Soviet (In)finite Jest: Leonid Yengibarov’s Pantomime and State Erasure

Abstract

This article presents Leonid Yengibarov’s innovations to Soviet pantomime and the ways in which his interdisciplinarity prompted philosophical reflection and dialogue. Yengibarov’s performances emphasized the tragicomic, a move away from traditional clowning and toward the recognition of and reflection on ethical responsibility. This unconventionality marked him as unpredictable in the decidedly curated reality of Soviet entertainment and often led him to deviate from what the state considered acceptable. As such, this article likewise explores the underlying reasons, particularly the socio-political, for why the custodians of public order, opinion, and law ultimately worked toward the erasure of his art, and perhaps even his life.