The Ugly Mirror Avots

Abstract

Latvia was under communist rule for almost half a century. The imposed regime brought not only deportations, imprisonments, grief, and fear, but also the pain of lost independence. The vision of the dreamland taken away, of prosperous and thriving Latvia, was kept alive through personal memories in many Latvian families. The spirit 232233Defence Strategic Communications | Volume 11 | Autumn 2022DOI 10.30966/2018.RIGA.11.8Defence Strategic Communications | Volume 11 | Autumn 2022DOI 10.30966/2018.RIGA.11.8of Latvianness that survived under the socialist regime and a longing for essential freedom were the main driving forces of the nation that stood against the enforced communist plan. Now, as the European Union faces threats of war, the story of regained independence offers a new perspective. It proves that the spirit of freedom does not cease to exist with the fact of occupation. Despite strict censorship and the control of communication channels in totalitarian political systems, it nevertheless finds its voice. This article looks back at the events of the 1980s that led to the restoration of independence in Latvia and investigates the role of the press, in particular the youth magazine Avots, paradoxically financed by the Communist Party. Could Soviet authority be undermined through artistic expression, and how could the magazine’s covers subvert official ideology? Moreover, could art and design have any impact on politics and foster events to shape the future of a nation?