Theme 3 Culture K, B + Flashcards
What was the immediate impression given regarding culture after World War Two?
Gave writers and artists greater freedom.
-Boris Pasternak allowed to give public readings of his poetry (previously banned)
What evidence is there that this was particularly short lived?
Elements of western culture were condemned.
In 1946, campaign to try to remove all aspects of “Bourgeois” culture from the west. Strongly xenophobic attitudes.
What did Khrushchev initially do to regarding censorship of culture?
Artists and writers given greater hope for more freedom from Khrushchev’s destalinisation.
Khrushchev allowed works that had previously been banned.
What examples are there of previously unpublished works being released?
- Works by Isaac Babel were published. He was shot during purges.
- Younger poets could publish collections of experimental poetry, and jazz resurfaced.
- Previously banned book, One Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich published.
What themes did artists begin to explore under Khrushchev?
Spiritual Concerns, bleakness of rural life and problems such as adultery, divorce and alcohol abuse appeared in art.
No longer focused on socialist realism.
What evidence is there to suggest that, by the late 1950s, new culture was impacting the youth of the USSR?
nonconformity began to impact the youth culture in USSR.
Youth began to be influenced by the western style of music etc due to the bland unexciting themes in the USSR. Included pop and rock&roll.
Urban groups developed that wore western fashion and were described as “rude and ignorant freaks”.
Who was the ‘guitar-poet’ and why might this show a relaxation of censorship?
An advancement in popular music where the figure Alexander Galich would compose and perform his own work. (shows freedom)
Addressed feelings of individual and spoke to the socially alienated.
What impact did Brezhnev have on cultural censorship?
Did not return to strict ways of application like Socialist Realism but narrowed boundaries of acceptable culture. Clearer outlines of what was allowed; however artists still pushed the boundaries.
What did official culture remain focused on and how did the population react?
Continued focus on propaganda and focus on the achievements on socialism. Majority of the population preferred this style, but artists disliked it. “Graveyard of …free expression”
What evidence is there of non-conformity during the Brezhnev years?
- Soviet Culture became more conservative (like Brezhnev). Sexual themes were more troublesome than political
- Values of rural life highlighted and romanticised.
- Russian nationalism received encouragement from government.
- Popular music had an increased influence. Soviet Youth drawn to cultural trends of the west.
What was Doctor Zhivago and what does it suggest about Khrushchev’s thaw?
Doctor Zhivago, a book by Boris Pasternak, was banned despite its revolutionary story.
Khrushchev himself chose for it to be banned despite not fully reading it.
Book was smuggled abroad and published in Italy in 1957. It later won a Nobel Prize for literature, which deeply embarrassed k.
How was non-comformity dealt with under Brezhnev?
They were forced into exile and or emigrated or refused to work.
Brezhnev had made it easier to undermine the system. Readers and audience better grasped the meaning behind their works.
What was Khrushchev’s opinion of abstract art and jazz music?
Jazz music and abstract art angered him.
- After visiting an art gallery in 1962, Khrushchev began fuming with anger when seeing the art. The artists were shamed publicly by K and they fleed in fear of being arrested and imprisoned.
How were Komsomol groups used to control art under Khrushchev?
Deployed to patrol streets and dance halls to report on young people’s behaviour.
Banned certain dance moves in 1961.
Who was Joseph Brodsky?
Poet whose poetry was secretly read aloud in secret gatherings. Upon the secret police finding out of his actions, he was arrested and condemned for “corruption”.
