This thesis revisits the 1988 Sotheby’s auction in Moscow, an event that catalyzed the commercialization of the Soviet art market. For the first time in history, unofficial art, previously outlawed...Show moreThis thesis revisits the 1988 Sotheby’s auction in Moscow, an event that catalyzed the commercialization of the Soviet art market. For the first time in history, unofficial art, previously outlawed by the Soviet state, was auctioned off to predominantly Western buyers. While scholars have assessed the role of the auction in transforming the Soviet art market, none have contemplated the perceptions of commercialization from the perspective of the media. Additionally, pre-existing literature lacks application of cultural theory. Therefore, this thesis departs from previous works by assessing Western and Soviet news coverage of the event. Based on the conclusions drawn from this analysis, Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic capital is applied in order to understand the ‘re-shuffling of artistic hierarchies.’ By drawing on media- and theory-focused lenses, this thesis aims to contribute to the discussion on the nature of commercialization in the Soviet Union prior to its collapse, as well as invite a more careful reading on the effects of commercialization on Soviet artistic production.Show less
The collapse of the Soviet Union has been explained as the result of political, economic and military factors. The social underpinnings of the collapse have drawn less interest. ''Is It Easy To Be...Show moreThe collapse of the Soviet Union has been explained as the result of political, economic and military factors. The social underpinnings of the collapse have drawn less interest. ''Is It Easy To Be Young?'', the 1987 documentary from Soviet Latvia, reveals political disillusionment among the youth. The film includes interviews with those members of society which have previously not been represented in state-controlled culture, for example, members of the punk movement and war veterans who feel alienated by society. Political opening in the framework of perestroika and glasnost allowed the documentary to come to light. I chose the following question to guide my work: ''How did the portrayal of youth discontent and political disillusionment in the 1987 Latvian documentary ''Is It Easy To Be Young?'' contribute to the declining legitimacy of the Soviet system?'' I argue that the release of this film worked against the authorities since it depicted some of the core issues in the USSR in the 1980s. These were persecution of those who opposed the dominant way of life, political disillusionment caused by stagnation and the use of rigid ideological notions by the Communist Party, as well as the social costs of involvement in Afghanistan. ''Is It Easy To Be Young?'' gained recognition abroad, where it was received as an exposé of the Soviet system, which further contributed to the decline in legitimacy the film caused for the authorities of the USSR.Show less
