Образы Севастополя в советской культурной памяти

Abstract

Key images of Sevastopol typical for the Soviet epoch, motives and mechanisms of their formation were found out and analysed in the article. Based on studies of various types of histo­rical records, authors drew a conclusion that cultural memory of the Soviet society maintained several predominant images of Sevastopol. “Fortress city”, “hero city” and “holiday city” were the most common ones. These images carried several ideas such as a battle between light and darkness (the good and the bad) based on the Gospels or heroic, even selfless, service to the Motherland perceived as the supreme goodness of a citizen that is closely related to a formal discourse of pre-revolutionary imperial Russia. Also, a concept of imminent revolution and construction of a classic socialistic city appeared as late as in the Soviet epoch was presented. The Soviet historical policy affected most commemorative practices, memorial and historical works, fiction about Sevastopol, as well as the city images presented in the figurative art, music, the stage and screen played a key part in formation of these images. At the same time, memorial policy of public institutions and several city heads adjusted creation of Sevastopol images rammed through “from upstairs”. Despite the Soviets’ intentions to create predominantly heroic images of Sevastopol “flavoured” with communistic ideology, as a result, they were pretty diversified (including both patriotic origin and lyric component). It is revealing that most Soviet people considered Sevastopol not only as a “hero city” but also as a “holiday city” fulfilled dreams of the late Soviet society.