TRANSFORMATION OF SONG FOLKLOR OF THE CHUVASHI IN THE 20–30s OF THE XX CENTURY: ON THE ISSUE OF THE «SOVIETIZATION» OF TRADITIONAL CULTURE

Abstract

The sphere of political interests of the new Soviet leadership covered all aspects of traditional folk culture. Particular attention was given to cultural practices as an important element in the field of politics and ideology in the system of new social relations. The construction of new cultural images met the requirements of the young Soviet state and served as the basis for the interpretation of events and the emerging self-awareness of people. The concept of «Sovietization» involves the use of a number of cultural practices. An example is the practice with the indigenous peoples of the North, whose «Sovietization» was thought of as «assimilation» by the Soviet society, with the involvement of propaganda and the dissemination of samples of Soviet culture. Similar processes of «Sovietization» of traditional culture, language and literature took place among the Chuvashs. These processes contributed to the subsequent integration of the Chuvash into the emerging Soviet culture. The «Sovietization» of the traditional Chuvash culture influenced everyday life and mentality, was introduced into the tradition and changed it. The transformation is clearly observed in anthroponyms and oikonyms, ritual practices, folklore and other areas of material and spiritual culture. From the first years of the establishment of Soviet power, folklore was influenced by «Sovietization». The transformation of songwriting manifested itself in various aspects. The «Sovietization» of the Chuvash folklore negatively affected authentic music. In the 1930s, lyrics of folk songs that were not revised in accordance with the new guidelines were deemed irrelevant and disappeared from the repertoire of professional performers. In the context of the transformation of traditional culture, the «Sovietization» of the Chuvash song folklore was a justified and demanded process for its time. The inclusion of new cultural forms and everyday practices in the tradition of the people created a different type of culture – Soviet, whose elements are observed today in the modern Chuvash culture.