Lenin Statues

October 21, 2005 1:37 AM

Lenin Statues around the World. Reason 1: It is a tribute to cool propaganda statues and the work of the sculptors. Reason 2: Very likely the typical tourist picture taken by a westerner visiting mother Russia would be: To make that touristic one standing beneath Lenin and imitating him pointing out the way to the perfect society with his giant hand while the other hand is holding his ridicolous but cute cap. When shooting your picture the locals laugh and laugh and some drunkards might even yell at you for taking this, in their mind, very stupid picture. (sic)
posted by three blind mice (30 comments total)

There's some great commentary:
"During your stop in Ulan Ude, Siberia, if you are fast enough you might make it to see the world´s biggest Lenin head. Awesome!"
posted by kyleg at 2:09 AM on October 21, 2005

The site's author REALLY seems to hate Irkutsk:
"A rather distinguished Lenin found in the overrated city of Irkutsk, Siberia."

...

"Not very visible hidden between trees and rubble. Lenin is standing on duty outside a school in the somewhat overhyped city of Irkutsk in Siberia."
posted by slater at 3:44 AM on October 21, 2005

I have a Lenin statue on my desk. And when I say "statue", I mean "miniature bust." But sometimes he gives me inspiration.

What an amazing man! Even if you're some paranoid schizophrenic anti-Communist, you've got to admit that he was an exceptional person.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:08 AM on October 21, 2005

In what way inspiring? Just from curiosity.
posted by IndigoJones at 4:58 AM on October 21, 2005

There has also been a Lenin Statue in Tjuchem, in the north of the Netherlands, since 1997. Presumably, the man who bought and placed it (the director of a large Dutch construction company) meant it as a reminder of what can happen in extreme circumstances, when people are prepared to follow 'extreme ideologies'.

Interestingly, this Lenin is pointing towards Brussels.
posted by Harry at 5:14 AM on October 21, 2005

I'm not sure why the Seattle statue is listed as controversial, unless he's a bit miffed with locals playing dress-up with old Vlad.
posted by dantsea at 5:33 AM on October 21, 2005

Anyone else confused by the one from Texas sitting on top of a plaque that reads "AMERICA WON" ?
posted by odinsdream at 6:45 AM on October 21, 2005

Anyone else confused by the one from Texas...

Everything from Texas confuses me.
posted by three blind mice at 6:53 AM on October 21, 2005

"I'm not sure why the Seattle statue is listed as controversial..."

As liberal as Seattle (especially Freemont) is, some people did not welcome Vlad in. The main opposition that I can remember came from the bagel store down the street from the statue.

But considering Freemont is the self proclaimed center of the universe, has a gigantic troll clutching a VW bug and annually has naked cyclists riding down a main street, I think the Lennin statue fits in just fine.
posted by piratebowling at 7:06 AM on October 21, 2005

Didn't see a mention of the one in Red Square, New York, off of Houston Street: link (can't find a better pic).
posted by Turtle at 7:11 AM on October 21, 2005

Oh here's one in Wikipedia's List of statues of Lenin.
posted by Turtle at 7:13 AM on October 21, 2005

In what way inspiring?

Well, he certainly inspired strong emotions in the Poles, when he tried to invade them. And, of course, he ordered the formation of an organization to "liquidate any counterrevolutionary activities", which eventually became the Russian secret police. This body executed about 10000 in the last four months of 1918 alone. Then there was the fact that he did not, in fact, overthrow the Czar but the democratic government that replaced him. And, of course, there is the fact that based on new testimony after the Cold War, he did order the execution of the Czar's family, down to the youngest child. That's quite inspiring. But of course, since I'm criticizing Lenin, I must be a "paranoid schizophrenic anti-Communist". The only thing Lenin inspires in me is a determination to insure that murderers like him never gain office again.

That said, this is a really interesting article and a good post.
posted by unreason at 7:41 AM on October 21, 2005

The author of the website apparently agrees with you unreason:

Please note that in my mind the communistic system was b-a-d and this page is NOT a tribute to Lenin and it´s not a political site.
posted by three blind mice at 8:15 AM on October 21, 2005

The author of the website apparently agrees with you unreason:

I saw, and I think it's a great post and a great link, tbm. I wasn't reacting to it so much as I was to Mayor Curley's "isn't Lenin inspiring" speech.
posted by unreason at 8:18 AM on October 21, 2005

turtle, when I was in college I had a friend who lived in that building. The Red Square's roof was a favored drinking spot. I must've peed on Lenin's legs a few dozen times.

Ahhh, good times.
posted by mds35 at 8:21 AM on October 21, 2005

Thanks, unreason—you saved me the trouble. Well, I'll just add the infamous Hanging Order of 1918:

Comrades! The revolt by the five kulak volosts must be suppressed without mercy. The interest of the entire revolution demands this, because we have now before us our final decisive battle "with the kulaks." We need to set an example.

1) You need to hang (hang without fail, so that the public sees) at least 100 notorious kulaks, the rich, and the bloodsuckers.
2) Publish their names.
3) Take away all of their grain.
4) Execute the hostages - in accordance with yesterday's telegram.

This needs to be accomplished in such a way, that people for hundreds of miles around will see, tremble, know and scream out: let's choke and strangle those blood-sucking kulaks.

Telegraph us acknowledging receipt and execution of this.

Yours, Lenin

P.S. Use your toughest people for this.

Truly an inspiration to us all.
posted by languagehat at 8:33 AM on October 21, 2005

Nice one, language hat. Here's another, signed by Lenin, among others:

1. Shoot on sight any citizens who refuse to give their names.
2. District and Regional Political Commissions are hereby authorized to pronounce sentence on any village where arms are being hidden, and to arrest hostages and shoot them if the whereabouts of the arms are not revealed.
3. Wherever arms are found, execute immediately the eldest son of the family.
4. Any family that has harbored a bandit is to be arrested and deported from the province, their possessions are to be seized, and the eldest son is to be immediately executed.
5. Any families sheltering other families who have harbored bandits are to be punished in the same manner, and their eldest son is to be shot.
6. In the event that bandit families have fled, their possessions are to be redistributed among peasants who are loyal to the Soviet regime, and their houses are to be burned or demolished.
7. These orders are to be carried out rigorously and without mercy.
posted by unreason at 8:47 AM on October 21, 2005

the overrated city of Irkutsk

But that was one of my favorite launch points for attacks in Risk.


insure that murderers like him never gain office again

(quickly locks workstation and runs away with hand over mouth)
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:50 AM on October 21, 2005

1. Shoot on sight any citizens who refuse to give their names.
2. District and Regional Political Commissions are hereby authorized to pronounce sentence on any village where arms are being hidden, and to arrest hostages and shoot them if the whereabouts of the arms are not revealed.
3. Wherever arms are found, execute immediately the eldest son of the family.
4. Any family that has harbored a bandit is to be arrested and deported from the province, their possessions are to be seized, and the eldest son is to be immediately executed.
5. Any families sheltering other families who have harbored bandits are to be punished in the same manner, and their eldest son is to be shot.
6. In the event that bandit families have fled, their possessions are to be redistributed among peasants who are loyal to the Soviet regime, and their houses are to be burned or demolished.
7. These orders are to be carried out rigorously and without mercy.


It takes a tough man to make tender chicken.
posted by three blind mice at 8:52 AM on October 21, 2005

It takes a tough man to make tender chicken.

Purdue was a Communist? Who knew! The poultry needs to start some kind of revolution.
posted by unreason at 8:56 AM on October 21, 2005

No, please! This is supposed to be a happy FPP! Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who ...
posted by three blind mice at 9:13 AM on October 21, 2005

No, please! This is supposed to be a happy FPP! Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who ...

Lenin killed the best man!
posted by unreason at 11:09 AM on October 21, 2005

Returning to the site:
People seem to drink vodka here more than anywhere else on the planet. Lenin is the only man standing upright...
Brilliant.
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 12:19 PM on October 21, 2005

Saratov, Russia
An angry looking Vlad with an aggressive hangover look struggles out his hand desperately urging for more vodka...

Heh.
posted by unreason at 12:29 PM on October 21, 2005

Incidentally, the Lenin as Superman is awesome.
posted by unreason at 12:31 PM on October 21, 2005

Heh. I took the photo of the Seattle Lenin (for a different website)! I remember e-mailing with the guy who created this site, probably about 9 years ago.

As someone said above, the Lenin statue in the Fremont (not Freemont) neighborhood was indeed controversial, because there were a lot of people who found it offensive for obvious reasons. I think, though, having Lenin in Fremont where the locals can decorate him and be free and silly around him is a fine thing.
posted by litlnemo at 2:58 PM on October 21, 2005

Oh, and if the background of the statue looks odd, it's because they've moved the statue a block or two since I took the photo.
posted by litlnemo at 3:00 PM on October 21, 2005

Those Russians were better off as serfs, huh? Industrialization sucks.
posted by Mayor Curley at 10:25 AM on October 22, 2005

Doesn't really answer my question. Again, in what way inspiring? Personally I would find a bust on him on my desk more than a little creepy, when no infuriating. You clearly find some value in it, and without getting emotional or trying to bait you, I was hoping for some thoughts as to why.
posted by IndigoJones at 9:52 AM on October 24, 2005

bust of him... when not infuriating

sorry, should preview.
posted by IndigoJones at 9:53 AM on October 24, 2005