Medium für 365 Tage - ein sowjetischer Abreißkalender
Medium for 365 days. A Soviet Tear-Off Calendar

Summary/Abstract: In the Soviet Union, tear-off calendars are carefully compiled and assorted according to party policy. The tear-off calendar in question was published by the polit publishing-house in an edition of 16,2 million copies. By the author the main stress was laid upon classification of the illustrations according to the topics. If divided into special topics, "USSR: Cities, Buildings, Landscapes" ranks first (29 pages) followed by "Founders of Marxism Leninism" and "Workmen and Farmers" (26 pages either); if combined to special groups, then the far-reaching topic “Achievements and Production of the USSR" (71 pages) ranks first. Even more revealing is the division by geographic aspects: 274 pages (i. e. 75 percent) are devoted to Russia and the USSR. It is typical that only 18 great persons are represented, among them the 16 members of the polit-bureau. The text on the back pages of the calendar relates roughly to the topics of the pictures; however, various every-day problems are dealt with, too (recipes, educational advice etc.). The reader's mind is altogether focused on the Soviet Union; the Third World is practically ignored; the capitalistic world is only briefly and negatively hinted at.

• Details
• Contents