The Bolsheviks in power: Lenin’s revolutionary realism against ultra-left despair The spring of 1918 was a time of unprecedented difficulty for the young soviet republic in Russia. The civil war and the recently-signed treaty with Germany had led to a drop in grain production. Combined with the collapse of the rail network, whole towns were left starving. Factories had to close down due to the lack of coal and unemployment was rising.
Chinatown at 50: Hollywood’s dark pinnacle The neo-noir classic Chinatown was released 50 years ago. Despite the controversy surrounding its disgraced director, Roman Polanski, its complex themes and impeccable technical craftsmanship retain all of their impact today. The film is a product of a brief renaissance in 1960s-70s Hollywood, an era that hints at what can be achieved when artists are allowed to freely pursue their ambitions. This period also highlights the contradictions imposed on art by a society enslaved by the market, and poisoned by exploitation.
Lenin in a year: The Immediate Tasks of the Soviet Government The Russian revolution of 1917 shook the world. For the first time in history, the oppressed and exploited majority wrested power from the parasitic minority and held it.
