subject: Ussr Culture - How Art Shaped Ideas [print this page] Within the Soviet regime, many terrible deeds took place. Political leaders got out of hand, destroying and abusing the power they had to terrible ends. However, the time of the Communist regime is important to remember for any Russian artwork collector or history buff. USSR culture played an important role in both political ideas and basic human concepts, and had a great impact in shaping the Communist regime's power. Indeed, USSR culture cannot be ignored, especially within the body of art which came from it.
One might not assume that art has any kind of extreme power to shape human ideas, but depending on its medium, it can. In the case of USSR culture, there were many posters and pictures created and spread throughout Russia to display the Communist party's ideas and goals. This was one form of propaganda used by the Communists during this time, but there were others as well. USSR culture played a major role in changing how people thought about the Communist party - and in fact how they thought about other ideas as well. One of the main techniques the Communists used to further their power was to change how people thought about other factions as well, and they did this by and large through the use of USSR culture.
Some of these USSR culture creations might seem a bit strange to us now, but when they were viewed in their earliest days, they were relevant and sometimes frightening. These posters told people about how they should act, behave, and think under the Communist regime. Indeed, they had very little freedom to do anything at all; when your thoughts are controlled by an external power, something has got to be wrong with the political world. And Russia was a prime example of this under the Stalinist leaders; they ruled with violence and political corruption, twisting USSR culture to a new and deadly meaning.
While it is important to treat this time period of history with a sensitive eye, we must still recognize its importance and not simply shove it away under a rug. USSR culture is an important display of how powerful art can be if it is put in the wrong hands or used to dubious ends. That is exactly what happened during the Communist regime, and any serious Russian art collector or history enthusiast knows just how powerful these posters were. Indeed, any political party could well do the same again, and that is why we need a constant reminder such as the political posters of the USSR.
The Communist regime was a bleak time for everyone, but the impact of USSR culture cannot be denied. It shaped ideas and behavior among people throughout Russia - and indeed, the world, as the power of the Communist party spread. It has made a permanent streak in history and should be considered by anyone who values the importance of art within history. Art can have a great and even deadly impact if it is put into the wrong hands, and this was proven as the Communist party's power spread like wildfire.
