The engaging leisure activities of an industrial town in the early 1950s

E.M. Buryak*, N.N. Makarova**, N.V. Chernova***

Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Magnitogorsk, 455000 Russia

E-mail: *lench81@inbox.ru, **makarovanadia@mail.ru, ***nina_chernova@mail.ru

Received February 3, 2022

 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

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DOI: 10.26907/2541-7738.2022.3.213-227

For citation: Buryak E.M., Makarova N.N., Chernova N.V. The engaging leisure activities of an industrial town in the early 1950s. Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta. Seriya Gumanitarnye Nauki, 2022, vol. 164, no. 3, pp. 213–227. doi: 10.26907/2541-7738.2022.3.213-227. (In Russian) 

Abstract

This article considers the main leisure activities of Magnitogorsk residents in the early 1950s based on their personal memories, local materials of the clerical sources, and periodicals. The analysis shows how the residents spent their free time and what emotions they had. On the one hand, the leisure options of that time (for example, going to cinemas, theaters, parks, circuses, libraries, concerts, sports sections, hobby clubs, public lectures, public readings of books, educational meetings arranged by the party, as well as organizing holidays and public events, amateur art shows, mass leisure out of town, resort holidays, etc.) were largely defined by the political regime and ideology. On the other hand, the urban community either tacitly rejected or changed those activities that turned out to be unpopular or boring. At the same time, one of the main trends supported by the Magnitogorsk residents was collectivism and publicity while engaging in a leisure activity. The latter two formed an integral part of the Soviet consciousness. Particular attention is paid to the problems faced by the city in the organization of leisure and recreational activities: the construction of cultural and entertainment venues failed to keep up with the growth of the city population; some residents were not properly educated about the value and importance of certain leisure types. The workers were tired because of their hard working shifts at the metallurgical plant and everyday life, thus many of them showed no interest in outdoor activities. It is concluded that the organization of leisure time in Magnitogorsk, which was a role model for the entire Soviet society, was essential in upholding the morale of its residents.

Keywords: leisure, new city, emotional state, Urals, Magnitogorsk

Acknowledgements. The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 21-09-43032).

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