Part 2: SOVIET CULTURE: Drawing on readings, videos and images covered in this course,

write 3 separate answers (10 points each, 2-3 pages total):

1.
What were Soviet values concerning Religion / Nature / Kinship?
As Karl Marx said religion is the opium of the people. It is up to the soviet communist party to
show people that religion is used by the oppressors to control and exploit people. Religion and
communism doesnt work together because religion has the idea of God which is belief in
supernaturalism, where communism focuses on man and nature and their struggles with one
another. Religion and communism are in conflict with one another. Religion is driven by
supernatural being and belief, communism is driven by science and is guided by data of natural
sciences which was gathered by scientists and used scientific method this creates conflict
between science and religion. Because of different beliefs and sources for those beliefs religious
commandments and Soviet values contradict one another. Theres a struggle with church as an
organization for propaganda interested in popular ignorance and enslavement and a struggle with
prejudices of working population between church and state. Nature is believed to be something
that can be used. It has been noted multiple times that Soviet values view nature as not
something that should be preserved or looked after. Soviets viewed nature as something that
needs to be overcome and controlled. Since the establishment of Soviet ideas they have been
trying to prove their superiority over nature with their projects which include buildings, railways,
bridges and dams. Just like always many of them failed especially reversing of the river flow in
Siberia. Kinship was in the same category as nature, it needed to be controlled and overcome.
Soviet higher-ups wanted to get rid of family and everything it represented. By getting rid of
kinship soviet people can focus more on becoming better communists and party members.
2.
How were these values expressed in Soviet propaganda about Siberia and calls to its
citizens to work and live there?

Soviet propaganda portrayed migration to Siberia as a noble undertaking, which could help
unlock the wealth of the country. People had many reasons to move there it was an expression of
patriotism, duty, personal sacrifice to the motherland. Siberia represented many things to many
people, but mainly it represented important, social and cultural icon. Siberia became a place for
many extravagant projects and developments. The two main ones were the construction of BAM
railway and construction of Katun dams. It was similar to projects of the early 1900s such as
electrification project in 1920s and 30s. It was believed that BAMs purpose was to serve as a
inspiration for development of socialism, it was considered to be Project of the Century. It was a
huge effort that reflected USSRs global personality, a project where workers transcended
classification. It became a showcase for the best qualities of people, the project so vast that it
could be compared to earlier construction accomplishments. It became an example of
humankinds triumph over nature, whose workers could enjoy all of lifes comforts; a massive
but dynamic project that exposed the proactive nature of Soviet system, and a blueprint for the
communist future. To achieve the BAM myth the state lured people with financial incentives,
they received triple pay and car vouchers with hopes that it will encourage people to participate.
BAM myth was devoted to foster multinational and international relations and also it focused on
traditional family values. Science Towns: Siberia came with two contradicting agendas: first was
control and colonization strategies of the regime, second was the resistance of scientific
community. The science towns were designed to serve as transmitters of the ideology of the
regime from the center to other cities. Akademgorodok was the town where USSRs beautiful
minds would live and come up with solutions to different problems. To scientist it was as close
to heaven as possible and they had their own playground. It was established to provide the

freedom of scientific thought. The idea was to build a perfect civilization and science town in
Siberia which was the starting point of how the civilization ought to be.
3.
What was the reality for Soviet citizens who moved to Siberia?
People that moved there realized that reality is always different as advertised and there were
many reasons for that with nature being one of the important ones. Siberia is a very difficult
place to live because of its location. Its very cold there and inhabitable, so when people moved
there they had to build places to live and they had to look for things to eat. People that were in
Siberia mainly consisted of prisoners, criminals, adventurers, people escaping political
ideologies. As the result of this conflicts between people were often. Working and living
conditions were very hard. People that moved there were unprepared for the working conditions
also lack of equipment and supplies did not help.