Ai Weiwei, holding part of his master work Sunflower Seeds.
Table 1.
The Soviet Revolution of 1917 echoes many socialist ideals that parallel reform movements of the current generation. Labor complaints, poverty, and feelings of abandonment of the working classes led to calls for social and economic equality throughout the country. Revolutionaries implemented a complete overhaul of the economic system under strict government control. When we observe modern activists we can see similar sentiments as growing trends of income disparity worldwide are becoming more mainstream. In 2013, nearly half of the global wealth was owned by the top 1% of the global population, and most minimum
wage jobs still can’t support a single rent apartment anywhere in the country. Proposals
for government support programs, changes in labor laws, and increases in the minimum wage have characterized the recent political scene in the United States. All these programs would increase government control over sectors of the economy, but would also aid lower income families and provide them with some necessities. Former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos commented on the issue of government assisted support in education stating, “The campaign for ‘free college’ is a matter of total government control. Make no mistake: it is a socialist takeover of higher education.” While DeVos’ comments take a more conservative approach; younger generations grappling with financial struggles often see these progressive policies as more appealing to relieve some financial stressors in the current age. These political issues demonstrate the ongoing struggle in American society: to create the perfect balance between government and individual power.
The art and literature of the Bolshevik Revolution is representative of extreme political and social unrest. Contemporary art mirrors this societal commentary in a call to action. Murals and public art are used as the voices of the people and tools for change and solidarity in both contexts. Art pieces in Russia in 1917, such as “A New Planet,” were meant to be displayed in a public setting (theater) and were used to invoke the revolutionary spirit. Public murals inciting revolutionary spirit and solidarity can be seen ubiquitously throughout the recent BLM movement. In many (albeit more libral) towns public murals were painted on the sides of buildings, and decorated storefronts. Utilizing art and literature to invoke change and spark political discussion is a timeless concept. Another facet of this is the government’s role in this revolutionary expression. Although the United States government today does not directly censor the creation of art and literature, some have called out the lack of representation for queer artists on social media and a general societal and systemic censorship of artists from marginalized demographics. During and after the Bolshevik revolution there existed government regulations about what kind of art could be produced and mainstreamed Socialist Realist art, a form of propaganda commissioned directly by the government. In more recent years, artists such as Ai Weiwei have pushed back against the totalitarian Chinese government’s increasing censorship of art through interactive public exhibits and projects. Public and political artworks are a vehicle for change that have accompanied every social movement. The 1917 Bolshevik revolution is a time characterized by social and political unrest that is able to speaks to and resonate with us through its timeless artistic expression.
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