Comments on: Revolution by Design: The Soviet Poster

Revolution by Design: The Soviet Poster

hypnorich — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 14:12:40 -0800

Revolution by Design: The Soviet Poster
Amazing examples of graphic design from the masters of propaganda. For those of you feeling a little revolutionary this weekend!

By: profwhat

profwhat — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:34:29 -0800

Beginning in 1934, Stalin embarked on a thorough purge of the Party, then the army. Anyone remotely suspected of opposition or even lack of enthusiasm was exiled to the camps or shot. The slaughter claimed untold thousands and ended only as the real war approached. It's good that this history of propaganda posters doesn't try to hide the reality of the regime that was being propagandized. While these posters are fascinating to study, and some are even beautiful (in an aesthetic sense only), I always cringed when I used to walk by friends who happily hung propaganda posters in their homes or offices. I know for sure that they would not hang posters from Nazi Germany. Irony doesn't excuse everything.

By: filchyboy

filchyboy — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:49:30 -0800

It's only propaganda if it is relevent to your context. A propaganda poster from Soviet Russia in a dorm room does not constitute propaganda. You'd be better off cringing more productively.

By: starscream

starscream — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 16:27:16 -0800

Man, some of those are absolutely gorgeous! *This is good*

By: aladfar

aladfar — Fri, 23 Jan 2004 17:21:26 -0800

I was in Paris for the first time last week, and spent a fair amount of time at the Centre Pompidou (the National Gallery of Modern Art). I'm not certain what the context was (my french is rather limited) but they had a room filled with unbelievable examples of the Soviet propaganda art. Separated from their political context, they're extraordinary examples of graphic design. Just thought I'd mention it for you Parisians who may happen to be out there.

By: Twang

Twang — Sat, 24 Jan 2004 13:59:52 -0800

The Soviets were masters of propaganda? When did they ever convince the populace to go to war over non-existent weapons?

By: madamjujujive

madamjujujive — Sun, 25 Jan 2004 08:47:35 -0800

Nice find - thanks hypnorich, thanks. Also related, this plep post on propaganda posters from Mexico, Cuba, Russia.