Speaking “About the Most Important Thing in a Naive Language”: Constructing an Image of the Soviet Past in Vernacular Museums

Abstract

The article examines the differences in the images of the Soviet past that are constructed in vernacular museums dedicated to everyday life in the USSR. Using the examples of two museums (“Back to the USSR” in Zvenigorod and the “USSR Museum” in Ryazan), the study explores the means the organizers use to present their vision of that period. Despite the general similarity of museum collections, which consist of typical Soviet household items, and the thematic division of exhibitions, two distinct portrayals of the past emerge. The key difference lies in the emphasis placed by the creators of these museums. In one case, the focus is on the Soviet (an ideological perspective), where the individual objects and personal stories serve as illustrations of societal values, aspirations and feelings. In the other, the emphasis is on the past (an everyday-life perspective), where ideology and state interests are placed on the periphery, becoming a backdrop for individual stories of daily life. The guided tour narrative serves as the main tool for directing and adjusting visitors’ perception of certain components of the exposition, evoking the intended emotions and assessments of the presented objects, as envisioned by the museum creators.