ORGANISED GAIETY

Dunstan Times, 2 November 1936, Page 7

ORGANISED GAIETY

LATEST RUSSIAN PLAN Soviet Russia’s rulers arc firm believers in the devices of modern advertising, and can “ put over ” a slogan more quickly and effectually than any private advertiser could dream of doing, writes Demarce Bess from Moscow to the ‘ Christian Science Monitor. The Soviet process of introducing a nation-wide catchphrase is now familiar. Joseph Stalin includes it in one of bis infrequent speeches. The immense propaganda machine immediately carries it to every part of the land. M. Stalin’s most recent slogan is also his most popular. In a speech to a conference of shock workers he declared: “ Life has become better, comrades', life has become more joyous. And when life is joyous work hums.” These words have since been repeated innumerable times in Soviet newspapers., magazines, and books, and over radio broadcasting stations. They have boon echoed and re-echoed, interpreted and reinterpreted by Communist speakers in every school, factory, and office, on every collective farm. They have become a part of the common speech. One naturally seeks to discover why M. Stalin and his associates have laid such emphasis upon these words at a time when they profess to believe that the dangers of war are greater than ever before, when they are creating the largest army in Europe and the largest civilian military reserve in the world. 'Phis slogan has accompanied the introduction of the Stakhanoff movement, through which Soviet workers are being persuaded or compelled to redouble their efforts in order to strengthen the industrial machine, which is so important in modern war. If we reverse M. Stalin’s words we probably get closer to his real meaning; “ Work hums if life becomes more joyous for workers.” In other words, workers do not willingly increase their efforts unless their leisure hours become more joyous.

So the Kremlin has introduced organised gaiety. Festival and carefree celebrations are occurring in every part of the country. Dance halls with jazz bands operated by the Government have appeared not only in cities, but in agricultural villages'. State trusts have multiplied the number of travelling circuses, bands of troubadours, and vaudeville troupes. Theatrical and motion picture trusts have been instructed to replace grim propaganda plays with comedies and light entertainment. The most sober-minded Communists, with an air of bewilderment, are drawn into the campaign for universal gaiety. The Government leaders, a very earnest set of men, are photographed almost daily with broad smiles on their faces, joking, the visiting girl “ shock-work-ers ” from Central Asia or the Caucasus, slapping each other on the back. The common people arc delighted with these changes; this is one campaign into which they have entered wholeheartedly For years they have submitted with patient resignation to burdens imposed by the dictatorship. They have endured short rations, overcrowding: have wasted hours every day standing in lino to obtain their simple needs from badly-organised State shops, and to secure innumerable “ documents ” from bureaucratic State offices.

Always they have been assured that “ better times are coming.” Now M. Stalin himself assures them that the more joyous life is here, and organises entertainment for their leisure to prove it.

This movement shows once more the Kremlin’s shrewd understanding of its people. Believing that the danger of war is increasing, Soviet leaders must make sure of something more than half-hearted support for their regime. They can assure loyalty most quickly by giving the people a “ more joyous life ” than they have experienced for many years. So the campaign for organised gaiety is as definite a measure for defence as the enlarged lied army.