Aa100 Tma 03

There are myths surrounding Stalin whether as a superhuman being depicted by visual images or contrasted by historical evidences and these myths often “play important roles in shaping the actions of historical actors” (Pittaway, 2008, p.127), in this case a mythic discussion about Stalin as represented in the image.
In the image of the carpet, dated 1939, and entitled ‘From the wives and workers of Kiev experimental plant’ (Pl.1.5.8, in the Open University, 2008), Stalin is presented in a larger than life glorified shoulder and head portrait surrounded by a framed border decorated with wheat and flowers all round. Inset are two blossoming white trees on the left and right and happy dancing children around a bed of flowering field. At the far end are some industrial and factory buildings and a statue of a person likely Stalin with outstretched hand towering over them. The other end of the image shows housing estates in greenery backgrounds. Yes – it blends industrial and agrarian, rural and urban. The children are stout and healthy and represent racial purity. And Stalin is depicted, god-like, above all. He has a benign and tolerant expression – the father of the people.
The image was a propagation of Stalin’s ideology launched in the form of 'First Five-Year plan' aimed for 'rapid industrialization' based on a 'command economy' and agriculture in the form of “collectivisation campaign” and in these “economic actors were to respond to central instructions rather than market forces” (Pittaway, 2008. pp.130 -131) in form of State control. His drive for the “social transformation of the Soviet Union during the period of his rule – especially urbanisation, industrialisation and agrarian transformations which were introduced during the years of the First Five-Year Plan,” (Pittaway, 2008, p.135), and Stalin’s association with these transformations are depicted in the images. It is known that “Stalin shaped a ‘cult of personality’ around himself, which constituted a...