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Communism Communism Soviet Empire and Socialist Realism Soviet Empire and Socialist Realism
CommunismCommunism
Soviet Empire and Socialist RealismSoviet Empire and Socialist Realism
REASONS FOR REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA
Czar’s government used fear and terror
Weak Leadership of Czar Nicholas II
Russia was an autocracy!The Czar had
complete power
Huge difference between social classes
(4/5 of population were peasants)
Czar’s wife under influence of Rasputin
Agitation from intelligentsia, socialists, communists
And anarchists
Defeat in Russo-Japanese War (1905)
Czar kept dismissing the Duma
Bloody Sunday Massacre (1905)
Russia’s Involvement in World War I1. Defeated by German army – many Russians captured or killed2. Russian army had outdated and limited weapons3. Railway network was poor – limited transport of food and supplies4. Czar took command of army – He was directly to blame!
Lenin, age 17 Lenin, age 17 Lenin, age 25 Lenin, age 25
1905: Bloody Sunday1905: Bloody Sunday
Lenin preached the ideals of Marx: A Communist Revolution!Lenin preached the ideals of Marx: A Communist Revolution!
World War IWorld War I
March Revolution: Czar abdicates the throne.March Revolution: Czar abdicates the throne.
The Provisional Government led by Alexander KerenskyThe Provisional Government led by Alexander Kerensky
Return of Lenin! Return of Lenin!
November Bolshevik Revolution November Bolshevik Revolution
Civil War 1918-1920: Reds vs WhitesCivil War 1918-1920: Reds vs Whites
New Economic Policy (NEP)
•1921 – Lenin promises greater freedom to small business and peasant farmers
•Temporary policy to boost economy
•Allowed some capitalism and private ownership of land•Food production began to recover, stabilized government
How did How did “Socialist “Socialist
Realist” art Realist” art portray portray
Vladimir Vladimir Lenin?Lenin?
How did How did “Socialist “Socialist
Realist” art Realist” art portray portray
Vladimir Vladimir Lenin?Lenin?
Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
Vladimir LeninVladimir Lenin
Death of Lenin: 1924Death of Lenin: 1924
• Lenin suffered from a series of strokes in 1922-1923
• He was unable to walk or speak and eventually died in 1924
• Lenin suffered from a series of strokes in 1922-1923
• He was unable to walk or speak and eventually died in 1924
Lenin’s death set off a fearsome power struggle
between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky with
terrible consequences for the Russian people….
Lenin’s death set off a fearsome power struggle
between Joseph Stalin and Leon Trotsky with
terrible consequences for the Russian people….
Film Clip
• Prominent member of the Politburo
• Named Secretary of the communist party and built up political alliances
• Ruthless and power-hungry
• Prominent member of the Politburo
• Named Secretary of the communist party and built up political alliances
• Ruthless and power-hungry
StalinStalin TrotskyTrotsky
• Part of military organization • Led the Red army to fight the White
army during the Civil War.• Great speaker and intellectual who
wanted a world-wide communist revolution
• Part of military organization • Led the Red army to fight the White
army during the Civil War.• Great speaker and intellectual who
wanted a world-wide communist revolution
Killed in 1940!Killed in 1940!Stalin schemed his way into power, using a series of ruthless political moves
Stalin schemed his way into power, using a series of ruthless political moves
“I am not sure that Comrade Stalin will always use his power properly. Comrade Trotsky, on the other
hand, is distinguished by his outstanding ability.” Lenin’s Will (1923).
“I am not sure that Comrade Stalin will always use his power properly. Comrade Trotsky, on the other
hand, is distinguished by his outstanding ability.” Lenin’s Will (1923).
• Lenin set down the brutal rules for the Soviet System.
• Stalin built that system into a global power
• Lenin set down the brutal rules for the Soviet System.
• Stalin built that system into a global power
• Lenin was willing to share power & tolerate some debate inside the Party.
• Stalin insisted on absolute obedience and all the power.
• Lenin was willing to share power & tolerate some debate inside the Party.
• Stalin insisted on absolute obedience and all the power.
• Lenin took great risks to spread Communist Revolution.
• Stalin wanted security and power for the Soviet Union even if it harmed the chances for Communist revolution elsewhere.
• Lenin took great risks to spread Communist Revolution.
• Stalin wanted security and power for the Soviet Union even if it harmed the chances for Communist revolution elsewhere.
Glorification of StalinGlorification of Stalin
Religious PersecutionReligious Persecution
Five-Year PlansFive-Year Plans
CollectivizationCollectivization
Reign of TerrorReign of Terror
Control of Cultural LifeControl of Cultural Life
Examine images of Stalin and categorize them into one of
these 6 groups!
The Glorification of Stalin
Stalin developed what became known as a "personality cult".
Artists painted pictures glorifying
Stalin and His accomplishments.
The Glorification of StalinHe gained the nickname "Uncle Joe" which was an attempt to develop an
image of a kind, homely man who was the ‘father’ of all Russians.
Leader Stalin with scouts
Do Now:Do Now: Why would communist leaders want art that looked realistic instead of
abstract?
According to these images, what do you think is a major goal that Stalin wants to
achieve?
According to these images, what do you think is a major goal that Stalin wants to
achieve?
Read Document and answer
question
•Stalin ended Lenin’s NEP, which allowed some capitalism•Agriculture was collectivized, and large scale forced labor enforced upon peasants.•Plan was to increase crop production and use profits for State industry
CollectivizationCollectivization
Success of Collectivization
•As a result of their opposition, several million peasants met death by an engineered famine and genocide.
•As a result of their opposition, several million peasants met death by an engineered famine and genocide.
Ukrainian Famine
Film ClipFilm Clip
Industrialization
•Stalin started the rapid development of economy with Five-Year Plans, first of which were launched in 1927.
•All the resources were commanded by state to ensure rapid industrialization.
•Heavy investment was done in industry, at the cost of agriculture and consumer goods.
•Stalin started the rapid development of economy with Five-Year Plans, first of which were launched in 1927.
•All the resources were commanded by state to ensure rapid industrialization.
•Heavy investment was done in industry, at the cost of agriculture and consumer goods.
“Planner’s Preferences” not “Consumer’s Preferences”
Command Economy
“Work hard during
harvest time and you will be rewarded with plenty of bread."
“Work hard during
harvest time and you will be rewarded with plenty of bread."
United States Advertisement, 1920s
United States Advertisement, 1920s
Alexey Stakhanov – Hero of Socialism
In 1935 a coal miner called Alexei Stakhanov was
reported to have dug 102 tons of coal in a single 6-hour shift.
This was many times more than a miner was expected to cut. Stakhanov was rewarded and praised as an example to all other workers. The public were not told that Stakhanov
had two co-workers, plus machinery in perfect working order, to help him achieve so much. Russians were told to
model themselves on Stakhanov. They rose to the challenge in what became
known as the Stakhanovite Movement. Stakhanovites
tried to perform feats of great productivity, through working
harder and also through reorganizing the way things were done in their place of work. They were rewarded with better pay and also lots of praise and publicity. This was just one way in which
Stalin attempted to persuade his new industrial laborers to
work more efficiently.
• Stalin's control over Russia meant that freedom was the one thing that people lost.
• The people of Russia had to read, listen to, see and learn only what the state allowed.
• The state’s control of the media was total.
State-Controlled MediaState-Controlled Media
This was all called "Socialist Realism". Those who wrote poems and novels had to glorify Stalin. Some artists and authors were so depressed by all this that they committed suicide rather than do what the state ordered them to do. Many others
tried to leave the country.
"Stalin as an Organizer of the November Revolution" by Karp Trokhimenko
Socialist Realism Art
• The Great Purges – 1934 and 1939. • Stalin put on ‘show trials’, where the accused pleaded guilty to impossible charges of
treason. • During Stalin's rule of the country over 20 million people were sent to labor camps,
where nearly half of them died.
• The Great Purges – 1934 and 1939. • Stalin put on ‘show trials’, where the accused pleaded guilty to impossible charges of
treason. • During Stalin's rule of the country over 20 million people were sent to labor camps,
where nearly half of them died.
Reign of TerrorStalin Signs a Death Warrant
Doctored Photos
Doctored Photos
Doctored Photos
In turn, artists complied with State demands and produced in a naturalist, academic style. They wouldn't dare to even dream of abstract art.
In turn, artists complied with State demands and produced in a naturalist, academic style. They wouldn't dare to even dream of abstract art.
“Ideas are more powerful than guns. We would not let our
enemies have guns, why should we let them have ideas.”
A Russian Family with
Stalin.
A Russian Family with
Stalin.
Cultural Life
How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to control
people?
How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to control
people?
'Thanks to the Party, Thanks to Dear Stalin for
a Happy, Joyful Childhood'
How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to
control people?
How does Stalin use Socialist Realist Art and Propaganda to
control people?
Education
Education
• Those who attempted to listen to or read anything else were severely punished and sent to labor camps.
Socialist Realism
Abstract Art
Salvador Dali Persistence of Memory
Salvador DaliSurrealism
Salvador Dali
Andy Warhol – Pop Art
Andy Warhol
Jackson Pollack, 1950
