Today I will talk about sources linked to the Russian Revolution. In this entry, I will be analysing two sources relating to pictorial/visual evidence of the past. But, I am not just talking about any sources here; I am talking about a special kind of source – a PRIMARY source. Next time your history teacher asks “What is a primary source”, you would say this (and I hope I am right): A primary source is something (most likely a document) that was created at the time. The other types of sources are called SECONDARY sources, these are ones that are created after the time; often not as reliable. Talking about reliability, there are two main things you need: Perspective and Reliability and Usefulness. Before you think about Perspective and Reliability and Usefulness, you need to use TOMAC. I will now put this method into an anti-Bolshevik poster: (taken from http://petitmondemoi.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/historical-lingo-in-revolutionary-russia.html)
Translation: Comrades. Lenin cleans our land from all dark forces. (Thanks mum)
Type: Cartoon
Origin: Artist (Viktor Deni)
Motive: Anti- Lenin
Audience: Everyone who reads it.
Context: Lenin is getting rid of people who he doesn’t like.
Perspective: This is from the perspective is from artist Viktor Deni, who was against the revolution. This poster is about the fact that Lenin was getting rid of all the people who he did not like. These people included: capitalists e.g. Mr Monopoly, Kings, Queens and monarchy, and also witches/magicians. After that, your eyes gaze onto the background and what Lenin is doing. The background involves a globe. Notice how the cartoon says “our land”; this means that the artist is implying that “our land” means the planet itself. In the cartoon, Lenin is also holding a broom, effectively sweeping away the people he doesn’t like, off the face of the earth. Lenin is at the top of the world, literally, in this cartoon. This shows that he is abusing his power by sweeping (killing – on case you didn’t notice) people he doesn’t like away. So, the perspective of this source is that Lenin is on top of the world and he is sweeping away “dark forces”. But instead he is killing people that he doesn’t like and acting as if they weren’t even on the planet. From this source we can learn howe much power Lenin had.
Reliability: When you are finding the reliability of a source, it is a good idea to use 4 tests, and state why is source is or isn’t reliable. In this case it is.
1. This source is not In HD, you can’t see the writing at the bottom, so it was definitely tell it was waaay before computers as we know it. In other words, it definitely was not made on a computer.
2. This was written in Russian, by a Russian. Can’t get more Russian than that. Only thing missing is a bottle of vodka!
3. The clothes worn by the people are from the time. Only colour of the shoes is black, and they are wearing all black, apart from the kings. Who does that these days? Not many.
4. The lines from the globe are drawn in pencil. The artist couldn’t probably afford anything else.
Usefulness: This source is useful as it shows Lenin’s attitude towards people he didn’t like.
Here is source number 2:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_D4UK2kWf5ik/R7mcsxrkJQI/AAAAAAAAAqo/YvORBMPseAY/s1600-h/ParisCommuneMartyrs.gif
Translation: Comrades who perished during the French revolution, have resurrected under the red flag of the Soviets! Source: Petersburg Roster. Translated by Mum, a renowned history expert, she has PhD for a reason!
Type: Poster
Origin: Petersburg Roster, propaganda delivered by the revolutionaries.
Motive: If they did it (French Revolution), we can do it too!
Audience: Anyone who can see and read in the right perspective
Context: People are now geeting on board with the fact that the French overthrew their monarchy.
Perspective: This is obviously from the perspective of the Soviet revolutionaries. As mentioned earlier, this poster was by the Petersburg Roster. The man in the picture is obviously a leader, and it is practically saying: If the French did it, we can do it as well, because we are Russian. This source is a call to arms under a new flag, and that flag will be flown when the monarchy is defeated. We can learn that the Russians got a lot of inspiration from France in this source.
Reliability – 4 reasons why it is.
1. It was from the Petesburg Roster, a source of propogada that doesn’t exist now. If it does, let me know.
2. It was in Russian.
3. The man is holding sword. The AK-47 was not invented back then.
4. The man is wearing a top hat. Only Russians wear a top hat and a sword
Usefulness: This source is useful, as it shows where one source of inspiration for the revolution came from.
Hope you took some interest in this,
Simon