Socialist Realism as Cancel Culture for the Bulgarian Scenographic Practice Cover Image

Socialist Realism as Cancel Culture for the Bulgarian Scenographic Practice
Socialist Realism as Cancel Culture for the Bulgarian Scenographic Practice

Author(s): Albena Tagareva
Subject(s): Theatre, Dance, Performing Arts, Cultural history, History of Communism
Published by: UArtPress - Editura Universității de Arte din Tîrgu Mureş - A Marosvásárhelyi Művészeti Egyetem Kiadója
Keywords: Bulgarian theatre history; Set design; Communist regime; Setoslav Genev; Vili Tsankov;

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents some emblematic examples from Bulgarian theatrical history, in which the culture of rejection has been ruthlessly applied even to artists loyal to the regime. One of the most significant ones is with scenographer Svetoslav Genev. For the first time in the history of Bulgarian theatre, a set designer became a managing director. He rose to this position thanks to his personal qualities and ambition as well as to the strong Communist connections his family had. During the period of his directorship, he created one of the most impressive designs for a theatre performance, rejecting Socialist Realism as an official method in arts. Despite his strong positions in Communist Pary, after the Prague Spring everything, he was largely thrown out of public life.

  • Issue Year: XXIII/2022
  • Issue No: 1 (42)
  • Page Range: 139-145
  • Page Count: 7
  • Language: Romanian