Images far from reality?

In this thesis the forming of a national identity since the 1950's in the (post) Soviet Russian society is analysed, particularly the representation of gendered national identity. The main research question is the following: In what ways is gender involved in the process of redefining national identity in (post) Soviet Russia in the second half of the twentieth century? The exact period of this research is 1953 to 2008. Throughout the thesis I paid attention to major changes in society, economics and politics. To answer the main question, the concepts gender and (national) identity are first examined. An important realisation is that national identity is a cultural construct. This notion is necessary to understand the discourse of representation. To answer the main question the representation of gendered national identity in visual sources is examined. The sources which were used to do this are: propaganda posters, photographs and cartoons from the magazine Ogoniok and advertisements from the period after the fall of the Soviet Union. Gender specific symbols used in these visual sources were analysed. Both formal ideology and informal ideas are of influence in the representation of gender. The representation of gendered national identity in the visual sources is product and producer of that identity. The time frame and division of chapters is based on the rule of different presidents, the Russian government always was an important factor in the construction of national identity. I have divided my thesis into three periods. The period discussed in chapter two is the period of Khrushchev, 1953-1964. Gendered representations in the visual sources in this period are strongly based on formal ideology, there is no great discrepancy between the images in the magazine and the formal propaganda posters. There is a strong emphasis on equality and unity. Chapter three covers the period 1964-1982, the rule of Brezhnev. In this period the representation of gender and national identity in the visual sources which were studied, did not go through major changes. However, slowly a more modern view and the expression of femininity became visible. In chapter four the period 1982-2008 is discussed, in this period the ideological fundaments changed drastically and as a result so did the identity constructs and gendered representation. Gorbachev opened up the Russian society and made way for drastic cultural, social and political changes. After the fall of the Soviet Union, identity structures were no longer under control of the state. There was a sexual revolution on the one hand and on the other hand the Orthodox Church and conservative family roles gained importance. Femininity and masculinity, gendered cultural icons all got a different implementation.