The Archive and The Revolution: Shaping Historical Narratives

• In Event: Otherness in Early Soviet Culture: Gender, Ethnicity, Eccentricity

Abstract

Esfir Shub's use of archival footage in her early films strategically served Soviet ideological goals while also reflecting her personal vision, particularly in advocating for women in film and Soviet society. This paper explores how Shub’s work, both completed and unrealized, championed women's contributions to Soviet life, framing their role in the film industry as a microcosm of socialist labor while aligning with the state's evolving narratives.

Author

• Eva Zak, Adelphi U