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Questions and Answers
Which statement best reflects Lenin's view on film compared to other forms of art?
Which statement best reflects Lenin's view on film compared to other forms of art?
What was the significance of the 1919 Decree on the Nationalization of the Film Industry?
What was the significance of the 1919 Decree on the Nationalization of the Film Industry?
What role did Dmitry Shostakovich play in the context of the film 'Man with a Movie Camera'?
What role did Dmitry Shostakovich play in the context of the film 'Man with a Movie Camera'?
Which technique is Sergei Eisenstein best known for in film?
Which technique is Sergei Eisenstein best known for in film?
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What was the purpose behind the Kulshov Effect as described?
What was the purpose behind the Kulshov Effect as described?
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What genre does 'Queen of Mars' by Yakov Protazanov represent in early Russian cinema?
What genre does 'Queen of Mars' by Yakov Protazanov represent in early Russian cinema?
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Who was primarily responsible for running state film under the Commissariat of Enlightenment?
Who was primarily responsible for running state film under the Commissariat of Enlightenment?
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In what context did Dziga Vertov begin his career in filmmaking?
In what context did Dziga Vertov begin his career in filmmaking?
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What was one of the consequences of the campaign against Bori Pilnyak and Zamyatin in 1929?
What was one of the consequences of the campaign against Bori Pilnyak and Zamyatin in 1929?
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What event marked the end of the New Economic Policy (NEP)?
What event marked the end of the New Economic Policy (NEP)?
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What was the primary focus of the 1936 Great Purge?
What was the primary focus of the 1936 Great Purge?
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What was the consequence of the Shakhty Trial involving engineers in 1928?
What was the consequence of the Shakhty Trial involving engineers in 1928?
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What action did Mayakovsky take on April 14, 1930?
What action did Mayakovsky take on April 14, 1930?
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Which state-run assembly was established to promote proletarian literature?
Which state-run assembly was established to promote proletarian literature?
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Which class of peasants was targeted and eliminated during the collectivization process?
Which class of peasants was targeted and eliminated during the collectivization process?
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What was the outcome for Bukharin after the power struggle against Stalin?
What was the outcome for Bukharin after the power struggle against Stalin?
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Study Notes
Golden Age of Russian Film
- Lenin prioritized film, deeming it "the most important art."
- Film's appeal stemmed from its lower cost compared to theater and the widespread illiteracy that hindered the reach of books.
- Nationalization of the film industry was decreed in August 1919.
- Aim to balance propaganda and entertainment in films.
- Agitprop (Agitational Propaganda) was a key tool.
- Fictional films aimed to capture real life.
- Dziga Vertov (Denis Kaufman) pioneered "Kingo-glaz" (movie-eye) documentary filmmaking, starting during the Civil War, exemplified by Man with a Movie Camera.
- Dmitry Shostakovich composed the music for Man with a Movie Camera.
- The Commissariat of Enlightenment (Lunacharsky and Krupskaya) oversaw state-funded film.
- 1918: Moscow State University established a film school led by Lev Kuleshov, which nurtured prominent Soviet directors.
- Graduates produced high-quality films recognized internationally by 1925.
- Film was seen as the art of the revolution; significant figures like Sergei Eisenstein and Vladimir Mayakovsky started their careers in theaters.
- Children's literature and film were safe from censorship.
- Futurist art was integrated into film costumes and sets.
- Queen of Mars (1924), by Yakov Protazanov, was Russia's first blockbuster film. It featured themes of space travel and socialism.
- Battleship Potemkin (1925), by Sergei Eisenstein, is a highly influential film, showcasing a group of untrained heroes, and notably incorporating the montage technique.
- Eisenstein excelled in montage, a technique of splicing shots to convey a narrative.
- The Kuleshov Effect demonstrated how context influenced the audience's perception of an actor's facial expressions.
- Montage was influenced by circus entertainment, emphasizing contrast and shock to impact the viewer.
The Betrayal of the Revolution
- After Lenin's death, Stalin and Trotsky emerged as contenders for power.
- Stalin and allies (Kamenev, Bukharin, Zinoviev) accused Trotsky of opposition in 1924 to destabilize him, leading to Trotsky's exile.
- Stalin purged Zinoviev and Kamenev for their perceived right-wing deviations.
- Internal passports limited citizens' rights to city residence.
- Khrushchev's 1956 testimony revealed the political turmoil.
- 1929: A turning point marked by the end of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and the implementation of state-run farms (collectivization) with price controls.
- Writers were required to join the Writers Guild.
- The death of Mikhail Frunze, People's Commissar, under suspicious circumstances, raised concerns and contributed to a campaign against independent writers.
- The situation culminated in 1936, when criticizing the Party became a punishable offense and publishing abroad a crime.
- Mayakovsky's suicide in 1930 added to the atmosphere of repression.
- The All-Union Association of Proletarian Writers (VAPP) prioritized state-approved literature.
- The First Five-Year Plan (1929-1932): emphasized complete alignment with the Party's goals to the point of viewing opposition to the plan as treason.
- The period became known as the "War against the Nation" or "Revolution from the Top."
- Police chief Yezhov's mysterious death and erasure from records demonstrates the ruthless nature of the era.
- The Great Terror (1936-1948): characterized by widespread purges and repression.
- The Shakhty Trail exemplified the era's paranoia with accusations of sabotage in a mining region and reported confessions.
- Stalin's distrust of peasants and old Bolsheviks led to the targeting of Kulaks, exacerbating class conflict through collectivization.
- Removing skilled workers from the industry led to significant setbacks.
- Political struggles between Trotsky, Old Bolsheviks (Karmenc, Zinoviev), factions supporting NEP(Bukharin, Karmenc, Zinoviev and later Bukharin and Stalin), and ultimately Stalin.
- Bukharin's views on NEP and grain policies put him at odds with Stalin.
- Sergei Prokofiev’s experimental music stood in contrast to the ideological pressures of his time.
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Description
Explore the pivotal developments in Russian cinema during the early 20th century. Learn how Lenin's vision prioritized film as an important medium for both propaganda and entertainment. Discover key figures, significant films, and the formation of state-sponsored film schools that shaped this influential era.
