- 156 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
About this book
This book is devoted to the phenomenon of removal of people declared "public enemies" from group photographs in Stalin's Russia.
The book is based on long-term empirical research in Russian archives and includes 57 photographs that are exceptional in terms of historical interest: all these images bear traces of editing in the form of various marks, such as blacking-out, excisions or scratches. The illustrative materials also include a group of photographs with inscriptions left by officers of Stalin's secret police, the NKVD. To approach this extensive visual material, Denis Skopin draws on a wealth of Stalin-era written sources: memoirs, diaries and official documents. He argues that this kind of political iconoclasm cannot be confused with censorship nor vandalism. The practice in question is more harrowing and morally twisted, for in most cases the photos were defaced by those who were part of victim's intimate circle: his/her colleagues, friends or even close family members.
The book will be of interest to scholars working in history of photography, art history, visual culture, Russian studies and Russian history and politics.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- Half Title Page
- Series Page
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- List of Figures
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- 1 Stalin's Repressions: Historical Overview and Theoretical Examination
- 2 “Portrait” Criminal Cases
- 3 The Group Portrait: Ontological and Political Backgrounds of the Genre
- 4 Collapse of Interpersonal and Family Relationships during the Terror: Editing Photographs of Friends and Family Members
- 5 The Photographs of “Former People” in the NKVD Card Indexes and Edited Photographs of Secret Police Officers
- Conclusion
- Index