Describes the ideas of four of Russia's prominent thinkers around the time of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution: Blok; Lunacharsky; Gershenzon; and Ivanov.
Abstract This paper discusses the works of four Russian thinkers and shows how their ideas helped to shape the emerging culture and its art. The works examined are "The Intelligentsia and the Revolution" by Aleksandr Aleksandrovich Blok, "The Collapse of Humanism" also by Blok, "Theses of the Art Section of Narkompros and the Central Committee of the Union of Art Workers Concerning Basic Policy in the Field of Art" by Lunacharsky, "Revolution and Art" also by Lunacharsky, and "Correspondence Across A Room" by Vsevolod Ivanov and Mikhail Osipovich Gershenzon.
From the Paper "In what is perhaps a more in-depth look at the changing values of the revolutionary culture, Ivanov and Gershenzon exchange a series of letters on the subject in Correspondence Across A Room, which is a compilation of their exchanges. Unlike Blok and Lunacharsky, these thinkers are less interested in designating the roles of various groups in the new culture, although they explore similar terrain. Each argues for a sort of "cultural renewal", in the sense that they argue for the continued vitality of the culture, but, excepting Lunacharsky, each of the aforementioned thinkers argues for this. What distinguishes Gershenzon's thinking, however, is that he makes a specific argument for cultural renewal, whereas Ivanov sees the continued vitality of the culture as being "preserved" through cultural memory."
From the Paper " Though scholars agree that The Twelve was the last of Aleksandr Blok's great poems there is far less agreement over the meanings of the poem and the source of its greatness. One of the principal points of debate is whether this is a political poem or a personal poem about death and salvation. Reeve, for example, states bluntly that the poem "has no political theme" (208) while, according to Masing-Delic, "the energies released by historical dynamics are so powerful in The Twelve that a leap to the era of the Third Testament is imminent" (197). Strong arguments are made on both sides of the question. But the strength of the opposing positions should serve as an indication that there may be more to The Twelve than these somewhat limited points of view assume. As Stankiewicz notes, it is not surprising "that a poem built on such blatant contradictions" as.."
Abstract The first part of this paper examines Ingmar Bergman's film "The Seventh Seal" and how it addresses the theme of existentialism in its contemplation of whether God truly exists. The second part looks at Billy Wilder's film "Sunset Boulevard" and how it uses the theme of existentialism regarding choices and limits. Finally, this paper looks at Woody Allen's film "Shadows and Fog" and it' use of existentialism is an allegory for the search for meaning and it theme of existentialism in the search for the meaning of life.
From the Paper "Billy Wilder's 'film, ?Sunset Boulevard'? tells the story of a forgotten movie star, Norma Desmond, who lives in a huge mansion, reminiscing about the past and dreaming of a comeback. Norma is a dramatic character with theatrical expressions and illusions of grandeur. She is involved in a relationship with Joe Gillis, a writer who is half her age and allows himself to be kept by her. In addition, she has a strange relationship with her butler, Max, who was once a great silent film director and was married at one time to Norma, as well. "
