Soviet Union and Eastern Europe since the 1950s
www.spacecultures.net
International conference, January 22-24, 2009.
University of Basel, Historisches Seminar, Hirschgässlein 21, 4051
Basel
Organizers: Monica Rüthers, Carmen Scheide, Julia Richers, Eva Maurer
(Basel / Fribourg / Konstanz)
Contact: organizers@spacecultures.net
Since the successful launch of the first satellite Sputnik in October
1957,
the history of Soviet space exploration has received much attention
mainly
for its influence on military competition and Cold War politics. But
space
exploration was much more than a technological breakthrough. It left
a
distinct and lasting impact on everyday life and popular culture in
many
countries. These links and connections between space, politics and
culture
in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe will be explored at a
conference in Basel in January 2009.
Details: http://www.spacecultures.net
Day 1 Thursday, Jan 22, 2009
9.30
Welcome and Introduction (Organizers)
10.00 I. Spaces of thought - historical, theoretical and literary
approaches
*
Limited or Infinite? Concepts of Space in Geometry and Semiotics of
Literature: Andrea Zink / Christof Weber (University of Basel)
*
A Dream Come True. Close Encounters with Outer Space in Soviet
Popular Scientific Journals of the 1950's and 60's: Matthias
Schwartz,
(FU Berlin)
*
Commentary and discussion: Michael Hagemeister (University of
Basel)
14.00 II. Representations of Soviet spaceflight from the 1950s to the
1970s
*
Visualizing Spaceflight: The Films of Pavel Klushantsev: Cathleen
Lewis
(Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.)
*
The Heroic and the Ordinary: Photographic Representations of Soviet
Cosmonauts in the Early 1960's: Iina Kohonen (University of Design
and
Art, Helsinki)
*
The Historical and Cultural Space Heritage Propaganda - the
Experience of a Russian regional public organization: Vladimir
Sadym
(Krasnodar)
*
Constructing Cosmic Enthusiasm: A Case Study of the Krasnodar
Territory: Anna Eremeeva (Krasnodar State University of Culture and
Arts)
*
Commentary and discussion: Eva Maurer (University of Fribourg)
Evening program:
Soviet space movies from the 1950s to the 1980s
Day 2 Friday, Jan 23, 2009
9.30 III. Space, utopia and children/youth
*
'Let's Find Out Where the Cosmonaut School Is':
Soviet Girls and Cosmic Visions in the Aftermath of Tereshkova":
Roshanna Sylvester (DePaul University, Chicago)
*
Kosmos and Cosmology: Space exploration and atheist education in
the late Soviet period": Victoria Smolkin (University of California, Berkeley)
*
The Rise and Fall of Cosmic Millenarianism in Russia: Dmitry
Shlapentokh (Indiana University)
*
Commentary and discussion: Monica Rüthers (University of
Constance)
13.45 IV. Spaceflight as popular culture and cultural export
*
Soviet cosmonauts and American astronauts in Yugoslavia - Who did
the
Yugoslavs love more?: Radina Vucetic (University of Belgrade)
*
Unresolved Tensions: Mass Culture and Secrecy in the Soviet Space
Program: Asif A. Siddiqi (Fordham University; New York)
*
Space Exploration in Western and Soviet Popular Culture: Wishful
Thinking vs Conspiracy Theories: Andrei Rogatchevskii (University
of
Glasgow)
*
Commentary and discussion: Ulrich Schmid (University of St.
Gallen)
16.15 V. Space memories
*
Memories of Space and the Spaces of Memory: Remembering Sergei
Korolev: Slava Gerovitch (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
*
The presentation of the first spaceflight and the generation of
60-s in
the contemporary Russian historical museums: Anna Lyubivaya (Polish
Academy of Science, Warsaw)
Commentary and discussion: Ekaterina Emeliantseva (University of
Zürich)
Day 3 Saturday, Jan 24, 2009
9.30 VI: Space heroes and heroines
*
Truth and Legend: The New Soviet Man and Yuri Gagarin in Soviet
Propaganda: Trevor Rockwell (University of Alberta, Edmonton,
Canada)
*
Two Images of a Spaceman in Estonian Art: The Missing Myth of a
Hero
and the Fable of Failure: Anneli Porri (Tallinn / Estonia)
*
Laika: First cosmonaut and space hero: Roman Marek (University of
Paderborn)
*
Valentina Tereshkova and the transcontinental battle of the sexes:
Julia Richers (University of Basel)
*
Commentary / Discussion: Carmen Scheide (University of Basel)
12.30 Final Discussion
Guests are welcome. Contact: organizers@spacecultures.net .
Bearbeitet von Sierra29, 14 Januar 2009 - 20:15.
