Samizdat is Russian for self-published. Back in the bad old days of communism, many books were banned because the "state" feared they may give people ideas that didn't fit in with the status quo.
In Czechoslovakia, this caused people to type forbidden books out by hand, then mimeograph them so people could read them. That is how my husband read "1984", for example. Someone translated the entire thing from English to Czech, typed it out, and copied it on those ancient, smelly machines.
Many forms of art were banned. Most notable was the band The Plastic People of the Universe, who got their name from some Frank Zappa lyrics. Founded by bassist Milan Hlavsa, all they wanted to do was to be rock stars. Their lyrics were neither overtly nor covertly political. But for some reason, the communists banned them and their music. They were arrested, tried and jailed in 1976, which led to the creation of Charta 77, a document outlining a demand for basic freedom and human rights. Many leading personalities, such as Vaclav Havel, were instrumental in creating this.
Over the years, communism was weakened until it finally collapsed 20 years ago this month. Unfortunately, Milan Hlavsa died nearly ten years ago. He was a reluctant revolutionary, but one all the same. This video is in Czech, but it shows the band and others going to a private wedding party where they could play. There is a bit of proto-slam poetry at the end. Milan Hlavsa is the guy with long, dark hair.
Blogging is also samizdat, in the sense that it is self published, without the traditional gatekeepers. The community decides what writing is good or not.
This is an open thread.
