СULTURAL LIFE OF ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST SHOWN IN THE LOCAL MEDIA DURING THE LATE STALINISM

Abstract

Based on the analysis of modern historiography, resources from oblast periodicals and archival documents, the article reveals media methods of influence on the consciousness of Zaporizhzhia people through the prism of the cultural life of the region in the late Stalinism period. Using the approach of generalisation, the author characterises the activity of the most fundamental civil and cultural institutions in the oblast. With the use of the benchmarking method, it was possible to identify similarities and differences of the cultural scene in the regional towns and villages.

During the research, the author reveals the direct influence and control of the Soviet authorities on media aimed at undertaking the manipulative actions with the civil consciousness. The article proves that propaganda of government commitments and interests among the population reflected in press, literature, on cinema screens, as well as in the radio programmes.

The Soviet power, applying the function of media, facilitated the creation of positive «virtual» reality which was quite different from the every-day life of the post-war period. Furthermore, the author attempts to show that covering the information in media regarding the activity of cultural institutions, organisation and conduction of pertinent events used to oblige population to choose options for rest suggested by the government.

Besides, the research results demonstrate distinguished traits of town and village cultural institutions functioning that can be explained by the underdeveloped infrastructure of the village one.

The Party Control for the civil recreation used to spread across all age groups and population segments. The propagandist element that undertook influence on public opinion was widely applied to the work activity of cultural and educational institutions.

Cultural life in Zaporizhzhia oblast during the 1945-53s was exposed to affection by media, supported by the Soviet authority, that resulted in support of the moral state of regional residents regarding the refurbishment of the economy and industrial sector although without considering personal encouragement.