Taras Shevchenko in the Texts of the Obrazotvorche mystetstvo Journal and Soviet Memory Politics of the 1930s
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: . This article analyzes the interpretation of Taras Shevchenko’s work in the Obrazotvorche mystetstvo journal within the context of Soviet memory policy in the 1930s. During this period, Soviet authorities actively utilized Shevchenko’s figure to construct new ideologically acceptable narratives aligned with the principles of socialist realism. Through publications in art criticism journals such as Obrazotvorche mystetstvo, Shevchenko’s image underwent significant ideological transformation. He was primarily portrayed as a revolutionary and a defender of the working class, which aligned with the Soviet interpretation of his work. The article examines how Soviet authorities used media to shape memory policy, emphasizing Shevchenko’s conformity to Soviet ideals while simultaneously suppressing or reshaping the national aspects of his legacy. Based on an analysis of 1930s art publications, the author demonstrates how the Soviet regime established a controlled canon of national heroes, constructing an official historical memory that served the ideological goals of the totalitarian state. This study contributes to a broader understanding of Soviet memory policy and the role of journalism in shaping Ukraine’s cultural space during the Stalinist era.
Source: Contemporary Art
Author: Yulia Pivtorak
Institution: Ukrainian Catholic University
Language: English
Topic: Soviet and Russian History
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $60
OpenAlex ID: W4405885792