art, russia

Have a proper gander at this site…

I love all things Soviet. I just think that Russia is the most interesting country in the World, when you think about its size, its diverse ethnic population, its history, it’s politics, its literature and not to mention its unique sociopolitics, social networks and vodka.

Whilst the literature of Tolstoy, Chekov, Bulgakov and Dostoyevsky remain my number 1 Russian cultutal export, Propaganda (albeit a concept not-originating in Russia) and particularly Propaganda posters are my second favourite. They give a great insight into the politics and issues of the time and the relationship between the ruling powers and the general population. Also I think they are aesthetically pleasing, with some really abstract and striking designs.

What’s interesting is that you can visually see the changes in political ideology since 1900 through to 1990s…they are like the lazy man’s Russian political history textbook! Hence why I like them.

It doesn’t stop there, now that you’ve found the Russian posters – why not check out the other side of the coin and the US and UK posters that have been knocking around over the last 100 years (Loose lips sink ships and all that). I’m yet to have it confirmed, but I have a suspicion that George Michael’s Careless Whisper was inspired by said UK political poster…

Also the Chinese, Italian and Spanish posters are all pretty fly as well…

ANYWAY – this website is pretty much for the win, it’s called a Soviet Poster a day (keeps the capitalists at bay?) and does exactly what it says on the tin.

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