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Vladimir Putin (L) speaks with the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theater, Valery Gergiyev (Getty Images)Where are today's Cultural Dissidents?
In the past month, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev endorsed Moscow's military actions in Georgia. Meanwhile, China's top musicians performed at the Beijing Olympics. On today's show: what happens when musicians support authoritarian governments -- and where the dissidents have all gone. Also: Mexican-American singer-songwriter Lila Downs continues to honor the rich musical heritage of her homeland on her new album, "Shake Away." She shares it with us today.
A Delicate Dance of Music and Politics
The death last month of Russian author Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn brought to mind the long tradition of dissidents who take a stand against authoritarian governments. But lately, it seems the tides have turned: Conductor Valery Gergiev has been performing on behalf of Vladimir Putin. And countless Chinese artists worked in support of their government’s Olympic program last month. Today, Washington Post cultural critic Philip Kennicott and Princeton University professor of East Asian Studies Perry Link, talk about whether modern-day dissidents still exist.
Soundcheck blog: John Schaefer asks where have the dissidents gone?
"Gergiev's Russian Overture: A Symphony of Sympathies" by Philip Kennicott
More about Perry Link
Lila Downs on Mexican Pride
Mexican-American singer Lila Downs has often tackled hot-button issues like immigration and feminism. So it's no surprise that in her new album, "Shake Away," she has included songs about minimum wage and nostalgia for the homeland. But it also has songs by Santana and Lucinda Williams, as well as a duet with the legendary Argentinean singer Mercedes Sosa. Downs joins us to talk about it.
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