• DerEwigeAtheist [she/her, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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      6 months ago

      Engaging with the cultural context of a classic novel is part of reading it. Of course it can be difficult, but it is a russian piece of literature. It is an integral part of what it is, on a conceptual level. If you take that away you have a fundamentally different work. What’s the poin then? This is not about ability, at least I don’t think so, there is a glossary is there after all(in the better translations at least).

      Like, I agree, fuck the names of obscure political groups from a hundred years ago. Outside of specific contexts they are generally not needed for understanding the theory. But theory is not a narrative novel.

      • ToxicDivinity [comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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        6 months ago

        If you take that away you have a fundamentally different work. What’s the poin then?

        You’re already reading a translation. You’re already reading a fundamentally different work

        I agree that it’s good to try to understand things that are foreign to you but if that’s too difficult then do whatever works best for you it’s not a big deal