I find it really interesting, and not at all surprising, that the Soviet Union was willing to let masses of its own citizens suffer the consequences of radiation just to hide its failures from the people. I like how you examined the actions of the West during this disaster, as it was one of the main forces that made the Soviet Union respond the way it eventually did. What do you think the Soviet Union would have done if the West had not pushed it to make an official, fact-correct response?
Author: taylorraeboydblog
Comment on The lads of Liubertsy by taylorraeboydblog
I found this really interesting as they became a stereotype for the Soviet idea of what a man should be- muscular, willing to fight, and defense to their culture. I really liked how you emphasized the potential economic gain they had by stealing the western-styled clothing, as it shows that they knew that they would still be popular no matter what they did to those that wore them. I also really love how despite their hatred for Western culture the man in the first picture is wearing a Rambo t-shirt, something that was purely American at the time.
Comment on We Have No Sex Here by taylorraeboydblog
Bree, I really liked how you treated the connection between women’s bodies and the glory and morality of a country. The issue of prostitution in Russia certainly angered many as they viewed it as shameful for the country, but they never really considered why masses of women had to turn to prostitution in the first place.
Comment on Just Another Proxy War by taylorraeboydblog
This was a really relaxed and well-written post about the invasion and its aftermath. I really liked how you broke down how it started and the lasting effects it had for the Soviet Union, as well as how the situation became an international conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Comment on Hand Moscow a Box of Tissues and Give it a Warm Hug by taylorraeboydblog
I really liked your post because it shows how Russian women were expected to behave and what their goals in life were supposed to be during the 1980s, a time that we consider to be modern. I liked how you stressed the double standard these women faced, as they had to be both independent and dependent, masculine and feminine, and workers and homemakers.
Comment on Everybody’s a critic: Khrushchev’s thoughts on art by taylorraeboydblog
I really liked your post! I liked how you focused on how Khrushchev reacted to artwork that went against the political narrative he was trying to form and establish, and how the comments you included really drove that point home. Art has always been apolitical tool because it is accessible to a wide variety of people, and can be understood in a way that words cannot. The fact that Khrushchev was afraid of these unflattering works shows that they were based in reality.
Comment on Sputnik and the Space Race by taylorraeboydblog
I really liked your post because it shows the intensity of the competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. The desire and need to have satellites in space was a major issue and turning point in the Cold War, as it allowed for greater military capabilities.
Comment on A Dog Called Laika by taylorraeboydblog
I really liked this post! The space program was more about sending people to the moon,and your emphasis on the ability to send missiles to other parts of the world, such as the United States highlights this.
Comment on The New Boss by taylorraeboydblog
I really enjoyed how you discussed Beria in your post. I found it really interesting that they focused on presenting Beria as anti-Communist and anti-state despite the fact that he had been loyal for years under Stalin doing the dirtiest of work in the name of the state.
Comment on The Girl with the Tokarev SVT-40 semi-automatic rifle. by taylorraeboydblog
I really loved how you focused on Lyudmila Pavlichenko in your blog post! She was an amazing soldier and sniper who greatly contributed to the war effort, but is sadly overshadowed in the mainstream narratives surrounding the battles of World War II. How do you think her experiences as a female soldier and those of the “Night Witches,” the all female Soviet aviator unit, overall affect Soviet attitudes towards women both in general and during times of war? Do you think they played a role in changing how other nations such as the United States viewed the roles of women in war?
