It was a period of great violence. The Great Terror held the Soviet society at its throat. Between the years of 1936 and 1938, three main show trials would occur. During each, high ranking Soviet intelligentsia, military officers, and government officials would meet swift judgment and execution. During this time, thousands of people were murdered […]
Month: March 2018
Stop 4: Partying in Moscow
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This week I decided to stay in the capital look for implications of the 30’s on the city today. On different days I will go to a different areas and look at a different topic varying from an economic perspective to a cultural perspective and a social perspective. My goal for this trip is find […]
Russian to Prove Something
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One common theme that can be seen throughout Russian and Soviet history is the over arching feeling that they have something to prove to the western world. Whether that be that they are just as modern and advanced if not more so, or that they are also a power to be reckoned with in the … Continue reading Russian to Prove Something
Collectivization
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Once the Bolsheviks were firmly in control and Stalin had established himself as the man in charge there came a great many changes to Russia during the 1920’s and 1930’s. One major problem Stalin had was the peasants. The majority of the peasants were not communist and often very distrustful of them and other outsiders. … Continue reading Collectivization
Art imitates reality. (We hope)
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Aleksandr Deyneka (Alexander Deineka), most famous for his work as a Soviet realist painter, aids us in viewing Soviet culture as it changes dramatically from the October Revolution to the onset of World War II. Deyneka is a prominent figure head in the “art to the masses” movement in the 1920s, he creates mosaics for … Continue reading Art imitates reality. (We hope) →
Protected: The Heroic Myth of Pavlik Morozov
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There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Blog 4 – 1929 Collectivization
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The picture above shows one of many propaganda posters promoting collectivization and collective farm work. The Soviet government enforced collectivization of its agricultural sector as this was part of the first five-year plan. Collectivization means consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms, hence the term collectivization. In short, peasants had to give up their … Continue reading Blog 4 – 1929 Collectivization →
In Russia, Champagne Drinks You
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Of all of France’s claims to fame found throughout history, one of the most iconic is that sweet, bubbly champagne found at almost any celebration. Hailing from the region of France named Champagne, this type of wine is traditionally a sparkling white that uses grapes grown in the region and is normally put through a … Continue reading In Russia, Champagne Drinks You →
Stalin’s Favorite Movie: Soviet Film in the 1930’s
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The period from 1924 to 1930 is often called “The Golden Age of Soviet Cinema.” During this time, Soviet filmmakers made breakthroughs in visual effects and editing styles. At the same time, they rejected the bourgeoisie trend in Western films of psychologizing characters and focusing on individuals. Instead, Soviet directors often focused on people…
4th Blogpost Guidelines
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We begin with the upheaval at the end of the twenties, when the forced collectivization of the peasantry and a massive industrialization campaign permanently transformed Soviet life. Indeed the “Great Turn” brought changes so profound and wide-reaching that the period of the First Five Year Plan (1928-1932) is often seen as a “second” revolution. The decade that followed was one of Shockworkers, Stalinist family values, and Purges, as well as a social-political phenomenon scholars have called “The Great Retreat.” So, the thirties are going to be exciting to study!
