Stalin and Visual Arts

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes the general impact of politics on Soviet art during the Stalinist period, specifically between 1920 and 1945. The paper examines Stalinist architecture and posters and discusses how visual arts became the main component of communist propaganda in the Soviet Union. The paper therefore shows how Stalin's vision of the arts was that they should glorify political and social ideals of communism.

From the Paper:

"When it comes to political regimes, modern societies can be characterized as democratic or totalitarian. Throughout history, political regimes have always wielded influence over the arts. This influence has manifested itself in various manners, ranging from social aspects which translated into a particular theme which was adopted by many artists in a particular period of time, or simply in the form of restrictions imposed on artists by the ruling class. In this sense, it is quite clear that totalitarian regimes are the most harsh and limitative."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Dream Factory Communism: The Visual Culture of the Stalin Era." Exhibition.<http://www.culturekiosque.com/art/exhibiti/sovietart.html>
• Lapides, Jim; Foss, Clive. "Soviet Posters." International Poster Gallery. 1998. <http://www.internationalposter.com/country-primers/soviet-posters.aspx>
• "Nazi and Soviet Art" <http://www.goodart.org/artofnz.htm>
• Read, Herbert. "The Freedom of the Artist". To Hell with Culture: And Other Essays on Art and Society. London: Routledge, 2002: 112-125.
• "Socialist Realism." Virtual Museum of Political Art. <http://members.telering.at/pat/soc.htm>

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