2025 № 3 (54)
“We Are Not Afraid of Either Ice or Clouds!” The Theme of Conquering the Arctic and the ‘Ocean of Air’ in Soviet Newsreel of the 1930s
UDC 78; 791
BBC 85.317; 85.374.3(2)
DOI: 10.51678/2226-0072-2025-3-294-317
For cit.: Karavaev D.L. “We Are Not Afraid of Either Ice or Clouds!” The Theme of Conquering the Arctic and the ‘Ocean of Air’ in Soviet Newsreel of the 1930s. Hudozhestvennaya kul’tura [Art & Culture Studies], 2025, no. 3, pp. 294–317. https://doi.org/10.51678/2226-0072-2025-3-294-317. (In Russian)
Karavaev Dmitry L.
PhD (in Art History), Leading Researcher, Analytical Department, Research Institute of Cinematography and Film Education, S.A. Gerasimov All-Russian State University of Cinematography (VGIK), 3 Wilhelm Pieck Str., Moscow, 129226, Russia
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0752-9786
ResearcherID: ABG-3983-2020
“We Are Not Afraid of Either Ice or Clouds!” The Theme of Conquering the Arctic and the ‘Ocean of Air’ in Soviet Newsreel of the 1930s
Abstract. The article is devoted to the depiction of the theme of the conquest of the Arctic North and the ‘ocean of air’ in the Soviet newsreels of the 1930s. Based on the content analysis of a significant array of film documents (newsreel stories, special newsreel issues, documentary films), the author examines the phenomenon of the transformation of famous polar explorers and aviators of the Stalin era into a cohort of cult national heroes. Particular attention is paid to precedents of the transformation of a technological fiasco (accident) into a positive, life-affirming heroic myth (the Chelyuskin disaster and the wintering of the Chelyuskin crew on an ice floe, the death of Valery Chkalov and Sigizmund Levanevsky during flights).
Keywords: newsreels, film magazines, Soviet cinema of the 1930s, polar expeditions, ultra-long-distance flights, the Chelyuskin, V.P. Chkalov, S.A. Levanevsky
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Received 11.04.2025
Accepted 04.06.2025
