Bookvica

[SOVIET PROPAGANDA FOR CHILDREN] Zateinik [i.e. Entertainer] #3 for 1931

Item #2248

48 pp.: ill. 14,5x21,5 cm. In original illustrated wrappers. Spine slightly chipped, small stains on p. 6-7, otherwise mint.

A good example of periodicals for socialist education of young generations.
This magazine came out in 1929-1953 (excluding 1942-1945). As the organ of the Station of Children’s Entertainment, it published scripts for performances and games, music scores and lyrics, riddles and other fun activities. Initially it was significantly imbued with socialist ideology, so its readers were propagandists among schoolchildren and young pioneers. Being produced in the early Soviet Union, this issue promoted a mass literacy campaign and collectivisation, attacked religion, capitalism and anti-semitism.
Cover design and illustrations were created by book and industrial designer G. Iakubovich.
The front cover design features an illustration with cursive words. Even the boy's hair is depicted as the cursive title of the periodical. The boy is turned away, so is the title-hair. Among the illustrations are drawings and photomontages against kulaks, priests and old customs. A montage on p. 5 is captured “Create this poster by yourself!” – a photograph of a tractor ran over drawings of a priest, a White officer and a church. It illustrates a play promoting collectivisation. Another photomontage (on p.21) is dedicated to Women’s Day and combines a head of a female worker, two reproductions of books on Marxism-Leninism and a drawing of a factory. It illustrates a script for an interactive performance shown to younger children. A photomontage “Is it necessary to obey the parents?” includes a small picture of a church and a larger photo of a drunk man. The magazine instructed propagandists to organize talks and discussions on this topic within all collectives. One more photomontage echoes Klutsis’ propaganda motif of raised hands and includes some portraits, drawings of a factory and a power line. It illustrates an interactive performance “About girls and boys, about the polytechnic school and about some mothers”. Some headlines were designed in constructivist style highlighting separate words and arranging them in specific structure.
The issue also overviews politicized ice games and mathematical tricks, schemes and text instructions for figurate march with flags. The back cover features a board for the game “For Harvest!”; instructions are published on p.22.

Worldcat doesn’t track this issue.

Price: $450.00