Under the Sign of Television: New Poetics in Soviet Films of Perestroika

• In Event: Film and Freedoms of Expression: Production, Aesthetics, Mediology (Late Socialism and Beyond)

Abstract

The goal of the talk is to trace the relations between the late Soviet film and television, which achieved the most popularity among mass media in the late 1980s-early 1990s as an effect of the transitional period of perestroika. The analysis will touch upon 1) parallel discovery, both by film and TV, of new thematics formerly excluded from the public discussion, like subcultural scenes, drug abuse, climate etc., 2) the changed function of television in filmic narratives (TV as a chronicler, commentator/moderator, interpreter), 3) the adoption of televisual features like close-ups etc. in filmic representation. Corresponding references to films from different East European countries will be done.

Author

• Mariia Zhukova, U of Konstanz (Germany)