Revolution: a violent solution

Monday, May 9, 2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:World_October_revolution_poster.jpg

Russian Propaganda

This particular propaganda was used in the October Revolution in 1918-1922. This poster says: “Long Live World October [revolution]! Workers conquered power in Russia. Workers will conquer power in the entire world.” The poster, like many other Soviet Propaganda posters, use red as a primary color of the poster.The symbol of Communism, the hammer and sickle, is shown in the background. In the foreground, Communist ideals of anti-intellects and anti-religion are depicted by a person kicking a Christian and an intellectual out of the poster. The main focus is the red flag saying, “Long Live World October” and the march of the proletariats. The proletariats are depicted to be strong, robust, and courageous men who wear the same type of clothing and the same hats, showing the equality that Communism brings to the people. The background consists of the factories and buildings which are important to Communism.

The October Revolution was the uprising of the Bolsheviks after WWI. The Russian Provisional Government was overthrown and power came to the soviets/groups of the Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks were tired of the economic and social crisis happening in Russia after the War. Mass strikes began forming and the garrisoned soldiers and sailors ended up taking part of the masses. The Russian Executive Committee of the Soviets ordered an attack against the protestors which resulted in 56 people dead and 650 wounded. Popularity of the Bolsheviks kept increasing significantly. The uprising of the Bolsheviks was impossible without an outbreak of violence. The Bolsheviks then took the Winter Palace and the formation of the Soviet Union was complete (October Revolution).

The Bolshevik Revolution created a few violent reactions between the people and the government. Firings at demonstrators led to the death and the wounded of many civilians. In the painting, the workers are marching out of their factories with flags which can be interpreted as a movement to rebel against the government. In the far background, a small picture of people rioting, carrying the same red flag, is shown. The propaganda words used in the poster also promotes the violence that later happens in the Revolution. Power is never able to achieved without violence and that ‘an armed uprising is inevitable’ (October Revolution).

Wikipedia. “Russian Revolution.” Propaganda. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda#Russian_revolution.

Wikipedia. “Russian Revolution of 1917.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Revolution_(1917).

Wikipedia. “Propaganda in the Soviet Union.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_the_Soviet_Union.

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Introduction

These artworks show the Violent Revolutions in the past few centuries. Guernica shows the early violence that the Spanish Civil War had during it’s time. The painting itself consists of dead bodies, ghosts, and body parts lying around showing the violence of the Revolution and it’s casualties. It is Picasso’s depiction of the bombing of Guernica by Nazi Germany which was a trial run of Blitzkrieg. Liberty Leading the people depicts Lady Liberty of France with the dead bodies of the soldiers and the new advancements of warfare technology (guns, cannons, etc.) that caused violent deaths for a lot of people at that time. The dead bodies represent the violence needed for liberty. The Russian Propaganda shows the force needed by the Soviet Union to promote the Communist government by killing off and eradicating all other influences to the people. The Spirit of ’76 shows the violence of the warfare fought by the depiction of the dead body in the foreground and the wounds of the soldiers coming back from the Revolution. The Tiananmen Square Massacre photograph, The Tank Man, shows the protests of 1989. It shows the tanks as the violence that was happening during the protests, though the man was not run over by the tanks.

Tragedies of War

http://spikeyliu.blogspot.com/

Spikey Liu's blog consisted of a general theme of the dangers and consequences of war and the violence in war. Spikey used thae painting named "Gassed." This painting shows the horrors and the violence of the mustard gasses used in WWI. Even though there are no sights of pain and agony, the violence of the First World War is depicted through the yellowish green color of the mustard gas used, the piles of dead or wounded soldiers in the foreground and background, and the wounded/blinded soldiers. The Third of May also depicts the violence through the blood and deaths of the victims and the focused man surrendering and pleading for his life to be spared.

Fight for Liberty

http://7k1mzx.blogspot.com/

Through the artworks in Thomas Kim's blog, violence created in the process of Revolution is further shown. The Death of Marat by Jacques Louis David represents the French Revolution, a period of time where violence between humans was clearly shown and sometimes even called "barbaric." The painting itself shows Marat in his medicinal tub working on his newspaper that consists of the names of people to be captured and sent to the guillotine. The French Revolution called for the killing machine to be the death penalty of possible traitors to the regime. The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 includes the number of people who were part of the somewhat violent revolution to overthrow Mubarak, the current ex-president of Egypt, and to gain liberty and freedom from the corruption of Mubarak. Violent demonstrations broke out during the Egypt Revolution due to the corruption of the government.Though the revolution was successful, people were killed and injured during the protests and the clash between the protesters and the security forces.