Russian Dept. Thesis Presentation: Talia Sanders ’25

The title of Talia Sanders’ thesis is “Transformative Force or Consumerist Nightmare? Internet Aesthetics in Post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan.”

Internet aesthetics took over social media during the COVID 19 pandemic, which confined social interaction largely to the virtual world. Their influence continues to the present day, with new aesthetics quickly emerging and fading in the internet’s infinite pool of possibilities. From Old Money to Y2K and the tradwife, these curated visual categories promise youth not merely identity, but more importantly community and personal fulfillment through a cohesive appearance and lifestyle. In her thesis for the Russian Program, Talia Sanders explores TikTok internet aesthetics and their real life manifestations in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. By comparing these aesthetics to those popular in the United States, she questions their appeal, goals, and influence on the genesis of youth culture in post-Soviet Kyrgyzstan, where recent independence, foreign interests, and a volatile political environment have created uniquely challenging conditions for the construction of youth identity. After presenting the findings of her thesis, Talia will answer questions from the audience, with refreshments to follow.

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