Download Art used to manipulate ideological beliefs, specifically

Life in Stalins Russia
Art and Sport
Agitational Art
• Art used to manipulate ideological beliefs, specifically to
spread the ideals of Communism in Russia.
• Period immediately following the 1917 revolution
• Took many different forms
o theatrical performances, storming of the white palace
o Agit-trains
o Statues.
How was Art used by the State
- During this time, there was tighter control on the content of the
pictures. Each picture would often contain tractors, harvesting,
peasants etc…
- It had to show socialist elements and it had to tell a story that could
be understood without any difficulty. Hence the state used the art
produced as propaganda.
- For Music, the State made sure that all music made was positive,
symphonies were only allowed in a major key as it created a
much more happier tone compared to a symphony in a minor key.
Music was used again as propaganda as the music made was
intended to praise the ' happy life of a soviet man'
Impact of communism on artists
- In the 1920s, artists had a lot of freedom, as they were allowed to
express themselves. Stalin merely saw this as a form of propaganda
- However, in the 1930s, there were more restrictions, as strists had to
conform to 'Socialist Realism'. This meant that the artists had to
glorify the achievements of Stalin and the five-year plan.
- The artists were encouraged to produce their own work as the Tzar's
censorship was lifted.
The effects of Cultural Revolution
-The Cultural Revolution was part of a great change in the USSR, it was
associated with the ‘socialist offensive’.
-The Cultural Revolution had a huge impact on the Arts, some of the old
‘master’ paintings were vandalized because of the class wars in Russia. They
were noted as ‘bourgeois culture’.
-Galleries had to start labeling exhibits according to the class origins of the
artist. The major artists association changed its name to Association of
Proletarian Artists in 1931.
-Artists were given strict guidelines for their paintings and since museum
directors were given bonuses for exceeding their targets it gave a large
incentive for them to bring more people into the galleries, exposing the public
to the message.
Effects on the People
• Architecture - Russian Metro, decorated so lavishly considering it
was public and anyone could use it.
• Proletkult (proletarian cultural movement), people creating their
own art.
• Propaganda, the bolsheviks managed to keep well known artists
on their side encouraging them to take advantage of the lack of
censorship.
• Agitational art - manipulating ideological beliefs spreading
communism. storming of the winter palace,
o Agit-trains which were painted and filled with party manifestos
and even carriages with films of lenin and trotsky.