There is nothing absurd or negative for him in the profanity if it is used correctly. He never thought that he is Ukrainian, for it’s more important just to Ukrainian. For him, the best president is Poroshenko, and Zelensky is humor for the sheep. About the difference from Russians, the main problems of Ukrainians, the change of the Hetman and the legalization of corruption – the way Les Podervianskyi himself sees it in the section “Who is…” from DUMKA.
Do not think that you’re Ukrainian, be Ukrainian
Podervianskyi was raised in a bilingual environment, his father was half Russian, and his mother fluently spoke both Russian and Ukrainian. But even when the author moved from the Ukrainian school to the Russian one, he… didn’t think that he was a Ukrainian. Because you don’t need to think, you need to be.
“Bruce Lee once said that we shouldn’t try to be something – we must be it. It’s better not to pretend being something if there is nothing. For me, there was no question who I am. Although the family was Russian-speaking, the father was half-Pole and half-Russian. However, he is a Kyiv native. For his mother Ukrainian language as well as, Russian are native. She speaks two languages and easily switches from one to another. I grew up in a bilingual environment, I studied at a Ukrainian school. Then I went to a Russian one. And I wasn’t thinking that I’m Ukrainian. There’s no need to think – you just need to be. Ukrainian.”
Photo: molbuk.ua
Podervyansky reads almost nothing.
Every writer must not only produce but also consume? Keep this phrase for someone else, because in the case of Les to change the restaurant for a canteen is far from the best option. The artist believes that he has read all the best that was worthy of his attention. As for modern Ukrainian authors he just… looks through them.
“I haven’t read anything for a long time. Because I’ve read all that was worth reading. Moreover, a long time ago. I firmly believe that one should read everything by the age of 35, and I did it. Only then you can start writing. And books that are published by contemporary Ukrainian writers … I sometimes skim them. I look through, but not very attentively. I have a very high bar. You see, if all your life you ate at a canteen, you can eat whatever you want. And it is another thing if you ate in good restaurants.
Discussions about profanity are absurd
If it was possible to make a rating of authors that allow themselves to use crude language, then Podervianskyi would be in top three (if not even a leader). Some part of the audience, maybe even discovered him due to his choice language. However, the author himself doesn’t see anything negative in this. If our life is a choice, therefore what kind of discussions can be?
“For me, there is no choice and normal language. I do not divide the words into bad and good ones. Our life is a choice, therefore the conversation about choice language is absurd. All words are the same. The word “d*ck” and the word “heart” are absolutely identical to me – these are parts of the human body.”
But between swearing and skill to do it correctly and appropriately, there is a huge difference. According to Les, not everyone can master this element. Actually, the same concerns typical fillers.
“I use them when they are needed. And when it’s unnecessary – I don’t use it. People are swearing differently. There are few who can really swear. Most people don’t know how to swear and put these words into their speech mechanically. Just like other fillers.”
Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBK-Ukraine
He is the author of an informal Ukrainian national idea
Even those who have never heard of Podervianskyi, not to mention other Ukrainian authors, have heard about it. This phrase, which in such form could be heard regardless of the country anywhere and from anyone, eventually became a hallmark of this particular writer.
“You say there should be a national idea? “F*ck off us,” I’ve already said this. That was some kind of sudden enlightenment, like that one that has Taoist.
Ukraine needs to learn from Israel. Golda Meir said one wonderful phrase that I like: “Although we do not have nuclear weapons if we need to, we will bomb.” That’s the whole national idea in this phrase. There is no need in another national idea.”
Ukraine will never be able to turn into Russia, even if it wants to
It seems that we’re done with the national idea. But if they are not going to f… um, to listen to Les, then don’t panic: in the opinion of the artist, we will never turn into the neighbor. At the very least, because genetically we hate power, and you can’t say that about Russians.
“Russians and we are quite different people, we can’t be compared. The whole history of Ukraine suggests that Ukrainians genetically hate power. By this statement, we definitely can’t turn into Russia. Because it’s not just the gains of recent years, but Ukrainian genetic trait. Moreover, I won’t say that it’s always constructive. At the beginning of the XVII century, Ukrainians had repeatedly toppled Hetman Sahaidachny, and he was not the worst one. But Ukrainians have such a tradition. As soon as they choose power, they immediately start hating it. And you can do anything about it, it’s a fact. “
Photo: ua.news
Our main problems are provinciality and low self-esteem
Oligarchs, corruption, law enforcement system? Leave this list of “main problems of the country” for someone else. Podervianskyi believes that the greatest problem for us is self-esteem, and the only thing that can please and inspire Ukrainians is… defeat of the enemy.
“We have real problems with self-esteem, and, I think, we don’t have enough victories to correct this. Here, take any resident of Great Britain, even the poorest proletarian from Manchester, talk to him – and you will feel this British pathos. And we don’t have it.
Such a victory that would please Ukrainians, may be anything but the defeat of our enemies. We can’t just rejoice at something for some reason. If, for example, the Crimean bridge will collapse, this will be a real day of national unity, and everyone will take to the streets in embroidered shirts»
Hetman isn’t changed during the war
Have you seen a short statement by Les during the nomination of Petro Poroshenko for the second term? Have you seen how many times it was called “Poroshenko-bot” and the artist who sold out? In fact, Podervianskyi explained this position last year. Briefly: don’t swap horses in mid-stream.
“I, as a true Ukrainian, don’t like the power. But I believe that at this stage when Ukraine is in a state of war, power must be supported in something good, but it must be criticized for everything bad. And then, when the war is over, then we must deal with this power seriously, truly. However, Hetman isn’t changed during the war
Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBK-Ukraine
Each country has its own Zelensky
The writer spoke about the new-born presidential candidate in early January, and, of course, in a typical (that is, frank) manner. In a few words: it’s humor for sheep, the amount of which is the same everywhere.
“This is not the Ukrainian humor, it’s humor for sheep. And sheep are always the majority. Nothing exceptional. Sheep like to laugh. Show a finger to It – and it will laugh. When a person is programmed to laugh, absolutely nothing needs to be done.
In each country, the percentage of the sheep is approximately the same. Because each country has its own Zelensky. And if you turn on the German ARD or something else… it’s all the same. TV produces exactly such a product. The TV can’t produce something else.»
Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBK-Ukraine
Corruption in Ukraine can be… legalized
Well, of course, if you think about it: from every bribe you simply pay tax. In both cases – when you give and when you take. And if you haven’t paid it – welcome to the prison.
“Once I had that thought… What if corruption in Ukraine was legalized? That means in case of a bribe both the person who gives the bribe and the person who takes the bribe pay the tax. That is a bribe tax. This way, we will legalize both corruption and taxes.
In my opinion, this will be a very beneficial story. If some moron doesn’t pay a bribe tax, then he is going to prison, 100%. We will have two witnesses – one who gives and one who takes. And both of them will write snitch on each other. Try to prove that I’m wrong.“
By Dmytro Zhuravel
The publication was collected from numerous interviews, speeches, and appeals of the material’s protagonist.
