had only published poetry). In a sense, it was his initiation as a prosaist.<\/p>\n


<\/p>\n
\n

NOTES<\/b><\/p>\n

\n<\/a><\/p>\n

[1]<\/a>\u00a0See \u0416\u043e\u043b\u043a\u043e\u0432\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0410. \u041e\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0441\u0442\u0430\u0432\u043a\u0438 \u0441 \u0432\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u0438\u0442\u0435\u043b\u0435\u043c. \u0418\u0437 \u0438\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0440\u0438\u0438 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u043e\u0439 \u201c\u043f\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439\u201d \u043f\u0430\u0440\u0430\u0434\u0438\u0433\u043c\u044b\/\/<\/b>\u00a0\u041f\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0430\u044f \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0444\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043d\u0446\u0438\u044f \u0432 \u0421\u0442\u044d\u043d\u0444\u043e\u0440\u0434\u0435. 1999. \u041c\u0430\u0442\u0435\u0440\u0438\u0430\u043b\u044b \u0438 \u0438\u0441\u0441\u043b\u0435\u0434\u043e\u0432\u0430\u043d\u0438\u044f\/ \u0420\u0435\u0434. \u0414. \u0411\u0435\u0442\u0435\u0430 \u0438 \u0434\u0440. (\u041c.: \u041e\u0413\u0418, 2001), \u0441. 381-389 (\/alexander-zholkovsky\/ochn<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/a>\u00ab\u0420\u0430\u0441\u0441\u043a\u0430\u0437 \u043e \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0435\u00bb (1962; The Story about the Sea\u201d) \/\/ \u0418\u0441\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0435\u0440, \u0424\u0430\u0437\u0438\u043b\u044c. \u0421\u043e\u0431\u0440. c\u043e\u0447. \u0432 4 \u0442\u0442. (\u041c.: \u041c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u0430\u044f \u0433\u0432\u0430\u0440\u0434\u0438\u044f, 1991-1992), \u0442. 1, \u0441. 40-45(http:\/\/lib.ru\/FISKANDER\/isk_rassk5.txt<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[3]<\/a>\u00a0These pantomimes commented upon by the narrator were first discussed in: \u041d. \u041f\u0440\u044f\u043d\u0438\u0448\u043d\u0438\u043a\u043e\u0432.\u041f\u0440\u043e\u0437\u0430 \u041f\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0430 \u0438 \u041b. \u0422\u043e\u043b\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e. \u041f\u043e\u044d\u0442\u0438\u043a\u0430 \u00ab\u041a\u0430\u043f\u0438\u0442\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u0434\u043e\u0447\u043a\u0438\u00bb \u041f\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0438\u043d\u0430. \u041e \u043d\u0435\u043a\u043e\u0442\u043e\u0440\u044b\u0445 \u043e\u0441\u043e\u0431\u0435\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u044f\u0445 \u043f\u0438\u0441\u0430\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043c\u0430\u043d\u0435\u0440\u044b \u041b. \u0422\u043e\u043b\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0433\u043e<\/i>\u00a0(\u0427\u043a\u0430\u043b\u043e\u0432: \u041e\u0431\u043b\u0430\u0441\u0442\u043d\u043e\u0435 \u0438\u0437\u0434-\u0432\u043e, 1939), \u0441. 45-46. On Iskander\u2019s <\/a>Tolstoyan connections see: Karen Ryan-Hayes, Iskander and Tolstoj: The Parodical Implications of the Beast Narrator’ \/\/\u00a0Slavic and East European Journal<\/i>, 32.2 (1988): 225-36; on his roundbout narrative, see\u00a0Marina Kanevskaya<\/a>, The Shortest Path to the Truth: Indirection in Fazil’ Iskander \/\/\u00a0The Modern Language Review<\/i>, 99. 1 (Jan, 2004<\/a>): 131-149.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

[4]<\/a>\u00a0In the sense of Rene Girard, see his\u00a0Deceit, Desire and the Novel: Self and Other in Literary Structure<\/i>\u00a0(Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1966).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":355,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-603","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Alexander Zholkovsky\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-10-27T19:31:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/\",\"name\":\"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-07-18T18:00:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-10-27T19:31:11+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/\",\"name\":\"Alexander Zholkovsky\",\"description\":\"USC Dornsife Alexander Zholkovsky Professional Site\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky","og_url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/","og_site_name":"Alexander Zholkovsky","article_modified_time":"2023-10-27T19:31:11+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/","name":"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES - Alexander Zholkovsky","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/#website"},"datePublished":"2023-07-18T18:00:56+00:00","dateModified":"2023-10-27T19:31:11+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/bib241\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"ISKANDER\u2019S PANTOMIME NARRATIVES"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/#website","url":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/","name":"Alexander Zholkovsky","description":"USC Dornsife Alexander Zholkovsky Professional Site","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/603","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/355"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=603"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/603\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6866,"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/603\/revisions\/6866"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dornsife.usc.edu\/alexander-zholkovsky\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=603"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}