State Laughter: Stalinism, Populism, and Origins of Soviet Culture

Stalin's reign of terror was not all doom and gloom; humor pervaded the popular culture of the USSR, from comedy films to satirical theatre, caricature to court speeches, and Stalin's own writings to bawdy folk songs. State Laughter explores how and why laughter was a core component of the survival of the Soviet regime, grounded in Soviet intellectual and cultural history.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 03 February 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Stalin's reign of terror was not all doom and gloom; in fact, a significant portion of it was intended to be humorous! From comedy films to satirical theatre, caricature to court speeches, and from Stalin's own writings to bawdy folk songs, humor permeated the popular culture of the USSR. Until now, conventional wisdom has held that humor was a hallmark of the subversive, but in State Laughter, Dobrenko and Jonsson-Skradol challenge that notion. Instead, they trace the development of official humor, satire, and comedy from the revolution through to the 1950s, exploring how and why laughter was a core component of the survival of the Soviet regime. Grounded in Soviet intellectual and cultural history, State Laughter offers the first comprehensive analysis of state-sponsored popular culture in Stalin's Soviet Union.

Comedy films were a popular form of entertainment in the Soviet Union during Stalin's reign. These films often depicted the hardships and struggles of ordinary people, but with a humorous twist. For example, one film titled "The Irony of Fate" follows the story of a poor peasant who is mistakenly arrested and sent to a labor camp. However, the peasant's misfortune is often met with comic relief, as he encounters a series of absurd and comical situations in the camp.

Satirical theatre was another form of humor that flourished under Stalin. These plays often poked fun at the Soviet government and its policies. For instance, one play titled "The Government Inspector" follows the story of a government inspector who visits a small town and discovers that the people are living in poverty and oppression. The inspector then attempts to help the people, but his efforts are met with resistance and ridicule from the townspeople.

Caricature was also a popular form of humor in the Soviet Union. These drawings often depicted politicians and other public figures in a satirical or exaggerated manner. For example, one caricature titled "The Big Cheese" depicts Stalin as a giant cheese, symbolizing his control over the country.

Court speeches were also a source of humor during Stalin's reign. These speeches were often filled with witty and sarcastic remarks about the Soviet government and its policies. For instance, one court speech titled "The Speech of the People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs" includes a sarcastic remark about the United States, stating that it is a "great country, but it is run by a gang of gangsters."

Bawdy folk songs were also a popular form of humor in the Soviet Union. These songs often included lyrics that were crude and sexually explicit. For example, one folk song titled "The Cossack Girl" includes a lyric about a cossack girl who is willing to sleep with any man for a bottle of vodka.

Despite the dark and oppressive nature of Stalin's reign, humor played an important role in the survival of the Soviet regime. It helped to relieve the tension and stress of living under such conditions and provided a sense of camaraderie and unity among the people. Humor also served as a way to criticize the government and its policies without fear of reprisal.

However, not all humor was welcome under Stalin's regime. Some forms of humor were considered subversive and were suppressed or censored. For example, political satire was often censored, and artists who depicted the Soviet government in a negative light were often persecuted.

In conclusion, Stalin's reign of terror was not all doom and gloom, but a significant portion of it was intended to be humorous. From comedy films to satirical theatre, caricature to court speeches, and from Stalin's own writings to bawdy folk songs, humor permeated the popular culture of the USSR. While humor played an important role in the survival of the Soviet regime, not all forms of humor were welcome under Stalin's regime, and some were suppressed or censored. State Laughter provides a comprehensive analysis of state-sponsored popular culture in Stalin's Soviet Union, exploring how and why laughter was a core component of the survival of the Soviet regime.

Weight: 812g
Dimension: 240 x 165 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198840411