PROPAGANDA METHODS 211
anphasizes—characteristically, only in the Russian language
—that an airman using an American aeroplane crashes while
anding on the ice near the Chelyuskin camp, while two other
>ilots using Russian machines make most excellent landings.
To-day Russian films are mainly used to glorify work and
he conditions in the country. Thus in the summer of 1934
m evening was devoted to Russian art in one of the smartest
Paris concert halls. It had been announced that a "completely
objective" series of photographic documents on Russian
conditions was to form the main part of this exhibition. And
what was the Paris public told about the real facts in Russia?
They were shown excellent pictures illustrating the youth of
Russia devoting itself to sport and showing how the Bashkirs
have learned to read and write. But the film was primarily
designed to glorify the technical achievements of Russia, like
the giant works and the Dnieprostroi dam. Mechanization as
such was meant to illustrate the victory of Communism. Not a
word, of course* was said about the victims.
Thousands and millions of people who follow enthusiastically
the artistic pictures of the Soviet films imagine that what they
see represents everyday conditions in Russia.
In connection with the successes achieved in the sphere of
the cinema, a few words should be said about another method
of carrying out optical propaganda* I mean the art of pro-
ducing and circulating posters dealing with the musical week
at Leningrad, the "Intourist" tours and all kinds of subjects.
As late as the winter of 1934 effective posters could be seen in
various places, e,g. in the Vienna trams, suggesting the sending
of "presents" to friends and relations in Russia. The Moscow
artists have far outstripped those of the non-Communist states
in the art of achieving powerful effects by means of posters.
In this connection I may point out another instance which
shows the absolutely unique manner in which the Moscow
Government knows how to make a virtue of necessity, and even
how to exploit Torgsin remittances for Russian citizens in