Despite it’s reputation for “stagnation,” the Soviet seventies were anything but boring! Science fiction, new modes of consumerism and expanding television and film offerings shaped the decade, as did the dissident movement, the campaign to clean-up the Aral Sea, and the invasion of Afghanistan.
Month: April 2017
The Soviet Sixties
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We had a terrific crop of posts this week, many of which focused on the diversity of cultural expression, social change and generational tensions that were hallmarks of the Soviet sixties.
Cosmonauts and Propaganda
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Following the launch of Sputnik I, the space race between the Soviet Union and the United States was in full swing. The implications of the race would have lasting effects throughout both nations involved. The international tension was of importance not only for the advancement of military technology but also for the cultural reform still … Continue reading Cosmonauts and Propaganda
Third World Friends
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The Soviet Union during the 1950’s and 1960’s began to shift their focus to creating better relations with what was beginning to be called the Third World. These developing nations were prime for a world power to back them and declare their government legitimate. Third World nations, mainly African and Asian nations looked to … Continue reading Third World Friends
Manuscripts Don’t Burn
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For my blog post of the week, I wanted briefly look at censorship in 1960’s Soviet Russia and how censorship effected The Master and Margarita, a book by that many consider to be one of the greatest pieces of literature of the… Continue Reading →
The Illusion of Khrushchev
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Khrushchev started out his reign as an a ruler that was for the people. He worked to raise the standard of living for the people and increase agricultural production. He worked to revive and de-censor the arts. He started
Shoot to Kill
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Imagine you are a Soviet citizen who works in a locomotive building plant day in and day out, just to make ends meet. You work hard to provide for your family and to provide food on the table so that your children are able to eat. For the last ten years, the economy has been… Continue reading Shoot to Kill →
Even Less Church Bells…
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Continuing my theme of religion, this week on the 17 moments page I found an interesting topic about Khrushchev and his role in the (further) destruction of the church. The church was already losing power (Stalin was afraid of the … Continue reading →
Time Machine is (surprisingly) Not Just an Apple App
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Most people of our time, including Google, think of an Apple application when discussing (or searching) the term “Time Machine.” However, during the timeframe of the sixties in Soviet Russia,
Czechoslovakia Gets a Little too Western for Brezhnev
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On August 20th, 1968, Warsaw Pact tanks and soldiers invaded Czechoslovakia in order to put down peaceful protests inspired by Alexander Dubček’s attempts at reforming the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. Dubček wanted to enact democratic reforms, including freedom of speech and assembly as well as economic reforms, in order to improve socialism. These reforms can be … Continue reading “Czechoslovakia Gets a Little too Western for Brezhnev”
