Bodies in Formation
May 23, 2004 5:35 AM Subscribe
Dsicipline, Strength, Beauty, Youth 'Bodies in Formation' is a wonderful exhibition of photographs and ephemera, that illustrates Soviet-era mass gymnastics displays in eastern Europe. Via plep.
Lenny Bruce once said that Communism was like living in one great big phone company. He was wrong. Apparently, it's was like one big high school gym class.
Fitness nazis are irritating enough when they're just coming from the media. I can only imagine if they were working for the state.
Well done presentation, though.
posted by jonmc at 7:55 AM on May 23, 2004
Fitness nazis are irritating enough when they're just coming from the media. I can only imagine if they were working for the state.
Well done presentation, though.
posted by jonmc at 7:55 AM on May 23, 2004
Some nice (but small) images. I was unaware that beauty is exclusively feminine and strength exclusively masculine. Live and learn.
posted by squirrel at 10:05 AM on May 23, 2004
posted by squirrel at 10:05 AM on May 23, 2004
Good God do I miss Plep's posts. Carter, thanks for the post and for alerting me that Plep got a blog....
posted by anastasiav at 12:02 AM on May 24, 2004
posted by anastasiav at 12:02 AM on May 24, 2004
If those photos were not period, I would swear they were digitally manipulated.
It is hard to imagine actually witnessing a scene such as some of those.
Entire parade grounds covered with synchronized writhing bodies.
If their schools were this disciplined, imagine how disciplined their militaries must have been.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:28 PM on May 24, 2004
It is hard to imagine actually witnessing a scene such as some of those.
Entire parade grounds covered with synchronized writhing bodies.
If their schools were this disciplined, imagine how disciplined their militaries must have been.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:28 PM on May 24, 2004
Once the body was docile and legible, the society represented by several thousand of trainees was also subjected to similar technique. ... Paradoxically, every gymnast thus stood in front of the tribune both alone, without any natural link to his colleagues trainees, and in indefinite masses, ready to fulfill the wise and courageous plans of the leadership
Wow. Thank goodness we don't do that in the West.
With gymnastics, I mean. With ideology, we seem to be doing pretty well.
posted by yhbc at 8:40 PM on May 24, 2004
Wow. Thank goodness we don't do that in the West.
With gymnastics, I mean. With ideology, we seem to be doing pretty well.
posted by yhbc at 8:40 PM on May 24, 2004
« Older Now it's time to KICK SOME BACK! | The Collector. Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by fvw at 6:09 AM on May 23, 2004