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Halfsheet, translates to "Come to your senses!" or "Repent!" or "Think twice!", was designed to warn the public about the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
Propaganda posters were created throughout the Soviet Union, particularly from the 1960s to the 1980s, to address the social and economic problems associated with drinking. The posters used strong, graphic imagery and stark metaphors to depict alcoholism as a negative force. The government saw alcoholism as a corruptive force that cut productivity and led to laziness.
The poster in the image, created by illustrator I. Massina in 1959, is a part of these campaigns. It shows a large hand stopping a smaller, despairing figure from drinking from a bottle.
Some key themes in Soviet anti-alcohol posters include:
The "green snake" metaphor: Alcoholism is depicted as a snake choking the life out of people.
Family and work neglect: Drunks are often portrayed as neglecting their families and producing substandard work.
"Either, or" choices: Posters presented a stark choice between a healthy, productive life and one ruined by alcohol. |
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