2024 05 01
xxxx 05 01
Published on GAT.ST - read German Version here
"Chechnya to ban music not between 80 and 116 BPM. "
Resident Advisor
Slowly we approach the next small town. Music plays on the radio while the BPM counter steadfastly shows 99 – all in accordance with state regulations. From a distance, the town in the valley appears as a pink spot, which upon closer inspection becomes a hodgepodge of roofs and white facades. We glide gently into the town because not only is the music speed regulated, but also the pace; violations are strictly enforced. As we drive along the street, the same house passes us repeatedly, a model that extends like a duplicated pattern throughout the entire country. Same colors, same shapes, same windows, same curtains, same doormats – only the house numbers and the names on the door signs vary. In this uniformity, finding one specific house is not quite easy. Some may wonder what we are actually looking for.
We are on our way to visit the person who once enacted all these regulations. We want to understand what drives someone to impose an entire system on a country. It all started with the regulation of music speed. Gender and abortion bans have always existed but were further reinforced. Bans on going out followed, as did clothing regulations and stricter moral rules. More and more aspects of life were standardized and prescribed; everything was restricted. The stated goal was to create a strong national identity, but in reality, it was only about maintaining power and suppression. People were not supposed to orient themselves towards modern values such as equality and openness, but towards apparent traditions that have shaped the nation for centuries. The idea was to project a conservative and strong image outward through equality, upheld by values such as masculinity, family, strength, religion, brotherhood, and heteronormativity.
Now we stand at the door of the person who was significantly involved in setting these regulations. First, we lightly tap our foot in time and nervously glance at the BPM counter, which settles at 105. Then we knock on the door in the same rhythm as our foot with our hand. We wait a while until we hear even steps behind the door. When the door opens, we realize that the person lives in harmony with the national anthem – 93 BPM. Everything seems to follow a steady metronome, a destiny that this person seems to need from above. As our conversation progresses, it becomes clear to us that this person advocates complete self-abandonment, a life according to a codebook, without independent thinking, just existing according to rules. It becomes evident that behind the rigid rules and norms lies a deeper desire for control and power, which undermines the individuality and freedom of people. Everyone could choose a rhythm and corresponding rules for their life themselves – it becomes dangerous when a person in the state dictates the rhythm.
References
Wie absurd ist eigentlich Tschetschenien?
An Schulen, Unis und Behörden gilt ab sofort das Genderverbot
Deshalb weißt du nichts über Turkmenistan
Strenge Kleidervorschriften - Iran droht Frauen mit härteren Strafen
Vatikan zum EU-Abtreibungs-Votum: Frauen und „Kultur des Wir" stärken
