Cultural change Flashcards
Stalin’s view on cultural pursuits
They were a means of delivering socialist ideology
Creativity of the 1920s
Gave way to conformity of the 1930s
1932
All writers (including newspapers, magazines, plays, novels and poems) had to belong to the Union of Soviet Writies while similar bodies were established for musicians, filmmakers, painters and sculptors.
Non-membership meant artistic isolation.
Socialist realism
Everyone had to adhere to the doctrine of ‘socialist realism’, representing socialist life in the future.
Thus people could appreciate ‘socialist reality’ and appreciate the direction in which the Soviet state was taking them.
Zhadanov
A loyal Bolshevik.
Whom, at the first congress of the Union of Soviet Writers in 1934 stated that writers were expected to glorify the working man and be optimistic in their message. (e.g. happy endings were essential)
Any new forms
They were criticised.
e.g. Shostakovich’s opera “Lady Macbeth” was a modernist work and was criticised by Stalin. The composer escaped arrest but the theatre director who defended Shostakovich was tortured and shot plus his wife was stabbed to death.
Works of the 19th century
Were widely read, seen, heard and copied showing that the regime believed the ordinary man could relate to these.
Classical forms
Architecture is an example that saw classical forms being revived
Landscape art also revived (especially if it showed scenes of Soviet industry)
In music there was a return to Tchaikovsky
In literature to Tolstoy
Folk culture
Promoted and flow troupes appeared along with folk choirs. This was promoted as part of Russia’s great heritage although the reality was much of this was fabricated by the regime.
