Answer: No, although Stalin was adored by some, and there were images of the leader everywhere; this did not mean he attracted genuine adulation, it is undoubted that he did attract adulation- however more so because of his ability to place images of himself in the public view, as well as strategically use propaganda to "force" the public to support and like him. Steinbeck in source 14.8 depicts the images of Stalin in a more creepy, gruesome, Big Brother way... that Stalin was eternally, and creepily watching over everyone, and everything, always.
2.Describe the various devices used to establish and spread the cult of Stalin.
Answer: As mentioned above, Stalin strategically implicated the use of Images, Statues, Propaganda, and "Forced- Popularity" in order to make himself appear the obvious and only choice for power, supported by Lenin and the entire party, and of course omnipotent and immersed in issues for the good of the party. Stalin also used his "Link to Lenin" in order to establish his cult of personality- if Lenin had wanted Stalin in power, then those who were loyal to Lenin before his death, would now logically be loyal to Stalin after it; except this is not the case. Stalin strategically placed himself at Lenin's side, made the speech at his funeral, and changed documents, photos, and other images to show that they were close, and that Lenin was "beckoning" (see source 14.6) Stalin into the position of power for the Soviet Union. A third device used my Joseph Stalin was the "failures" of others, when the past heros or leaders where tried, or perhaps deemed bad for party leadership, bad for the state, or bad in general Stalin is depicted at the "wheel of the ship" steering the USSR out of harms way, being a beacon of hope, almost demi-god like when others failed.
3 Account for the relative success of the cult - why do you think it worked with the Russian people?
Answer: I believe that this worked so well because the Russian people were desperate for something to cling to, when economic, or policial grounds were not stable; Stalin seemed to be helping the party and again "steering" it out of harms way. He seemed to "know" the direction that Lenin would have wanted the party taken in, and was going to be able to hold the soviet society together- which is very important to a mass of people who are undergoing a political transformation. Some looked to Stalin as almost god-like.
4. What conclusions can you reach about whether the adulation Stalin received was genuine? Make notes of your answers.
Answer: I feel that I have two conclusions, that partially contradict themselves. The first saying that some of the adulation that Stalin received was genuine, due to the demi-god status he had reached. The people were looking for someone to put their faith and trust in that they would be sure that the country was going in the right direction for the people, so that the economy would be up, and there would be food to eat, unlike life under the Tsarist Regime. Many people saw Stalin almost as Christ-like or Prophetic, and that he was the "guiding light" of the party; this attitude however, brings me to my next point that this would not be achieved without the use of propaganda, doctored photos, altered documents, and extreme purges. Therefore some of the adulation that Stalin received could not have been genuine because it was based off of people's incorrect assumptions, or beliefs that had been forced upon, or tricked into thinking. Most of what the people of Soviet Russia saw was propaganda or altered, so it is hard to know what views people had that were unbiased in relation to Stalin's adulation.
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