A photojournalist in Cold War Eastern Europe (232)

Cold War Conversations - "vivid & compelling" The NY Times

Ian Sanders

History, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 865 Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2022

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

During the 1970s and 1980s, Arthur Grace travelled extensively behind the Iron Curtain, working primarily for news magazines. One of only a small corps of Western photographers with ongoing access, he was able to delve into the most ordinary corners of people's daily lives, while also covering significant events. His remarkable book Communism(s) A Cold War Album is effectively psychological portraits that leave the viewer with a sense of the gamut of emotions in that era. Illustrated with over 120 black-and-white images-nearly all previously unpublished- Communism(s) gives an unprecedented glimpse behind the veil of a not-so-distant time filled with harsh realities unseen by nearly all but those that lived through it. Shot in the USSR, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia and the German Democratic Republic, here are portraits of factory workers, farmers, churchgoers, holidaymakers and loitering teens juxtaposed with Social Realist-designed apartment blocks, annual May Day Parades, Poland's Solidarity movement (and the subsequent imposition of martial law) and the vastness of Moscow's Red Square. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/a/1549/9788862087674 Cold War history is disappearing; however, a simple monthly donation will keep this podcast on the air. You’ll get a sought after CWC coaster as a thank you and you’ll bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews here. It really helps us get new guests on the show. 0:00 Introduction to Cold War Conversations and Arthur Grace 2:37 Sponsor: Cold War Conversations merchandise and donations 5:31 Arthur Grace's experiences in Romania 15:45 Encounters and photo opportunities in East Germany 21:23 Anti-government memorials and Solidarity movement in Poland 33:39 The art and challenges of photojournalism during the Cold War 40:42 Transition and transformation in Poland between 1982 and 1989 46:16 Reflections on Cold War assignments and favorite photographs 48:45 Anecdotes from Moscow, Warsaw and the Gobi Desert 58:11 Arthur's book Table of contents powered by PodcastAI✨ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook. More episode info here https://coldwarconversations.com/episode232/ Thank you very much for listening. It is really appreciated. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Cold War Conversations, the home of real stories of the Cold War.
0:05.7	You had a sixth sense of when you're overstaying, you're welcome.
0:10.6	Or if you stay just a minute longer, it was going to end badly.
0:17.1	This is Cold War Conversations.
0:27.5	If you're new here, you've come to the right place to listen to first-hand Cold War history accounts.
0:33.6	Do make sure you follow us in your podcast app so that you don't miss out on future episodes.
0:42.8	During the 1970s and 80s, Arthur Grace travelled extensively behind the Iron Curtain, working primarily for news magazines.
0:45.6	One of an only small core of Western photographers with ongoing access, he was able to delve
0:51.5	into the most ordinary corners of people's daily lives while also covering
0:55.9	significant events. Arthur tells us in detail of the difficulties of working as a journalist
1:01.7	in Eastern Europe and individual stories about the photos that he took. His remarkable book,
1:08.5	Communisms, a Cold War album, is effectively psychological portraits that leave the viewer with a sense of the gamut of emotions in that era.
1:18.7	Illustrated with over 120 black and white images, nearly all previously unpublished, the book gives an unprecedented glimpse behind the veil of a not-so-distant time.
1:29.8	Shot in the USSR, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia and East Germany.
1:35.3	Here are portraits of factory workers, farmers, churchgoers, holiday makers and loitering teens,
1:41.7	juxtaposed with socialist, realist-designed apartment blocks, annual
1:45.7	Mayday parades, Poland's solidarity movement, and the vastness of Moscow's Red Square.
1:52.3	Now, Cold War history is disappearing, and a simple monthly donation will help keep this
1:59.8	podcast on the air and keep preserving these incredible
2:03.6	stories. You will get this salt after Cold War Conversations drinks coaster as a thank you
2:09.3	and you'll bask in the warm glow of knowing that you're helping to preserve Cold War history.
2:15.5	For more information, just go to cold Warconversations.com slash donate.
	...

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