The Deutsches Historische Museum in Berlin has a webpage on Die Russische Revolution. And if you happen to be in Berlin, they are running a series of classic movies on the topic.
From the DHM's flyer on the exhibit:
The revolutionary events of 1917 and the civil war led to a fundamental, systemic change that influenced the entire 20th century. From a mental and cultural perspective, the revolution at first brought about radical changes in all areas of society. It led to new forms of economy, education and culture, fostered national, political and social freedom movements and inspired artists and people working in all areas of culture. But the forging of this new society was accompanied – from the outset – by terror, violence and repression. The exhibition 1917. Revolution. Russia and Europe explores the revolutionary events in Russia and the early Soviet Union and also examines the reactions and counter-reactions that the political and social upheaval triggered in Europe, by focusing on a selection of European countries.
Here is a 27-minute documentary on the Russian Revolution from RT, which the American media now routinely describes as a "Russian propaganda channel." (RT just agreed to register in the US as a foreign agent, but they aren't happy about it: Natasha Bertrand, RT editor-in-chief: US affiliate of Russia Today will register as a foreign agent Business Insider ) It's main message seems to be that the significance of the Russian Revolution is to provide material for kitchy novelty products and conversation topics for ditsy idealists. Revolution: 100 years young. Lenin’s socialist vision in capitalist world 11/05/2017:
Kremlin unease marks centennial of 1917 Bolshevik revolution Al Jazeera English 11/07/2017:
Here's a much shorter report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which I guess for balance we should call the American propaganda channel, Russia's Communists Mark Centenary Of Bolshevik Revolution, Kremlin Plays It Down 11/07/2017:
Here is a short report from Deutsche Welle English, which I'll refrain from describing as a German propaganda channel, Russia holds low-key celebration of 1917 Revolution 11/07/2017:
YouTube lists a number of reports and documentaries, most from dubiously-name providers I've never heard of. But if you want to hear a conventionally Marxist-Leninist take on the October Revolution, in this episode of Empire Files on the left channel TeleSUR English, Abby Martin interviews Brian Becker of an American political sect called the Party for Socialism and Liberation, What the Russian Revolution Proved Possible 11/07/2017. I'm afraid his main achievement here is to make the whole thing sound boring.
This is another one from Deutsche Welle, a 42-minute documentary called The Russian Revolution: how artists experienced the Bolshevik takeover 10/25/2017. This one is creative, engaging, and informative.
This 3 1/2 minute documentary spot from the Smithsonian Channel is about Mutiny in Petrograd, about the February Revolution, some of which is a docudrama-style reconstrution:
Mitchell Cohen in What Lenin’s Critics Got Right Dissent (Fall 2017) Kind of a classic social-democratic commentary on the October Revolution. He gives a lot of legitimacy to the Constituent Assembly elected in November 1917 and dismissed by the Bolshevik government in January 1918.
Jacobin has been running articles all this year, with links collected as The Russian Revolution at 100. Here are some that I find particularly worthwhile:
- Sarah Badcock, The 1917 Peasant Revolutions Jacobin 08/23/2017
- Tariq Ali, The Legacy of Vladimir Lenin Jacobin 05/25/2017
- Mike Haynes, Violence and Revolution in 1917 Jacobin 07/17/2017
The New York Times has been running a series of articles under the rubric of Red Century, several of which deal directly with the October Revolution. They are worth checking out, though I've seen a couple that I'm thinking were not edited carefully enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment