Stalin's Cultural Heritage

Conference in Bristol

Organised by the Centre for Russian and East European Cultural Studies (CREECS)
University of Bristol

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th March 2003 at the History of Art Department, University of Bristol 43 Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UU

The figure of Iosif Stalin has cast a long shadow over twentieth century history and, over a decade since the fall of the Soviet Union, his impact continues to dominate many social and political agendas. In the cultural sphere Stalin's influence, both during and after his lifetime, was pervasive and has most frequently been described as fundamentally negative. Reputedly one of the chief authors of the doctrine of Socialist Realism and a staunch opponent of modernism, Stalin is often regarded as having held the Soviet Union back, and as responsible for a lost generation of cultural development, experimentation and production. This conference coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of Stalin's death. This marks a fascinating moment at which to explore precisely what has been and, indeed, what might continue to be the cultural legacy of Stalin and Stalinism.

Speakers will include*: Marie-Christine Autant-Mathieu, Peter Barta, Djurdja Bartlett, John Bates, Fiona Björling, Vitaly Chernetsky, Neil Edmunds, Reuben Fowkes, Jukka Gronow, Dina Iordanova, Polly Jones, Rosalind Marsh, David McFadyen, Maureen Perrie, Susan Reid, Albert Resis, John Riley, Dawn Seckler, Helen Tilly, Sarah Young.

Keynote Speaker: Thomas Lahusen*

(*subject to confirmation)

Full Fee £25.00
Single Day Fee (Saturday or Sunday) £20.00
Concession Fee (student or equivalent) £15.00

For further information visit the conference website at: www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/ArtHistory/stalinsculturallegacy.html or contact Mike.OMahony@bristol.ac.uk.