Week 4 Assignment

1. Carnival Night shows many different forms of art, like dance, song, music, and skits. Many of these forms of art were under many laws and restrictions under Stalin's reign. After the Khrushchev Thaw, many of the restrictions were greatly loosened. The film Carnival Night shows many of the freedoms that the Arts had after Stalin died. In a way, it is almost like a celebration of the freedom of the arts.

These clowns were trying to put on a humorous performance,
but Mr. Ogurtsov disapproved and insisted it be more serious

2. In the film, a community theater is putting on a New Year's Carnival. The young people are wanting to make it a fun celebration, but the old director wants it to be serious. So, the protagonists are the young people, especially Lena and the young man who loves her, Grisha. The antagonist is Mr. Ogurtsov, who is old fashioned and against the light-hearted fun the younger people are going for.

Lena and Grisha

3. The film Carnival Night conforms to both the thematic and aesthetic guidelines of Soviet Russia by including scenes of dance and song, and by creating an interesting storyline. But, it does manage to critique system by having Mr. Ogurtsov in the film. I think that by introducing his character, who, without directly saying so, pushes many of the guidelines that Soviet Russia would have enforced. Because the Lena and the other young people push back against this character, I think this the way the film critiqued the flawed system.

4. No one in the film Carnival Night directly says anything against the soviet party. I think this is biggest thing that was still not allowed.

Dancers

5. In Carnival Night, the 'young people' show having more liberty than before. I think the biggest thing that the young people can show that is new is PDA. I know that is a funny way of saying it, but it is true! In the end of the movie, Lena gives Grisha a quick kiss while they are dancing at the carnival. She asks him if he is not ashamed, and he says no. One other freedom that seems new is how the dancers show their legs. Mr. Ogurtsov reacts to this, and says that they cannot, however, at the festival, the costumes really have not changed.

Mr. Ogurtsov strongly disapproves.