1928-1932 - Culture

• Although the government had become aware of the value of using the arts and popular culture for their own purposes by 1928, they had not enforced rigid control over this sphere of activity.
• During the NEP period, there was greater tolerance of non-proletarian authors and artists as long as their work was in line with general Communist values.
• The Cultural Revolution of 1928-32 saw the arts and popular culture become a key battleground as the party tried to root out all elements of bourgeois culture and construct a new Soviet culture which reinforced socialist values and government polciy.
• By 1931, the government was concerned that the Cultural Revolution was getting out of hand.
• From 1932, the government exerted greater centralised control over cultural output by introducing a new phase known as Socialist Realism.
• Culture and art under Socialist Realism sought to portray socialist values through a utopian vision of the perfect socialist future as well as demonstrating support for the policies of the leadership, including promoting a cult of personality around Stalin.