Western Cinema on the Pages of the Soviet Screen Magazine (1969–1985): Ideologized Articles Emphasizing Criticism of Bourgeois Cinema and Its Harmful Influence on the Audience

Abstract

The abstract analyzes the content of the Soviet Screen magazine from 1969 to 1985, focusing on its portrayal of Western cinema during  the Soviet Union's "stagnation" period. The study finds that articles on Western cinema were heavily ideologized, emphasizing criticism  of bourgeois cinema and its negative influence on audiences. This trend was less prominent than in the late 1960s due to significant  political shifts, particularly after the 1968 events in Czechoslovakia. A crucial decree issued on January 7, 1969, by the Central Committee  of the Soviet Communist Party mandated a more stringent opposition to bourgeois ideology and a vigorous promotion of communist  ideals. This decree criticized media personnel for deviating from class criteria and sometimes promoting views contrary to socialist  ideology. Additional resolutions in 1972 reinforced these directives, stressing the harmfulness of bourgeois ideology and the necessity for  a rigorous ideological struggle against non-Marxist views and revisionist trends in literature and art. Consequently, Soviet Screen's  management aligned closely with these resolutions, resulting in a marked decrease in content about Western cinema and an increase in  critical coverage. Unlike during the 1960s Thaw, featuring Western movie stars on the magazine's cover became unthinkable. This period  reflects the Soviet Union's broader efforts to control cultural narratives and suppress influences contrary to socialist values.