Really interesting post, especially since I have never heard of Gopniks before. I like how you linked the movement to the Soviet economy of the late 80’s which you said “went from stagnation to deterioration.” I think that these kind of cultural movements are a lot more likely when there is less economic opportunity.
Author: awpeake12
Comment on The Baltic Independence Movement by awpeake12
This post was so informative, I really liked how you connected the independence movements in the Baltic states to Gorbachev’s policies of glasnost and perestroika. It was so cool to learn how these independence movements took on elements of civil disobedience such as the 600-km human chain–must have been quite a sight. I also liked how you included historical background such as the Nazi occupation and the Molotov Ribbentropp Pact. Do you think the counter culture of the 60’s and 70’s against the Vietnam war and segregation in the United States played any part in the Baltic nations adopting their own forms of civil disobedience?
Comment on Lots of Problems with Alcohol by awpeake12
Hey, I really liked your post on Alcohol, a lot of people–including me–wrote about it. I really liked that you included the figures to show just how large of a part of Russia’s economy it was. I also really liked the bit about people being able to use coupons to buy alcohol because I don’t think I saw that when I was writing.
Comment on Episode 6: Return of the Jet Age by awpeake12
Really great post. It is super counter intuitive, I think to us, that pan am would fail and aeroflot would take off. This post made me wonder about the prevalence of international travel for Soviet citizens?
Comment on Aw (Foe)y What Have We Done by awpeake12
Great post on the invasion of Afghanistan and Detente. A fun fact I learned after reading more about the invasion is that the United States boycotted the summer Olympics in Moscow. How much do you think the new presidential administration in the United States (Reagan) contributed to the move away from detente?
Comment on A Bright New Future? by awpeake12
I thought your post on Soviet sci fi and the Strugatsky brothers was really informative. It is cool to see how they were remade years later into video games and movies. Also I think it makes sense that sci fi would be so popular in the Soviet Union given the heave emphasis placed on science
Comment on Everybody’s a critic: Khrushchev’s thoughts on art by awpeake12
Great work on de-stalinization in art. So interesting how they wanted to do away with a lot of the suppression associated with it–but at the same time =were still not really committed to free speech or freedom of expression. I particularly like that you included a picture of the statue over Khrushchev’s grave–pretty powerful image between the light and dark. I also died laughing at Khrushchev’s quote on sitting down in the nettles.
Comment on Betrayal at the Kremlin! by awpeake12
I like how you talked about the broader implications of the secret speech and how it posed potential problems for them in areas like Hungary. In my post I talked a little about how de-stalinization caused problems for Russia in China (but for different reasons.) Great work, and I really did like your writing style.
Comment on Summerhouses & the Soviet Union by awpeake12
Great post on the issues with housing and also dachas. It is so interesting to see the the differences between soviet ideology–which stresses equality–and the challenge of implementing it in actuality. I liked how you talked about the inequalities in the dachas of the elites and regular people. Nicholas also had a good post on dachas last week that you should check out!
https://nschuff7.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/dacha-the-soviet-dream/
Comment on Dacha: The Soviet Dream by awpeake12
Really good post! It was so neat to see how you connected the dacha to overarching history such as during the revolution and great retreat and after the death of Stalin. Dachas are also interesting when considering the relationship between town and rural life–and how those who lived in the cities got out to experience the land and leave the city.
