The Problem of Artistry in Scientific Cinema of the 1930s (based on the Film “Physiology and Pathology of Higher Nervous Activity”)
https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2024-62-4-37-55
Abstract
The article examines the scientific film “Physiology and Pathology of Higher Nervous Activity” about the theory of Academician I. P. Pavlov. Based on archival documents first introduced into scientific discourse, the process of the film's creation is reconstructed, revealing fundamental contradictions in the attitudes of its participants. In the 1930s, which was a transitional period for Soviet scientific cinema, what both the Committee for Cinematography and the scientific advisers expected from a scientific film was, first and foremost, a stark presentation of documentary material addressing a narrow professional audience. The filmmakers, on the other hand, drawing on their experience in feature films, sought to influence the viewer through artistic means, and appealed to the widest possible audience. The article demonstrates that this clashing of values led to the creation of a hybrid product typical for the scientific cinema of the 1930s.
About the Author
S. V. Dymshits
European University, St. Petersburg (EUSP)
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Semyon V. Dymshits, PhD Student, School of Arts and Cultural Heritage
AuthorID: 4332-3767
References
1. Al'tshuler, B.A. Pochti deklaraciya [Almost a declaration]. Proletarskoe kino, no. 6, 1932, pp. 35–42. (In Russ.)
2. Al'tshuler, B.A. Uchebnyj kinematograf: etapy razvitiya. Ucheb. posobie. [Educational Cinema: Stages of Development. Manual]. Moscow, VGIK Publ., 1987. 68 p. (In Russ.)
3. Vatolin, V.A. Vek sibirskogo kino: ocherki istorii kinematografa v Novosibirske [A Century of Siberian Cinema: Notes on the History of Cinematography in Novosibirsk]. Bochanova G.A., Bukin S.S., Vatolin V.A. [and others] Istoriya goroda. Novonikolaevsk — Novosibirsk. Istoricheskie ocherki [Historical essays]. Novosibirsk, Izdatel'skij dom “Istoricheskoe nasledie Sibiri”, 2005. pp. 723–772. (In Russ.)
4. Glyancev, S.P., Stochik, A.A. Ot VIEM im. A.M. Gor'kogo k idee sozdaniya Akademii medicinskih nauk SSSR (1932–1942 gg.) [From A.M. Gorky VIEM to the idea of establishing the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences (1932–1942)]. Problemy social'noj gigieny, zdravoohraneniya i istorii mediciny, no. 1, 2016, pp. 53–56. (In Russ.)
5. Gosfil'mofond Rossii. Sekciya 1. F. 7. Op. 1. Ed. hr. 577.
6. ZHdan, V.N. Dramaturgiya nauchno-populyarnogo fil'ma. [Dramaturgy of popular science film]. Moscow, Goskinoizdat Publ., 1950. 160 p. (In Russ.)
7. Iezuitov, N.M. Nekotorye problemy metodologii uchebnoj fil'my. [Some problems in the methodology of educational film]. Proletarskoe kino, no. 1, 1932, pp. 36–42. (In Russ.)
8. Im. Rozy i Rafaelya [Rosa and Raphael’s]. Pavlovskie Koltushi. Available at: https://pavlovkoltushi.ru/kinolaboratory (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
9. Kinematografiya i fotografiya v medicinskom issledovanii. Otchet o nauchno-issledovatel'skoj rabote Vsesoyuznogo instituta eksperimental'noj mediciny im. A.M. Gor'kogo za 1933– 1937 gg. [Cinematography and photography in medical research]. Moscow; Leningrad, Medgiz Publ., 1939. рp. 559–562. (In Russ.)
10. Kupalov, P.S. Zakoulok.ru. Available at: https://zakoylok.ru/izvestnyie-lyudi-lichnosti-sanktpeterburga-biograf/kupalov-pyotr-stepanovich.html (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
11. SHutko K.I., editor. Lazarev, P.P., Suharebskij, L.M., Tyagaj, A.N. [and others] Kul'turfil'ma. Politiko-prosvetitel'naya fil'ma [Culturefilm. Political-educational film]. Moscow, Teakinopechat' Publ., 1929. 310 p. (In Russ.)
12. Podkopaev, N.A. Primatologiya. Available at: https://primatology.ru/%d1%83%d1%87%d0%b5%d0%bd%d1%8b%d0%b5/%d0%b8-%d0%bf-%d0%bf%d0%b0%d0%b2%d0%bb%d0 %be%d0%b2/%d0%bd-%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bf%d0%-b0%d0%b5%d0%b2/ (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
13. Persona. Arhiv Rossijskoj Akademii nauk. Available at: http://db.ranar.spb.ru/ru/person/ id/9120/ (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
14. Denisov, P.K. Primatologiya. Available at: https://primatology.ru/%D1%83%D1%87%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5/%D0%B8-%D0%BF-%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BB%D0 %BE%D0%B2/%D0%BF-%D0%BA-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BE %D0%B2/ (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
15. Postanovlenie SNK SSSR “Ob usilenii proizvodstva i pokaza politiko-prosvetitel'nyh kinokartin”. 7 dekabrya 1929 g. [Decree of the USSR Council of People's Commissars of the USSR “On Strengthening the Production and Showing of Political-Educational Motion Pictures”. December 7, 1929]. Elektronnaya biblioteka istoricheskih dokumentov. Available at: http://docs.historyrussia.org/ru/nodes/5279-postanovlenie-snk-sssr-ob-usilenii-proizvodstva-i-pokazapolitiko-prosvetitelnyh-kinokartin-7-dekabrya-1929-g (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
16. Postanovlenie SNK SSSR “Ob organizacii Glavnogo upravleniya kino-foto-promyshlennosti pri SNK Soyuza SSR”. 11 fevralya 1933 g. [Decree of the USSR Council of People's Commissars of the USSR “On the Organization of the Main Directorate of the Film and Photo Industry under the Council of People's Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics”. February 11, 1933]. Muzej CSDF. Available at: https://csdfmuseum.ru/history/184 (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
17. RGALI. F. 2912. Op. 1. Ed. hr. 1138. (In Russ.)
18. RGALI. F. 2944 Op. 15. Ed. hr. 288. (In Russ.)
19. Rozental', I.S. Ivan Petrovich Pavlov i iskusstvo. I.P. Pavlov: pro et contra. Lichnost' i tvorchestvo I.P. Pavlova v ocenke sovremennikov i istorikov nauki (k 150-letiyu so dnya rozhdeniya). Antologiya. [Ivan Pavlov and art]. St. Petersburg, Izdatel'stvo Russkogo hristianskogo gumanitarnogo instituta Publ., 1999. рp. 201–202. (In Russ.)
20. Usuvaliev, S.I. Problemy izucheniya istorii sovetskogo kinoiskusstva (na primere nauchnogo naslediya N.M. Iezuitova) [Problems of studying the history of Soviet cinema (the case of the scientific heritage of N.M. Jesuitov)]: diss. of cand. of art criticism, Moscow, 2021. 212 p. (In Russ.)
21. Majorov, F.P. Primatologiya. Available at: https://primatology.ru/%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%B8-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C/%D1%84-%D0%BF-%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2/ (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
22. Frejd, Z. Sluchaj frejlejn Elizabet fon R. [The Case of Fräulein Elisabeth von R.]. PsyJournals. ru. Available at: https://psyjournals.ru/journals/cpp/archive/1992_n1/25834 (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
23. CGALI SPb. F. R-182. Op. 1. D. 16. 24. CGALI SPb. F. R-243. Op. 2. D. 27.
24. CGALI SPb. F. R-243. Op. 2. D. 115.
25. Ejzenshtejn, S.M. Montazh attrakcionov. Za kadrom: klyuchevye raboty po teorii kino. [The Montage of Attractions]. Moscow, Akademicheskij proekt Publ.; Gaudeamus Publ., 2016. pp. 13–17. (In Russ.)
26. Ermler, F.M. Druzhit' s nim bylo nelegko… Ejzenshtejn v vospominaniyah sovremennikov. [Being friends with him was not easy...]. Moscow, Iskusstvo Publ., 1974. Available at: https:// biography.wikireading.ru/285749 (Accessed 16 July 2024). (In Russ.)
Review
For citations:
Dymshits S.V. The Problem of Artistry in Scientific Cinema of the 1930s (based on the Film “Physiology and Pathology of Higher Nervous Activity”). Vestnik VGIK. 2024;16(4(62)):37-55. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.69975/2074-0832-2024-62-4-37-55
Views:
179
Email this article 