Even on its own, the meltdown at Chernobyl in April of 1986 is one of the worst man-made disasters in history. Hundreds of thousands of people were affected by this disaster — some relocated, some faced severe health effects and … Continue reading →
Back in the USSR: The Russian Rock Revolution
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While the state-run record label Melodiya controlled much of what was popular on the Russian airwaves, many young (rather rebellious) Russians began to fall in love with Western rock n’ roll. Influenced by bands like The Rolling Stones, Deep Purple … Continue reading →
Feelin’ a lil corny
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Similar to the grain problem of the previous decade, Russia also began to see a shortage of corn around the turn of the 1960s. Nikita Khrushchev, also the mastermind behind the Virgin Lands Campaign, decided it was time to run … Continue reading →
The H Word: Soviet Russia’s Hydrogen Bomb
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In 1953, the USSR set off their first hydrogen bomb at the Semipalatinsk test site in Kazakhstan. This “super-bomb” was determined to surpass the power of their atomic bomb, which they had detonated four years prior. The hydrogen bomb explosion … Continue reading →
Hit the road, Jack: Deportation and Western Xenophobia in Soviet Russia
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During World War II and even post-war, the Soviet Union was infamous for its deportation and xenophobic policies. This began in 1943, as the NKVD marched one million ethnic minorities, in particular the Kalmyks, from their homes into what is … Continue reading →
On the right track: The Moscow Metro
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While Stalin called for a “passion for construction” in the First Five-Year Plan, he wanted a “passion for mastering technology” to come out of the Second Five-Year Plan. The construction of the Moscow Metro combined both of these passions, in … Continue reading →
Free Love and Communism: The Alexandra Kollontai Story
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No matter the time period, no matter the location, the status of women has always been in question. As the Bolsheviks came to power, women in Russia began to see themselves on a more equal field; legislation like the Code on Marriage, … Continue reading →
The Original Mr. October
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With the signing of the October Manifesto came a new era of rule in Russia. No longer was the country under an autocracy; a constitutional monarchy was in the works. The document granted civil liberties and even created a legislative body … Continue reading →
Prokudin-Gorskii photography: Jewish Children with their Teacher
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As a photography student myself, there is nothing I love more than photographs of people. These images present much more than a face– they illustrate a sense of time, culture and place. The collection of Prokudin-Gorskii images vary from objects … Continue reading →
Hello world!
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Welcome to Blogs@VT Sites. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!