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THE POWER OF IMAGERY: THE VISUAL LANGUAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN SSR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF THE EARLY 1930S.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: THE POWER OF IMAGERY: THE VISUAL LANGUAGE OF THE UKRAINIAN SSR LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF THE EARLY 1930S.
Alternate Title: Vaizdinių galia: vaizdinė vietinių Ukrainos SSR laikraščių kalba XX a. 4-ojo dešimtmečio pradžioje.
Authors: Kostiv, Mykhailo1 kostivmb@gmail.com, Soproniuk, Tetiana2 tanyasopron@gmail.com
Source: Knygotyra. 2025, Issue 84, p124-152. 29p.
Subject Terms: *PHOTOJOURNALISM, *UKRAINIAN language, *CARICATURE, *RURAL population, *MILITARY personnel
Abstract (English): Along with textual articles, the local press of the Ukrainian SSR in the early 1930s often contained visual elements, which, despite their poor quality, had enormous propagandistic potential. These newspapers were predominantly targeted at the rural population and communicated with their audience in a direct and prescriptive manner. Moreover, because of strong censorship, they were never illustrated by images that would reflect the actual socio-economic problems and thus compromise the Soviet regime. Therefore, the aim of this article is to define the major types of images that were published in the raion (i.e., province) level newspapers of the Ukrainian SSR and explore the messages they conveyed. In particular, by using the animal code and referring to well-known idioms, caricatures shaped the image of both domestic (‘kulaks’, priests, etc.) and foreign (Western capitalist countries) enemies. In contrast, numerous portraits of the communist chiefs and the most productive workers, both male and female, constructed the gallery of role models for the readers. At the same time, the basis of the newspapers’ visual content was the staged group portraits and photographs of people at work and industrial landscapes, depicting an idealized ‘communist paradise’ – a pseudo-reality of rapid and successful economic changes. The newspapers also utilized the images of Soviet and Western weapons and/or military personnel, trying to keep the readers in a state of readiness for possible military aggression without simultaneously causing panic. In addition, monumental, complex, and multi-layered illustrations, similar to traditional political posters, were often included in the press issues devoted to the State holidays. Many of them featured the images of a perfect Soviet man or woman, and embodied the greatness of the USSR. Finally, the emotional, simple, and straightforward visual language of the Ukrainian SSR raion press aimed to mobilize the population for selfless work “in favor of their socialist Motherland” and actively support the Soviet Government’s policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Lithuanian): XX a. 4-ojo dešimtmečio pradžioje Ukrainos SSR vietinė spauda, be tekstinių straipsnių, dažnai spausdindavo vizualinius elementus, kurie, nepaisant prastos kokybės, turėjo didžiulį propagandinį potencialą. Šie laikraščiai, skirti daugiausia kaimo gyventojams, su savo auditorija bendravo tiesioginiu ir nurodomuoju tonu. Be to, dėl griežtos cenzūros jie niekada nebuvo iliustruojami vaizdais, atspindinčiais realias socialines ir ekonomines problemas bei taip kompromituojančiais sovietinį režimą. Todėl šio straipsnio tikslas yra ištirti Ukrainos SSR rajonų (t. y. provincijos) lygmens laikraščiuose vyravusius publikuotus vaizdinius tipologiniu bei komunikaciniu aspektais. Tyrimo išvados leidžia teigti, kad pasitelkiant gyvūnų simbolizmą bei žinomas idiomas, taip pat karikatūras buvo formuojami tiek vidaus („buožių“, kunigų ir kt.), tiek išorės (Vakarų kapitalistinių šalių) priešų įvaizdžiai. Tuo tarpu komunistų vadų ir produktyviausių darbuotojų (tiek vyrų, tiek moterų) vaizdais skaitytojams buvo kuriami sektinų pavyzdžių įvaizdžiai. Tuo pat metu laikraščių vizualinio turinio pagrindą sudarė inscenizuoti grupinių portretų ir dirbančių žmonių nuotraukos bei pramoniniai vaizdai, rodantys idealizuotą „komunistinį rojų“ – pseudorealybę, turėjusią atspindėti neva sparčius ir sėkmingus ekonominius pokyčius. Laikraščiuose taip pat buvo naudojami sovietinių ir Vakarų ginklų ir (arba) karinio personalo atvaizdai, siekiant išlaikyti skaitytojų pasirengimo galimai karinei agresijai būseną, tačiau nekeliant panikos. Be to, monumentalios, sudėtingos ir daugiasluoksnės iliustracijos, primenančios tradicinius politinius plakatus, dažnai buvo įtraukiamos į spaudos leidinius, skirtus valstybiniams minėjimams. Daugelyje jų buvo vaizduojami tobulai atrodantys sovietiniai vyrai ir moterys, atspindintys SSRS didybę. Galiausiai galima teigti, kad vietinei Ukrainos SSR rajonų spaudos vizualinei kalbai buvo būdingas emocingumas, paprastumas ir betarpiškumas, kurių tikslas – mobilizuoti gyventojus nesavanaudiškam darbui „savo socialistinės Tėvynės labui“ ir aktyviai remti sovietų valdžios politiką. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Academic Search Index
Description
Abstract:Along with textual articles, the local press of the Ukrainian SSR in the early 1930s often contained visual elements, which, despite their poor quality, had enormous propagandistic potential. These newspapers were predominantly targeted at the rural population and communicated with their audience in a direct and prescriptive manner. Moreover, because of strong censorship, they were never illustrated by images that would reflect the actual socio-economic problems and thus compromise the Soviet regime. Therefore, the aim of this article is to define the major types of images that were published in the raion (i.e., province) level newspapers of the Ukrainian SSR and explore the messages they conveyed. In particular, by using the animal code and referring to well-known idioms, caricatures shaped the image of both domestic (‘kulaks’, priests, etc.) and foreign (Western capitalist countries) enemies. In contrast, numerous portraits of the communist chiefs and the most productive workers, both male and female, constructed the gallery of role models for the readers. At the same time, the basis of the newspapers’ visual content was the staged group portraits and photographs of people at work and industrial landscapes, depicting an idealized ‘communist paradise’ – a pseudo-reality of rapid and successful economic changes. The newspapers also utilized the images of Soviet and Western weapons and/or military personnel, trying to keep the readers in a state of readiness for possible military aggression without simultaneously causing panic. In addition, monumental, complex, and multi-layered illustrations, similar to traditional political posters, were often included in the press issues devoted to the State holidays. Many of them featured the images of a perfect Soviet man or woman, and embodied the greatness of the USSR. Finally, the emotional, simple, and straightforward visual language of the Ukrainian SSR raion press aimed to mobilize the population for selfless work “in favor of their socialist Motherland” and actively support the Soviet Government’s policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:02042061
DOI:10.15388/Knygotyra.2025.84.5