HISTORY OF ARTISTIC - LITERARY RUSSIAN CULTURE

The course is scheduled among the fundamental courses shared by the degree courses in Economy and Management of the Arts and Cultural Events and in European, American and Post-colonial Languages and Cultures.
The main course objective is to provide students with basic tools for understanding the aesthetics of Socialist Realism and its two main functions: propaganda and the creation of “bright future” myth. The visual culture of the Stalinist period will be considered as a whole, with particular attention to figurative arts, architecture, photography and cinema in the Soviet Union.
Those objectives will provide students with a basic knowledge in view of further specialisations in the field of Russian art history.

The main course objective is to provide students with basic tools for understanding the aesthetics of Socialist Realism and its two main functions: propaganda and the creation of “bright future” myth. The visual culture of the Stalinist period will be considered as a whole, with particular attention to figurative arts, architecture, photography and cinema in the Soviet Union.
1.Knowledge
The development of Socialist Realism in the USSR will be examined chronologically, from the 1920s until the death of Stalin. Different media will be considered, including: plastic arts, architecture, cinema, graphic design and photography.
2.Communicative skills
Each student will be able to clearly communicate and substantiate the contents of the course.
3.Critical skills
Each student will be able to critically evaluate the historical evolution of Russian art in the period under study and to identify representative works of different artistic trends not only in terms of historical period, but also of characteristic features.

It is preferable that students have a basic knowledge of Russian history and culture.

LIFE HAS BECOME HAPPIER…
THE GREAT ILLUSION: ART, ARCHITECTURE, PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMA IN STALINIST USSR

The course module will provide a chronological overview of the emergence of Socialist Realism in the USSR since its origins, with a focus on its most representative artists and artworks.

1. The October Revolution and the birth of the USSR
2. The 1920s and the end of the avant-gardes
3. 1932 and the birth of Socialist Realism
4. The greatest spectacle in the world: the palace of the Soviets and paper architecture
5. Life has become happier: Stalin’s wonderful world in painting, graphic design and film
6. USSR-Hollywood: true stories of fake photographs

Notes from the lessons

AA. VV., Realismi socialisti: grande pittura sovietica 1920-1970, Milano, Skira, 2011.

Barbieri G., Burini S. ( a cura di) , Russie!Memoria/Mistificazione/Immaginario. Arte russa del 900 dalle collezioni Morgante e Sandretti, catalogo della mostra ed. Terra Ferma, Vicenza, 2010.

Benjamin W., L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilita tecnica. Arte e societa di massa, Einaudi, Torino, 2000, pp.17-56.

Bonnell V.,Iconography of Power. Soviet Political Posters under Lenin and Stalin, University of California Press, Berkeley,1997.

Burini S., Realismo socialista e arti figurative.Propaganda e costruzione del mito, "Esamizdat", 2005 (III) 2-3, pp. 65-85

Golomchtok I., Il realismo socialista nelle arti palstiche, in Storia della letteratura russa, vol III, Einaudi, Torino 1991, pp 33-42, 725-736

Golomchtok I., Le arti plastiche sovietiche dal 1945 ai nostri giorni, in Storia della letteratura russa, vol.III, Einaudi, Torino, 1991, pp 725-36;

Groys B., Lo stalinismo ovvero l'opera d'arte totale, Garzanti, Milano 1992.

Piretto G., Il radioso avvenire. Mitologie culturali sovietiche, Einaudi, Torino 2002

Piretto G. Gli occhi di Stalin, Raffaello Cortina Editore, MIlano, 2010

The slides commented during the lessons are available in the Teaching materials on the Professor’s website

Non-attending students may sit the exam based on the following bibliographical integrations:

AA.VV., Art and power.Europe under the dictator 1930-45, Oktagon, London, 1995.

King D., The commissar vanishes, Henry Holt and Company, New York 1997

Golomstock I., Arte totalitaria, Leonardo, Milano, 1990

Tumarkin N., Lenin Lives. The Lenin Cult in Soviet Russia, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1997?

The learning outcomes will be assessed by a written exam of three hours.
The exam consists of three open questions and the identification of three artworks, selected among the slides presented during the lessons. One incomplete answer will result in a fail grade.
The use of books, notes and electronic media is not allowed during the test.
Non-attending students may sit the exam based on the bibliographical integrations enlisted in the dedicated section.

Lectures with projected images from Powerpoint-presentation.
In order to bring the students closer to the topics, the seminar includes screenings and lessons held by guest scholars.
It is possible that the lectures will be integrated with visits to exhibitions.
The material shown during the lessons will be available on the University's Moodle e-learning platform together with additional bibliographical material.

The slides commented during the lessons are available in the Moodle section in the Professor’s website.

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development