Science fiction discourse of the 1920s–1930s in Ukraine as a tool for the totalitarianization of Soviet society

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of Ukrainian Soviet science fiction discourse of the 1920s–1930s as an instrument of totalitarianisation of society. The author considers the genre of science fiction not only as a literary phenomenon, but also as a means of cognitive influence aimed at forming a model of behaviour of the "Soviet man". The work traces the transformation of science fiction under the influence of Bolshevik ideology and its use to legitimise political practices, the militarisation of mass consciousness, and the cultivation of class hatred. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the works of Y. Smolich, V. Vladko, M. Trublaïni, as well as the influence of Russian cosmism philosophy on the development of the genre. It has been shown that science fiction served as a form of social engineering, proposing utopian models of society that covertly justified repressive mechanisms, social segregation, and the cult of violence. The research methodology is based on historical and literary analysis, the principles of new historicism, a comparative approach, and iconological interpretation of visual sources. The author argues that Soviet science fiction became an important element of propaganda discourse, contributing to the establishment of totalitarian ideology and the transformation of the Ukrainian SSR into a space for experimenting with the formation of the "Soviet Utopia." A significant role in this process belonged to the use of constructivist architectural style to represent the city of the future and the latent promotion of eugenic medicine, which appears to be a component of the system of educating citizens of utopia, that combines physical perfection, discipline, and readiness for self-sacrifice.  Additionally, this study emphasises the cultivation of a negative attitude towards the pre-revolutionary intelligentsia, the encouragement of technical studies in order to train personnel for the military-industrial complex, and the ideological connection between Soviet science fiction and the utopian literature of the Renaissance. The article focuses on the latent destructive subtext of the writings, which promoted a culture of mistrust, support for social selection policies, and a positive perception of the militarisation of society. Thus, the author considers Soviet science fiction as a mechanism of cognitive influence that shaped behavioural patterns that contributed to the establishment of repressive practices. This approach allows us to broaden our understanding of totalitarianism by integrating the cultural and psychological dimensions into its study.