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[AVANT-GARDE THEATER] Oktiabr’ mysli [i.e. October of Thought] #1 for 1924

Item #2356

Moscow 1924. 96 pp. 26x17,5 cm. In original constructivist wrappers. Spine, covers’ edges, edges of some pages restored, blue pencil marks and underlines, period ink signature on title page, otherwise very good.One of 3200 copies. Rare.

First issue of an early Soviet monthly published by the Association for Cultural Joint [between the city and the village] in 1923-1924. Heading to topical contemporary directions, the edition interacted with some LEF members in particular. The magazine includes texts written on changes in mindset and daily routine, communist culture in general. The issue is divided into sections “The Third Front”, “Way of Life”, “Art”, “Organization”, “Theory and Practice of Marxism”, “Chronicle of ‘October of Thought’”, “Facts” and “Books”.

The Art Section opens with the article ‘Without Rudder or Sails (On Politics in Literature)’ by Nikolai Chuzhak. He retells and exposes some pseudo-communist writings published in mass journals
‘Krasnaia Nov’ [Red Virgin Soil] and ‘Molodaia gvardiia’ [Young Guard] in early NEP years. The section also contains ‘The Theater of Attractions’ by Sergey Tretyakov. In this critical essay he reviews a certain approach applied to the production of ‘Enough Stupidity in Every Wise Man’ by A. Ostrovsky and ‘Are You Listening, Moscow?’ by S. Tretyakov at the 1st Workers’ Theater of Proletkult led by S. Eisenstein. The Theater of Attractions was co-work of Sergei Eisenstein and Sergei Tretyakov which later shifted to Eisenstein’s cinematographic practice. Eisenstein’s article ‘Montage of Attractions’ (on the same performances) was published in LEF (1923, 3). According to him, it is any element of the theater that subjects the spectator to a sensual or psychological impact, experimentally regulated and mathematically calculated to produce in them certain emotional shocks and lead them in a desirable direction of thoughts. Through this approach, the theater was an
essential ideological tool.

The magazine chronicled events of the Association on which reports were read, plans of its sections. The section ‘Facts’ outlines activity of some organizations, including the Association for Cultural Joint itself, the Central Institute of Labor, VKHUTEMAS and Moscow Proletkult. The edition announced “Gas Masks”, Eisenstein's last theatrical production based on Tretyakov’s play which was performed at the Moscow Gas Works instead of at a theater. As the journal states, after “Gas Masks” other performances were planned without a certain ending: public competitions in wit, strength, dexterity, etc. In the section ‘Books’, A. Platonov reviews magazines ‘LEF’, ‘Star’, ‘On Duty’.

An extensive list of magazine contributors is published in an advertisement on the back cover.

No paper copies are found in Worldcat.

Price: $1,750.00