Shostakovich
Wu 1
Political Repression, Cultural Autonomy and Artistic Excellence: The Case of Shostakovich
As an important type of suppression of dissent, political repression on arts refers to actions taken by the government to censor certain forms or subjects of artistic expression because of inconformity to the regime’s legitimacy or official ideology (Mulcahy, 1984). Often seen in totalitarian societies such as Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and China in modern ages (Rothstein,
1981), this kind of repression is regarded as a characteristic of nondemocratic society (Mulcahy,
1984) and is broadly criticized for hindering artistic development and freedom of expression
(Martin, 2012). Hence it seems natural to tend to be over-pessimistic about artistic achievement …show more content…
After all, music is a rather individual and abstract form of expression, any possibility can exist only if it is created out of the composer’s heart (Huband, 1990).
Bibliography
Bryner, M. (2004). Soviet Socialism and Shostakovich: The Effects of Communist Party Control of the
Arts on the Man and His Music. Perspectives: Student Journal of Germanic and Slavic Studies,
12. Retrieved from http://germslav.byu.edu/perspectives/w2004.php
Dudeck-Wiseman, B. (1998). Dmitri Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth, and the Soviet Government.
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/23 Fay, L. E. (2000). Shostakovich: a life. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ferenc, A. (2004). Music in the socialist state. In Soviet Music and Society under Lenin and Stalin (Vols.
1-11, Vol. 1, pp. 8–18). New York: RoutledgeCurzon.
Huband, J. D. (1990). Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony: A Soviet Artist’s Reply...? Tempo, (173), 11–16.
Kay, N. (1971). Shostakovich. London: Oxford University Press.
Wu 13
Martin, B. (2012). Suppression of Dissent: What It Is and What to Do About It. Social Medicine, 6(4),
246–248.
Muddle instead of music. (1936, January 28). Pravda. Moscow. Retrieved
Political Repression, Cultural Autonomy and Artistic Excellence: The Case of Shostakovich
As an important type of suppression of dissent, political repression on arts refers to actions taken by the government to censor certain forms or subjects of artistic expression because of inconformity to the regime’s legitimacy or official ideology (Mulcahy, 1984). Often seen in totalitarian societies such as Nazi Germany, Soviet Union and China in modern ages (Rothstein,
1981), this kind of repression is regarded as a characteristic of nondemocratic society (Mulcahy,
1984) and is broadly criticized for hindering artistic development and freedom of expression
(Martin, 2012). Hence it seems natural to tend to be over-pessimistic about artistic achievement …show more content…
After all, music is a rather individual and abstract form of expression, any possibility can exist only if it is created out of the composer’s heart (Huband, 1990).
Bibliography
Bryner, M. (2004). Soviet Socialism and Shostakovich: The Effects of Communist Party Control of the
Arts on the Man and His Music. Perspectives: Student Journal of Germanic and Slavic Studies,
12. Retrieved from http://germslav.byu.edu/perspectives/w2004.php
Dudeck-Wiseman, B. (1998). Dmitri Shostakovich, Lady Macbeth, and the Soviet Government.
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Collection. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/ugtheses/23 Fay, L. E. (2000). Shostakovich: a life. New York: Oxford University Press.
Ferenc, A. (2004). Music in the socialist state. In Soviet Music and Society under Lenin and Stalin (Vols.
1-11, Vol. 1, pp. 8–18). New York: RoutledgeCurzon.
Huband, J. D. (1990). Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony: A Soviet Artist’s Reply...? Tempo, (173), 11–16.
Kay, N. (1971). Shostakovich. London: Oxford University Press.
Wu 13
Martin, B. (2012). Suppression of Dissent: What It Is and What to Do About It. Social Medicine, 6(4),
246–248.
Muddle instead of music. (1936, January 28). Pravda. Moscow. Retrieved