The Country of Iron and Steel on Stage
The Country of Iron and Steel on Stage

Theatres and Political Propaganda in the Rákosi Era

Summary/Abstract: In my study, I examine how theatre appeared in the official propaganda journal of the Rákosi-era, whose declared aim was to support the “cultural revolution”. Through an analysis of the linguistic propaganda devices that appeared in the journal, the focus of my writing is to show the ideological relations that defined not only the official theatre, but also the framework of workers’ or factory theatre. The ideologists and political decision-makers of the period made excellent use of the phenomenon that, in a total dictatorship, artistic works always carried a political message and conveyed values. In this way, theatre was used as a tool of propaganda to influence people’s thinking, emotions, and behaviour.

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