Introduction. The beginning of 2026 was marked by an unexpected cultural phenomenon that extended far beyond Russia's borders and captured Western social media. This concerns the so-called "Russian gaze" — a specific facial expression that foreigners attempt to imitate, posting the results on social networks. Thousands of users around the world train before cameras, striving to give their faces an expression of cold detachment combined with a slight hint of disdain. Meanwhile, Russians themselves observe these attempts with bewilderment and irony, since what has become a trend for foreigners is for native culture bearers a natural, everyday state shaped by history, climate, and mentality. I. What Is the "Russian Gaze": An Instruction for Foreigners. In instructions for this peculiar flash mob, the "Slavic gaze" is described as the ability to look into the distance, not kindly, but with a meaningfully inspired expression. It requires a combination of cold detachment and slight disdain, a look from under the brows, but without aggression. Foreigners' attempts to depict something similar often appear comical: they try to frown, begin to look from under their brows, grimace, squint, or conversely, widen their eyes too much. As noted in domestic social networks, it is not easy to depict an "intense Slavic gaze" — this difficult expression comes with a particular state of soul formed by existential survival experience, historically conditioned mentality, and harsh climate. Russian actors and cultural figures comment on this trend with an understanding of its depth. In their opinion, the "Russian gaze" can be learned, but it is incredibly difficult. To do so, one must live through and absorb the experience of past generations: three revolutions, two world wars, and two collapses of the country within just the last hundred years. At the same time, they acknowledge that talented foreign artists can play the Russian soul if they wish to comprehend it. Actresses express ... Читать далее