After the death of Vladimir Lenin in the 1924, Joseph Stalin rose to power as the dictator of the Soviet Union and held power until his death in 1953. Through his policy, known as Stalinism, he industrialized and modernized Russia, boosting its economy to catch up with the other western powers. However, millions died during his dictatorship, including his own people through his creation of the first man-made famine ever and through his labor camps, known as Gulags (Joseph). One major aspect of Stalinist ideology was cult of personality and propaganda, which Stalin used to create a manly and powerful image and to win over people. Similarly, Russia’s current president, Vladimir Putin, also uses propaganda and created a cult of personality in
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Both Stalin and Putin use propaganda to create a cult of personality that makes them appear both manly and kind. While Stalin used propaganda posters, Putin uses photographs to show how he is a well-rounded person. Images show him shirtless while hunting animals or riding horses, working out, participating in sports, riding a motorbike, and contributing in scientific research (Cult). This is how Putin created his cult of personality to embody the Russian spirit of the muzhik, or the ideal macho man (Luhn). Contrarily, images of him playing hockey in the National Hockey League, having tea with a colleague, and holding and working with various animals shows his more amiable side (Cult). Likewise, Stalin’s propaganda posters created the image of a powerful, hardworking man who cares for his people. These posters bolstered the image of the “architect”, “Man of Steel,” the sun, the father of the Soviet Union, and as a symbol of hope and progression that Stalin wanted his cult to portray, shown in posters of him studying, working hard, contributing to war, and engaging with children, all while holding authoritative and dominant stances (Pisch). These depictions of him are what makes him seem like the tough, authoritative man that does a lot for his people. Stalin created a successful personality cult through propaganda that 34 percent of Russians agree that Stalin’s flaws do not matter, but what does matter is that Russia was victorious in World War II under Stalin, as shown in a recent poll (Thoburn). Although these photographs of Putin and posters of Stalin are not identical, they all send out the same underlying message to the people; these leaders are powerful, action-taking men who understand their people and are just like them. This is the main message that both Putin and Stalin’s
Both Stalin and Putin use propaganda to create a cult of personality that makes them appear both manly and kind. While Stalin used propaganda posters, Putin uses photographs to show how he is a well-rounded person. Images show him shirtless while hunting animals or riding horses, working out, participating in sports, riding a motorbike, and contributing in scientific research (Cult). This is how Putin created his cult of personality to embody the Russian spirit of the muzhik, or the ideal macho man (Luhn). Contrarily, images of him playing hockey in the National Hockey League, having tea with a colleague, and holding and working with various animals shows his more amiable side (Cult). Likewise, Stalin’s propaganda posters created the image of a powerful, hardworking man who cares for his people. These posters bolstered the image of the “architect”, “Man of Steel,” the sun, the father of the Soviet Union, and as a symbol of hope and progression that Stalin wanted his cult to portray, shown in posters of him studying, working hard, contributing to war, and engaging with children, all while holding authoritative and dominant stances (Pisch). These depictions of him are what makes him seem like the tough, authoritative man that does a lot for his people. Stalin created a successful personality cult through propaganda that 34 percent of Russians agree that Stalin’s flaws do not matter, but what does matter is that Russia was victorious in World War II under Stalin, as shown in a recent poll (Thoburn). Although these photographs of Putin and posters of Stalin are not identical, they all send out the same underlying message to the people; these leaders are powerful, action-taking men who understand their people and are just like them. This is the main message that both Putin and Stalin’s