I share your sense of wonder at that artifacts of the Soviet machine. Their propagandart was so monolithically evil and wonderful, at the same time.

But their architecture was universally banal, blocky and repulsive.

Apparently, the folks in the politburo put more stock in posters than pretty buildings.

Look at the cute Russian ads from 1998! How stylish! The women's dresses are just the thing for goosestepping around Red Square in a blizzard on the way to Comradette's Boutique & Armory.

Anyone interested in this might like: [englishrussia.com]

I love the photo of the woman perched on the edge of her chair in front of the tv, just tingling in anticipation of the moment it explodes.

There's a great collection of them here, Nick:

[www.iisg.nl]

This one is my favorite, although its historical context sends shivers down my spine:

The Russian Cyrillic reads: "What the October Revolution has given to working and peasant women."

This is at odds with what I've been taught to believe before:

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I for one was very impressed with the baby mine. Who knew?

"Look Viktor, in the emblazoned sky, you can see the hands of God. He is reading manual for toy called atomic bomb."

I am getting flashes of 'Ninochtka,' just looking at these 'fashions,' comrades.

@Bell County: Odd. I'll try a different link and then give up.

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Dayvear! Eveningvear!

@Bell County: OMG!! I was looking for that video! hee hee! What did you type in to find it? Beachvear, hahaha!

@BalknChain: "Wendy's russian fashion show" brought up a couple of links. The commercial was by the same guy who did the "Where's the Beef?" and the "fast talker" ads - I just found a fun tribute page!
[blog.badideasociety.org]

I think that woman in the black coat and pillbox hat represents sort of the high point of modern civilization.

Does anyone remember the magazine Soviet Life? It was available here, you could subscribe to it, and it carried much of the same type of tractor, dowdy fashion, friendship between our peoples, and missile related content.

now I think I know where Mrs. Diller got the inspiration for the wrap dress (lower right)

@grrad: I still have a couple of them somewhere! If you took Russian-language courses your instructor would pass them out with a dour expression that revealed what they really thought of the Soviet government's marketing efforts.

@annasballs: ah the cold war

@Bell County: ooooh!! I just talked about the Where's the Beef lady the other day with Scroll_Lock. Love it! Thanks :)

@carolinacosmina: I wish I still had mine! But honestly, I think my main motivation in subscribing was to get a reaction out of people. Super-fun to do during the Reagan era of the cold war!

@Nick Denton

Comrades join you in dancing upon the grave of "quaint" Russian revisionism.

We are willing to celebrate the deaths of one thousand false revolutions so that we will one day celebrate the inevitable victory of the great proletarian struggle.

As historical materialism predicts that the falling rate of profit will herald capitalism's breakdown, internet capitalists like yourself are understandably curious about Marxism.

But a man who takes a scientific interest in the sun cannot hope to control its setting or rising.

One day, Denton, as surely as the sun rises and sets, the means of production will be taken from your hands and humanity will shake off the capitalist superstructure in the way an invalid awakes from a fever dream and rises from his sickbed.

You have so far successfully devoted your considerable talents and intelligence to the accumulation of capital. Why give your heart and mind to something made illusory by the inevitable forces of historical materialism?

We struggle to liberate not only the proletariat, but all people imprisoned by capitalism.

The revolutionary will set you free as as well.

Join us.

Yours, in struggle,

Hamud

@Hamud: It is only a matter of time, comrade.

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I liked it better when our enemies knew how to dress better. Nowadays they look like hippies on spring break from Berkeley U. Total slobs.