This course examines propaganda art and its significance in general, and more specifically in the Soviet Union. Additionally, the course explains the different notions of propaganda as a concept as well as its uses in politics more generally.
During the course the students learn about the special characteristics and uses of visual propaganda. More detailed examination concentrates on the history and practice of the Soviet visual propaganda through various thematic fields, such as visual propaganda as a part of the Soviet state propaganda and administrative system, images as a means to promote the construction of a new Soviet society, and building a personality cult with pictures. Case studies broaden the students' understanding of the characteristics and significance of the visual propaganda campaigns at different eras of the Soviet Union.
The course is organised as a part of the teaching of Art History in the University of Turku, as intensive teaching period of the duration of three weeks. It consists of 20 hours of lectures (5x4h). In addition to the lectures there will be required reading of articles examining Soviet propaganda. In the end of the course the students write a final essay (8-10 pages) based on the lectures and course readings. The assigned reading will be distributed in Moodle in the beginning of the course.
- Teacher: Reeta Kangas