\u201cThe Proletarian Tourist in the 1930s: Between Mass Excursion and Mass Escape\u201d by Diane P. Koenker and \u201cComparing Apples and Oranges: Housewives and the Politics of Consumption in Interwar Germany\u201d by Nancy Reagin both focus on the politicization of different aspects of daily life and leisure. Koenker\u2019s article illustrates the way in which the Soviet government propagated tourism as a means to turn this leisure activity into a political action and elevate the proletariat culturally. Similarly, Reagin\u2019s article highlights how the various housewife organizations in Interwar Germany politicized daily activities, like grocery shopping, and changed how German culture was perceived and remembered.<\/p>\n
The way in which culture changed in Germany based on the opinions of these housewives\u2019 organizations is very intriguing. The points made in this article bring up questions about larger implications for culture: how were other aspects of daily life in Interwar Europe determined and influenced by campaigns such as these? The fact that organizations determined national attitudes about daily choices\u2014the types of food people ate (wheat bread vs white bread) and where they shopped\u2014is incredible. That the pre-existing cultural climate allowed for this level of influence points to the chaos and loss present during this period. Europe had drastically changed in the span of four years and the following decades were filled with attempts to find a new equilibrium. These measures, encouraged by these German organizations, were meant to help find a new balance and help restore order and security to Germany.<\/p>\n
Koenker writes about how the USSR attempted to influence its culture with tourism. The government wanted this practice to expand beyond the Bourgeoisie to the Proletariat, but this failed. Tourism in the USSR quickly turned from another avenue of collectivization to a new form of individualism and independence; this did not reflect the new governmental policies that encouraged a collective philosophy to truly mirror the ideals and principles of communism. These practices never became part of the essential culture, like food choices quickly became in Germany. Why did these two similar campaigns work so differently? Perhaps because the German organizations targeted daily practices rather travel, a leisure activity that occurs more rarely. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cThe Proletarian Tourist in the 1930s: Between Mass Excursion and Mass Escape\u201d by Diane P. Koenker and \u201cComparing Apples and Oranges: Housewives and the Politics of Consumption in Interwar Germany\u201d by Nancy Reagin both focus on the politicization of different … Continue reading