Summary

This interview with the fictional character A. Plucer, presented as a transcript of an interrogation, features Vladimir Vysotsky assuming the persona of a Soviet dissident. The central thesis is a critique of the Soviet system's pervasive paranoia, its disregard for individual rights, and the psychological toll it exacts on its citizens, all conveyed through the character's defiant and ironic responses. Vysotsky uses the interview format to expose the absurdities of official ideology and the suffocating atmosphere of suspicion and denunciation within Soviet society.

Readers gain insight into the lived experience of dissent under totalitarianism, understanding how individuals maintained their integrity and sanity through wit, irony, and a refusal to be fully assimilated. The work highlights the power of language to resist oppression and the enduring human desire for truth and freedom, even in the face of overwhelming state control.

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Key concepts

Dissident Persona — A fictional character embodying resistance to an oppressive regime.
Irony as Resistance — Employing sarcasm and understated humor to subvert official narratives.
Pervasive Paranoia — The atmosphere of suspicion and fear fostered by the state.
Psychological Toll of Repression — The mental and emotional impact of living under totalitarianism.
Absurdity of Ideology — Exposing the illogical and contradictory nature of official dogma.