Defiant Children's Literature of the Stalin Era
Brought to you by Odyssey
May 3, 2022 - May 24, 2022 (4 Sessions)
Tuesdays, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM ET
Russia's current invasion of Ukraine harkens us back to a time in history when Joseph Stalin held power in Russia with a totalitarian grip. Anyone who dared to oppose his rule was eliminated, so artists and writers found other avenues to voice their dissent. During this time in history subversive, humorous children's literature served as a voice of the resistance. The children's literature of that time reminded educated elites of the ways in which cultural figures spoofed their oppressors even under Stalin. Through the writing and illustrations of the time, join Dr. Brooks as he guides you through an exploration of the ways in which these forms of expression from the Stalin era matter today more than ever and reminds us that there is another Russia besides Putin’s, at least in imagination. Experience a culture and civilization of a powerful country from the bottom up with the legacy of a subversive critical culture under Lenin and Stalin that produces laughter and joy even today. explore the role of the fool, the personification of animals, and the power of storytelling.
Dr. Brooks will discuss his collection of Russian books and graphic arts, recently donated to the Sheridan Libraries, that document state-sponsored propaganda during the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. From satirical magazines to children’s literature, these rich visual materials also document a long-embedded counter-tradition to the nostalgic mythology of “Holy Russia.” This subversive and playful tradition by Russian writers and satirists—a struggle for truth and freedom against repression and ignorance—is more important now than ever.
Freedom and Agency: Emancipation Narrative in Folklore and Children's literature in the time of Stalin. Ivan the Firebird and the Grey Wolf, The Little Humpback Horse.
Folls and Follishness: The Lasting Power of Subversive Humor and Goodness in Russian Culture.
Silly Little Mouse (1925): The Power of a Children's Tale
The Crocodile (1917): Pre-revolution. Revolution through a Child's Tale.
Monster Cockroach (1923): Cultural Ecosystem
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Current and retired full-time Johns Hopkins faculty and staff, as well as their spouses or domestic partners, are eligible for tuition remission. Eligibility details can be found here.
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