Spiritual and Entertainment Needs of Rural Residents Based on Letters to the Government (1950s-1970s)
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: This article analyzes the development of leisure activities in rural areas from the 1950s to the 1970s. The author emphasizes the special significance of village clubs in the social and spiritual life, demonstrating that these institutions were the only venue for cultural recreation for villagers. He demonstrates that the development of leisure activities was viewed by citizens and authorities as a means of preventing antisocial behavior, including drunkenness and hooliganism. The article analyzes letters sent by citizens to government agencies and newspaper editors, reflecting their wishes regarding club activities. An analysis of these letters suggests that rural residents desired a variety of leisure activities in their communities. Citizens wrote that they wanted to attend interesting lectures, participate in amateur performances and sports clubs, and attend movies. The author noted that rural residents also wanted to engage in various sports (skiing, billiards, shooting). However, villagers emphasized that they did not always have the opportunity to spend their leisure time in an interesting way. A number of the most common problems in organizing rural leisure activities are highlighted: the absence of a clubhouse or the building's state of disrepair, a shortage of qualified club managers, musical instruments, and sports equipment. The article highlights a number of reasons for these shortcomings: insufficient funding, indifference from local leaders, and a shortage of supplies needed for club operations.
Authors: Anna D. Popova, Olga D. Popova
Institution: Ryazan State University
Language: English
Topic: Soviet and Russian History
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Funder: Russian Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W7204123984