Material Form & Technology

Something lost

Sigei and Nikonova did not use typewriters in the making of Zhurnal Mod, which was handwritten and illustrated. This is characteristic of Sigei, who often handwrote his other works and used many non-textual elements, such as stencils and stamps (Tigountsova, 2002). The emphasis on the illustrations and visual elements in Zhurnal Mod would have made it difficult to distribute widely, as samizdat was often re-typed using typewriters. In this case, Sigei and Nikonova would have to use photocopiers, which were not widely accessible, or recreate the illustrations (Tigountsova, 2002). In addition, Zhurnal Mod was handbound by fabric, which is impossible to exactly replicate. Therefore, another reason that Zhurnal Mod is endangered is because its contents and form can never be recreated exactly.

Something gained

Ann Komaromi (2004) notes that the material form of samizdat (typed letters, poor paper quality) became associated with its role in political dissidence. Sigei and Nikonova’s unconventional samizdat, one full of handwritten notes and illustrations, manages to avoid some of this association. By subverting the trappings of the samizdat form, Zhurnal Mod is less constrained by a narrative of oppression. It is more than an act of resistance – it is also the sharing of creative ideas and artistic experimentation.