170 wrrreRs At WORK everyone is necessary, and there's rom for evenone,and—sou ould pu everyone in single alton car to lunch to the moon) ofan cha in psa, Pina eal hi et {tandmother's "devil" Tied toasting under the od woman's on. tol the creature was invisible to everyone around hr, and ye, Pilniak notes eames, she was en honst old woman, ood, kd Let Mayakovsky, Artem, Arosev cach sess own devi. respect their ality to see (slog asit is honest of course) Pink had 3et to realize how wide te euch for demons would eventual be fone or Bow re hs spt for ar dis would soon be ins Rusia And Pilia’s sresy "poor group of writers would soon become even smaller ss more and mote of tir colleagues ‘weeloaded ont raroad cars heading tothe moonscape of Kolyna, For Pink and many of is coleagues, however, & bit nthe need to respect the cantibation of other writers sll included allot Russia "ussia sone," Pia insist to Voronaldi* Thus in epnion, te neeary expan of eune' ach 13 workers peasants andthe new “evoltionary intelgentsa” goes hand in tand witha desire to engage the older generation of wt. ers as well. Pniak writes to Voroski and Vested Ivanov with 2 discussion about the possible inclusion of e manuscript by Wan Novitoy in an almanae they were planning for “Kreg.” Noting hutly that hes nt share of poe! censorship” Pina xe Bans his evaluation ofthe olde writers work as flows Of cous, this sa walter ofthe oder generation, but a good wrt, ‘ought, and one who knows bow to dink rom his own cup con stcy tran repo char may ay of the emporary ones. Since we ha planet have ne funded pages end thus monopolize all of iterature | found ie neseeary toate soe ofthe ald guys to sto, Bexnase beleve that they Rave ess ight ‘han we do to make fterature and hey se making Pink’ comment comesin the context ofa disagreement over the acceptance cf Noviko's manserpt, and he ends the dscusion choosing o recuse ims! from te final desston. "4 ‘Nevertheless, hs defense othe ght ofall authors fo contribute to the cretion of Russian iteratre is cloquen. Pinas offen the very next paragraph of his tte, hepa ferent author with his submission tothe pubiher suggests that fe meas wat he ‘ay The manip of acer oven has ben eaten With rejection fr “eerees se of anguage lnk requests that Ihe author al him to discus he matter t eng Ths of 4/ (axeonsrmuctiNG THE RODUCTION NovEL. TL erosty was ypc for some writers o the er, ad it eps to ex- fins late umes cnr wos as wel. Pikes lings fo help inexperenced authors gt start seems (have ‘Mtended evento those sbout whom heknew almost nothing Thus fewrtes fo the ere Viacheslay Polos athe end of 1926, “he san who brings You this tee comrade Skopn. haven ead FiSplay but read reviews oft and Isc that the mans strugling ie gelling confused. Hep him, plese, straighten i out "= "The acta Pnlak’s note to Poon was wat as sbout tne tine he was preparing «public spology or his "ae of the UUsertingished Moot’ is sigcant. ni, whose rose over nc stony was bogadging af bet, would eventually learn how une {ual is own libra stance war Buta he time and apparently {bryearsafter Pink soem thavefeand te concept otaarsher fppfosch unthinkable. The thowght “hat his work might be ex {faded tom te joint ale he and others Were crafting about Russia Sra incomprehensible fo him, and continued to behave as if Sich a noton was absurd. Sich disbele, which Pik shared ‘wa numberof his contemporaries, seems to have colored his pions unt the day of i rest Pferistent dsb provides motintion for Pniak’s behavior dari the ala wth Mhogany in 1999. ak might simply fave apologized forthe novels few ofthe crs and italy none tis fears bad san the foreign een fer al, A qulet apo gy might have directed atleast some ofthe cries! venom away {Sire how chastened author He ign also hav helped the furor ie down by voclerouly dancing himself om the work. Such St aprone hd fp other etfs aod serous consequences {brthetr mists, atleast emporaihe” Instead ofthat, however, Pini drew carl public attention othe unaccepable work by Actaling xacly how lt was to be ued in anew novel. "On Feb Sty 14 Fhe pints ou with certitude n his feter to Literaturnaia {lta “began work ona novel (now nearly complete) in which Mahogany icing worked int chapters. The fact that he In corporated the ol slanderous" wox almost wholesale ino his ‘novel suggests that Pk saw Tie Volga Falls tothe Caspian S20 the continuation of is uve, ota departure fom i Pi ‘ak reuses the text of Mafiogany sel to demonstrate that he and ‘Be manassips ae continely bing remade Thle proces of "rang aligns nak petecly wth ofl demands for the reang of Soviet wes Pinks creative method up to tat point made Such a stance easier Under pressure ovr the pubeaton of Mahogany, Pla1m ‘wnrris ar wor foun tat his habit of using passages fom eave works inthe consruction of later pisces wee dell suited tothe prosucion ‘ovel Pina had been continually ertczed inthe past forthe technique eyeing entire segment of his previous work i new contexts Bu Pinak’s use of building blocks rom caer wns in constructing The Vola Falls othe Casplan Seas more ana ‘modernist aetation othe hai of any mnation Mahogany and The Volga Falls fo the Caspan Sea shares nue of charac. fers and themes, and lage Soctons of the tensa vial ent cal Raster thy ge a psa eppranty sy ths proces fren he Sot autor ho pan rider and experiences the trenslormation of physical end payeholoicl Space dug this ransidonal period. How well Pink seceeted in the process of reworking bis material and remaking Hoe Serves luseation forthe arts method sel. Para’ tram Ble lke tat ofthe other authors uner consiration here sug. sis that remaking the woldor even sing about vas Despite hr complcsedhettage then, lava is clearly a So viet heroin, and, a such, she musi be depicted a imately op pose fo the word that Bunin represents. Ktacy's understanding. That point explana his moiaton in erating Kiva, hs ow prsuclon nove rd the mary lr ork be wrote 0 ker ‘rer along, prog, though decidedly compromised carer Sissel: Near tendo Gras of Obon” Katy nots incoically that “I leaned to ace the wort from both Bunin and Mayakovsky Bot that world varied Rataey idee that variation the esenti!diference be tween Bun fe and his wn. AS Katacy describes it the path Bunin took isthe path of telvance, “chai iusion” Hoping tobecomea "completely independent purer,” Bunin tis his ‘aceon society but that stance wrongly fees him fom the “moral pressure fom outside” that is actualy reessry, according (0 ite tall rat atts. Although he wasableto each the high. Esteve of technieal mastery" by theendotisie, Bun "stopped Shoosing points which to apply his sil spitua strengths Astra Carine cteatonsloppd being ble for hr and tured into the simple habit of representation, an exercise of ma Ination" To void sucha fate, Katacv impli, te writer should ae Cept engagement with the word around Sim, embracing “moral presure fom ouside” an total fulling every task tha so- Sty" and the cmotherland” aig, To reuse too 80810 sk ining vein othe "ousand-head hyraof empiri” both Goethe and Georg Vsievich in Tome, Foran! urge wnt to say Without seca pressure, the write aks becoming 8 Seepvates fa that according to Kasey, wil be “torn fo pecs when tnd set only shallow water ro longer subject othe Aealthypesures of te deepsea” ‘Kata’ handling of his materials complex and skilful, and his saat seo fact an tion makes the postion ofa Soviet ter {orn now this diection now tat inthe 1920s end 1930s--more Understandable and more sympathets, 8 Kalacy cco intends.210 ‘warrans ar won ‘The semisictona,semiantobiographica aproach allows Kataey to bovde sccounis of Bunin, Mayakovsky, Ransan emigre fen Pari andthe everyday life of he creative telgentsia it Moscow Jn the 1920s snd 1930s in the context of is own creative method Thus, tip Katsev takes to Pais allows him to meet and converse wth el individuals he remembers rm his youth in Odesouo the ‘ame ime that it unexpectedly pats hi in touch wilh the etna ‘Klnvdla's former lover. That man, sentence to death by fey Satan Odessa onthe basis of Klass catmony has manage {0 espe his fate in a coincidence worthy ofthe beat of Katocr’s ftir. The euthor’s explanation ofthe characters ott the alse ins Set rg Fore mh we gives (0 explain the elephant n aguoporsk, "An al wy esl Thre were sich ae that ea” Now lice to sling Nowers outside a Parisian concer fora living, the former counterevolutonary can barely recall the name of hs former lover, Katey fitonal Kiva, but he knows that he ie Je nealy meaningless without the cause she represents As Rata pat he buys a bouguet rom the man to pce on Bunins eal ve amonuimento both Merry creation an real ost reams Kaige weaves this sophisticated narrative t tncude Do teal ‘vents and episodes he seems only to wish has taken pee, He ring alterall i the at 1960s, long after the Geshe of bouts ‘mento, and his memories of those two mena toed with te melancholy that attends thoughts of fost communication and insted opportunities. Elegae the tone he Sentull opt ‘ard his fictional character Klavdia, aswell She seas for same, for nt leaking her upon a ect tipo Mag (verti course ofthe nara, which Gercogedin fe an arts she ans weight andlones er tsth with sdvencing ape, a ing netrement shes soon reduced to babysiing her gandch- ten and giving lectures onthe history of tae Pay ot the loa housing authori, Nevertheless, she reteins her youthfl enthuse smart her complicated but unwavering devtb to the cause, sete to Kataey, she eonesses both et tue lve forth sy te betrayed and her unending bl that erations wore conto] loved him and have never forgotten sbout hi fore moment my eae Buty conacence lear bfore Revit ard before my sei didn't betray him. He betrayed the Motherand Aeolian asl don regeti Heder ‘And you want to know the ‘ruth, Util ove him." 5 /FINDING SPACE IN TIME, FORWARD! au Suu ae spa ates oy ee oe ile hgue crumbs ee ree HIS mies Grane eer eaig eerie tr cles eet ceca ncarerecmmerens eicinnieanoteetacts re Beige es Botte anita Senee tee deiaice naen marnar cay Estrategia ect ae ee ce ieloaiit a sieieaweiat raat se Heuer RE sce pees Bras ats Hee itr aacitaer mrt Sina ecuaaitath pings Sears elon eat Peo tt oS ahaa amare Becher cids we aitialden ey Reet iacemaetecaarane Snag hole mrtsigetinccia erst vibe ia a alaneaecerme ele eau are ieee otirhaatrtig year EE role ht theta tac se Sear pane mae nat tate fice tc a ar poitnsoasracemeeniead CorSichuitdiscral aeration22 wrens at won dreams, the old word is also laid to rst, like the “aystrious city of Kites,” 8 Magnitogrsk arises out of the winte steppe tore, Place Russian folklore and Pushkin’ trary tantages eth sh Emphant commit reality! "very we anc every bushel ae, pops linden which Thad sen when they wer sl aplings was now’ mri of winter bet. sane ‘them looking ike meal erations of Russian lace ses ots Sundin loide the tea and roy multe hewsit e Pletes Ttewhite marble sculptors, stil ater emslabiy esse the delicate ranches ofthe imecorl of bush underwaterkenng nd he city of Magitogrs, snk in clos of sy i ws beat ary tale tite pei Russian enn rate ‘iy of realized dren (27) Handinhand withthe tory ofthe constriction ofthe new city, then, goes the tale of teen ofthe old The ea proces Bek ata eats at length ini fetional work, ani corgamed mach i yay al the bp th 198s we Lr tumia gates, fr example, noted Katee’ prticaion, sen With tht of Vevolo vay inthe “All Unien Dayal te Stock Worker" in October 1950 where the authors ited fe open the Soviet government's at walchiactry and shared eee thusaom about that achlevenent wih the workers tenses ust 4 month late, the newspaper cried word of aeny ys workers from the ed Proletariat” factory to "aden stags Se thor” in onder to bring tht creatine ehdcavos dose tn he rocess of production. ‘The proposal was intend to of ned feel: actory workers would read and isan theathors od before publication, careflly “following every step incre ‘ites, in eum, would have complete aces to the fctry shock workers thd the prduetion process Authos, nckeeg Kataey Ole A Berymorl and ther, would be incrp rated Into the life ofthe facony, into eure wor. the ‘ae ofl the ive ear a in four year" 2 {tar and thc ex Kata the constuction ses 8 lydroletric station at'Dneprosic a faiory for agrcltaal {aulpment, Rosie mash, near Rostov. on-Don, and Nageogsne ‘nthe company of wel-connected proletarian poet Dentan Beh {Uke so'meny'other authors In Ges tanaonal yer, Bg traveled toa number afbulng se tvoughout the Se en to "Sco what was Being bul everything thas beng Jone the country” Bhny’s excursions took place n'a price rad cat, whic, Kataev reports he was lays happy t hare wih ns S5/ NDING SPACE Nr, FORMAN! a5 fiends. Kata’ ater reminiscences describe Bedi at almost = fore of nature in the 19208 and early 1950s. He had enormous ‘Stature the,” Katav noted ina private convertion with blogra- her, Skorino in 1962 "He did’ hold any oficial positon, had ho pacular rank. He was. Demian Beary Thats who he "dys special status included a residence nthe Kremlin isl -whkh Katee viewed with ave." visited his home, Kataew tld Shing i were aot ta prey wre sedy checking very strictly and I walked long the long, white ‘Corridor that ed othe other apartments—Vorodio's, Molotov', SEndothers--" Clearly impressed even years ner, Kataey views Becny i eimost mythic tems Engaged nthe rea shared cause, ‘henererhles seemed above the pti itratyuabbling that or ‘mented fess independent writers at the time.“ wielded colors ‘Ethos terry eile,” Kataev confided i Skorino, “but he ‘Yast a member of RAPP and fook no part in ‘he administration ‘of wrters or journals Kala’ nostalgic memories of Bednyi are yt ofthe comp sated contet he mglnes forks own atv end they gna pe ‘Si plane night of the a hat edn mal wa ner “pled from his teary perch Despite the al from grace, Bad miprovided the older Kats with the nage of n authori gure ‘overful enough to incorporate the contradictions of the revolt. ‘lor This notion must have been appealing to Kata a he stg ‘ome pun gece ie morons fie ‘3 ‘engneer of human souls” Kataer’s personal commitment to ‘Heap Case woal be rquely eed the oars hat ‘ows publication of his production novel, and tis aitemptst jus ‘helene othe revotonary sage wee part ofan for ine post Stalinist period to understand his ovn complex rle in -onsreting Soviet culture, event Stalinist capters, Kalaev's participation in an offal trp tothe Belomor Canal in norhern Karelia fn August 1935, for example, equied that he Shy the pases of bth ford abr and Si’ rae ‘That joumey, made in the company of 119 other officially sane ‘iored Soviet authors, resulted in & massive, hvshly produced, -andealectvely authored history of the consttion of the canal, ‘sh was buts was Megnogrk in part, wth he abr of ‘ris camp inmates. The Belomer volume, meant to publicize the ‘ani demonstrate te rehabilitation ofits prone, and lone 4s “architec.” Joseph Stalin, appeared in January 1934, A ist, ‘restut of four thousand wis tmumphantly dated to dele:24 warrans sean 5 / FINDING SPACE IN TIME, FORWARD! a5 are deceived. Looking “impertinent” atthe Chekist, Katae ac- opis the offer: “And you tink wl refuse!” go." Kataev's insistence sems to have suck the youngst Avdeenko ‘much as Demian Bednyi’s example impressed the older writer. Ac. ‘ording to Avdeenko,Kataev had “conquered” his hes and could ‘apture the "portralt ofa man, the landscape of construction in two or thre Ines.” Time, Forward! was incomparable in Avdeenko's ®pinion, worthy ofboth the single fevered reading aad the later fbretul study that e had glen Ht Un the hal piel, the au thor was “noisy, always jolly” “Narrowing his eyes," the author “spoke sharply” and listened to others impatiently equenty in- tertupting "tis supposedly such decsivenes that leas the writer into contct with Fin, When the train stops ate nondescript sta- tlon in the middle of nowhere, Katev departs "briskly" Teavng the ‘am, bgt cfr we and wid tun ip a th pon camp i the company ofthe secret police. Although aveenko's Say offers no further clues as to what Kataevs extended tip taught him, he notes that Frin hes supplied the stubborn weiter with ‘vodka and sausage for the trip. The authors inal wordon the ven- tre, as Avdeenk himself pints out, was his rapturous” partici pat inthe volume sl ‘ he ‘Atdeenko's own cxample suggests how genuine enthusiasm night have been possible, despite the costs of such endeavors, which ‘Were so obvious that even Fiin'sstenuous efforts eotld not cam- ‘uflage them aA working-class orphan (beeprizonnyi in poste ‘lutionary Russia, Avdcenko was the very personification of the govmtoies mais the reaition wed meant fo Grattan his personal experiences on the construction stein Maghitogosl seem to validate the fetional picture of Russia remaking Itsell. Here ‘waza character from Kataev's Time, Forward made es» and blood, tnd Avdeenko's testimony that he "had been infected wath eon Strution zeal for ie" appeared 0 ad depth and verismilitude to that portrait With his own disadvantaged culdhood and experience 'Salaborer in Magnitogorsk a background, Avdeenko sw the con SHnction site as deliverance for his entire society. "Every building Site seemed to be the enter ofthe word” were asked to attend shortly after the official tp tothe Belomor anal "What is most interesting, leatirming is being created ght ‘ow on countless of our constriction sits, fall f eon, courage, heroism.” With such hero testimony by a wiling eas c characters 'Sitany wonder that Gorky himself was moved fo ear?” aes the Seventeenth Communist Party Congress, the “Congress ri aa cs ea Ser Con ae eo agen sto each rag. re fii ee fn geo srl Ss ccey aaies ewe wai aay “That happens hoe ee Heya al ch ah cet Mastered the dialectical unity of contradictions. What can vow Set Fees dei et ine ote dson stay lnget tan te ther wrt on the canal surly pts him agaist Fen nae fault ea nah pica pe snk le ck to sco on th yl aay sg as ead deniy challenges the Chek bose acre ar he ae Bren iol oppo ose heer ah ee For Rater af ying sane eae, ge, Aveo teriantndintcshgchan ee “can ely conpanioaty aang a {Picea is meaning Kata notes that sich « hla fe bet gre et TeAleand Avda Kath wih cling tae aoe eel, Fn fae ‘stain nw th ae apo eget back aay om adie chine ec aks Kater ‘bad nothing lite that in mind Tvesaid what mantener a, ingore Ha in =r nao Nhe la (elon te rant a Mend ouboc Tns voreie ae a According to Avdeenko, Kataev's writer cole es expected hin to strat hinsel from the situation wit a wel oucel eae216 warres 4 won cata teehee genet cn thatthe Selomor Canal and the fitue Moscow Volga seed oe «serena ogee Sertoli star tee Agee oti te ce rat ag etme SP yh Oita epg yeaa cee eg iy wchinaendnar Salen iSeries erred cere niontanecte sagen ees eh ceae eae rene ap Sr adtn emcee a noo dstant in peoples memoria" n= OH wail ect St oe is are Sarg ee fae eh te eat {or hat wit is behavior on the cana ip, teva a pecans Nyatray etiam, cou acim “onthe dg, sd ite avey dongs ae ‘nih Bets cramp a rene Sees Se {Sie wth ke poston nie erarone ere Spe Saree nce le an ahr who hs over ay ee ee suc a stance. "In his cretive le” Kata els BE, Grin nat alvayspectves himself to bea goverment man, Otherwise ist Kindo estore! They impreied upon us ees goes {br govern people lable ol rans Whe Se pcre oes Sul ofcourse. His closet comrades in-use nee ned there's pe forth artist inthis spstemas an execute fanane 121) to det what te “ranked” government people weet hoe, ‘They thou for you and date fer you anggotemmenc ese ‘4 tebiapadumal resi po goudarsioennosa) ‘The sympathetic biographer publishing his study of he “Master” “Kataey in 199, snot enti certain fw to handle nah nea 5 /riNoINe SPACE IN TIME, FORWARDS ar Se Sic oleae pea re ee eae rae ee a a oa as i eee gd ae eg A thts sl mony ata Pi sae tattle tba epee Soe ean rh oe Soothes uur St Soper eae meet ae Ae ae ie ei ee a ik mt mer te te ec ner ie a ere Carte se ela rain ear Ces Serene et ie Ecaamrieea er be oe se a yea Rat te TOES SRS ee aa Seageeae came he ey infer campaign orchestrated to capture and publetze he history Soviet contruction Theauthor was one of many who would be ‘led to serve "Athoup this March meeting was taking plae ony nonths af tertheBelomor volume was pbs, was Kaler’s perience ia from northen Karel beyond the Urals tan indkattal con: Stucion ste Site ia seemed fo be of ost intrest tothe uence gathered. Time, Forward! was one of the bes examples tle earlyprodaction novel ant was expected to provide woul fe proletarian authors from the subway projet wilh an appropri Se model for thei own soon o.becomposed versions of Sovie, onstretion. The semfitonal approach tat Kata id adopted inhis chronicle” must nave scemed ideal or his atest experiment in collective authorship, especialy with ts emphasis othe many ‘ays individual stories contributed to a shared project. Kataev's cit focusoma single brigade n Magitogoek and stele nthe Ingertance af that individual story tothe lager Soviet mosie had his approach appear both Meoogialypalstable and aris cal chievable218 warrens at won The indus who pack he dior oar Kae ht evening were themslvs respected, ‘They had been specially chosen to provide worker voices tote int tory ‘ofthe subway construction that was now being planned and some ‘tthe laborers were no doubt recent transplants from the Waumas {iced Russian countryside. Often only semiiterate themselves, ‘many workers were drawn tothe cy and to the projet by the omit wonk abencenen beter od, or havng Male and female, Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, and Kazakh, youig tnd od, the workers onthe Moscow subway construction ste were ‘ere a al ofthe Soviet Union se ‘Most of the aborers onthe Met site, however, had been mobi lized by the Communist youth organization, the Komsorol, fom Institutes of higher learsing forthe dangerous but highly valued task of building Russias fst subway system, These enthusiastic butmostiy untrained students comprsed many othe over seventy five thousand workers who mae the Metro projet sear cr siretion stein the Soviet Union atthe ime! Others othe se tere experienced worker, who brought technic sls herve inant shr ply athe Sovet Unsmenired the midlet itSecond Five ar Ban, Stl thers, including engineers and in teleuals trained under the ol eine and, patape estas e gezigncven ore ile rr conn wae wneud looking fora way to remake thee pasts by partspaing inthis vis ible symbol ofthe countrys tauren withnisslogan, soon ab tous throughout the capital, The ene countrys bung the Metro!” Some ofthe audience that night in March ight have been feeasd fom the day's physica labor node opartetpete nis Iterary meeting a lat sgn ofthe importance swarded the vere ture. Fr others the discussion came a the end of long working day inthe subway shall, where conditions were almost uninage Inably dfeate wet and dangerous Por some of those workers participations aitrary even mast have been an unwelcome en atthe end of tring day or sll more evidence of sans tive caprce, just one more campaign dresmed up by meddlesome “his was not the fst such meting nor would it be the last. The upcoming congress of Soviet rer, the Bet forthe new Soviet Wer Gon wi sched for Aas and tht meant tat ‘of 1934 would be given ove lo onnizational meetings of just {his sort The al" of March 50, T934—the terms aie 5 /INDING SPACE IN TIME, FORWARD! 219 fh proton ature of he env juste fs of ‘Sryaniatonal mectingsitended to ton the planed public hi ‘hot the eabway into realtyThe main event ofthe Mar 30 rally ‘war a questonand.answer desion at which newly enlisted Wo Tne clats witers could quiz established authors fr help in wrting, -tbout the construction of «new society The enrence othe a thentcproktaiat info erate was seen as aerial step in the ‘developmertof Soviet art and pew way of lie, and Katey was ‘She oftmany who would be asked to asit in ensuring ts sccess > "fe cal Jot workers themecles to cnter the ranks of erature was “one othe most important pages in the history of establish Int Soret sale atc to rgey Dobrnk, ately forthe Rasian Associaton of Proltarian Writers (RAPE), whic produced no iteratare ont on but “occupied el wit he pro- Exeton of writers The idea that established writers cul an their proleertan collegues had gained special currency by the farly 19505 and workers were to crete Herary works which {hey themseves played the starring role. Dobrenko notes hat du {ng the mid 1930s in Moscow lone, for example there wee "more than Yen reslriy staffed it consultancies” ai various journal $n binges nthe iy Dug he yeas 195 f 185 Sin thousind mansscrts ostensibly passed trough tke ofcs ‘of stch iterary consultants inthe capita stone" Trevaling sentiment, Dobrnko argues insisted that “profes sional writs (esterday’ fellnstraveles}” could ot becounted tnt rin thet working-class counterparts propeiy= Neverthe fess, there vas no one else to whom bepining writers coald turn ‘Ava esl authors as diverseand ss plitcally compromised — a Andrei El Isaac Babel, Victor Shllovsk, and Bors Pio Were official engaged to help workers transform thet diy-f-day ‘aperiencer into works of at The project fo give worker a voce {his offre flow traveler authors the opportunity to combine “pratnoe spoeznys "as the Russian saying oes. They ould ure tae the’ pleasant task of making unemelves as they changed ‘he face ofterature and made themselves “useful” by taining & new generation of writers “The planta bald a subway in Moscow inthe mid-1930s seemed tole he perfect constuction sit on which such a rlormas tin could ke place, The metro was Soon a the del stag for us ing construction as pedagoscal spectacle, revelulionary weapon, {ne instrument of eldageliation Worker would be manga So viet miracle with thelr own hands and the structure they created Was meant ta reflect both the pub goal of eehnoloi supe220 wnrrens at wonk San pa adancs in op and utr avers, 3 locaton ofthe proposed subway inthe very hear of Moscow made this symbole significant poeta he eps extended its each fo deep below the surface inthe cer of the ‘pital The importance of the undertaking was vious own the slogan adopted to pulses its constuction The catch ghee The whole country s building the Mettot" appeared endesl in headlines and posters o announce the projet tnd capture the Yop. laces attention for thi ostensibly liechanging cnet Document eained iy Russia sal historia archives detail the pect hopes invested inthe creation of the hstry of stay conaraction tn Moscow. Numerous meeings were eanged Be {ween established writers and metro workers nthe hope fat he ‘wo groups would Work ogelber av dey bul he sutay ade ind ices The nf of ay ee vO 13) oe ample, wasto visit sins iuehtt) fom Metosro in onder to find the most active and talented yorker, These “worker authors” would commit tothe production of sketches (ccher ob sed nthe planned history ofthe meta The works eswouldalsohavea chance tomeet with tore caablshed authors who were working onthe "very same themes" An evening mace ‘ng between the two groups would be followed by more ork sed ‘tensive eng of srkeraceounts of ter participation nthe Cengriion ree 3 congltnt in charge ofthis patil activity in October 1934 was 8. Fev, and his eralatlon of he manuserps Hose ceived fom workerauthors suggest the leu of tug labor: 2, imo waters veright, hs comments OW Hes “wore wh ‘egining authors” tling evidence ofthe complenty of auch cl orate projects. rss responses interesting bth or ta lack of enthusiasm forthe acebants and for hs clear expectation that worers’ contributions ean be inpoved Most ol tne account promise lit, ‘n Perso’ opinion” Weak: Common sitatons Pet fats shi consensus on quite afew ofthe manuserips hes evaluating “Individul moments ae fairly interesting Re notes ‘shout the manuscript ofa cern Takia secrete ofa Rome Somol group a the st, “but in goneal the material fey Nae ‘About another worker's account, Persov concludes harsh, the Piece needs complete revorking The main ideas of the slr ae fot obvious There are cnfics Individual charctersare nore ‘eled.” The contrition ofa worker the name of elon eens {0 pesent more promise, and Pesov notes tat tis -nggined vey interestingly Unfortunatly, be continu, the “tory nt fe 5 / FINDING SPACE I TNE, ronan! 2a life st eros” an is sl ot ished "The worker Bondarev Sb ary, Bu itis svery daw out. The se of act “eres bt the need tobe sed yon experienced tho ‘Sach bles had rede foreseen hy sme Avery as 195i, forsxampl, is Selina Nad wondered how such aa eur colleague wl be integrated int he rel bases of rea. ing ttre Her onment on te og way oh “thenguer were pesos nthe oroal Nowy! rn Octobe ‘ht gear Speidng a sai of he eee metho st he ‘Alstisnn Uon f Soviet Were (Usemsnt oie soe ‘Salih lace or VasPy, Seilinahad nove te nasty guts” {stoeoekachestn) thie saracterzd the ott of sch cl {ccs Comping tha the cane sone says” she dew Ieehier sit ber areas rence to works he "Morning ofthe ‘Yung Sipe Worker et he shockeworker themselves wee ray to lame, Selina noted. ‘Whats oing on with those shoek workers we drew int iterate? We {re than tt and; in most ase we gave tem ete of writes ie iments wl i mad an, ene ome het ‘rks wet already in ress, some already published and oon. A ‘er sane ine ty were giv ance dato for wor ad that {cso and the novela re bul thu: constucton Fear ln, Prorat Tats all Thats enouph itis thecasraon of erature => Scilla notes tha he wor a several edtral oss gave hor plenty of exposure tothe manscrpt of such inexperienced a Thom mest of which are “not it for publication” Her skepticism siete i pach nve tacoma Leonor: Aner Sor and Shain'syaiocenta bring thet a thom se orl Sulina sotiacs “Tht ist standing inplce ae shared such skepticism, he kept those views to hms. ‘Tine years alter Seiulinas emarks, he and others aparently stl ‘ad high hopes for proletarian efor in erature Am dor Stan onthe Metto projet for example. was optimise this ‘alas "macrpts of worker authors of Metosto.”A rap ‘ent from “Komsoml Coed on the Suwa" for example, re ‘Sie hie eatively enthusiast endorsement "An for he whole ‘fey Nt Other were deed arin erate Some "ese only minor citing although one ry was sng uta aneampl of how not igure fhe aura that day, unfrtintelywas“hinre by his partial heey"me warrens 4 won “The colaborative intent behind the vohume is abou rom com- ‘ments consultants and efor make in thet evaluations even the test workers efforts were intended! no for dre! publication but for use by & more experenced writer Deserbing the contibution of "Coma Altukhov,"for example, an editor constant notes that Atukhoys observations are wen in rey language” end characterized by “sincerity and authenticity. According to the onaltant, very ite sditional work would be nesid Defoe A {uioy “could give the authors ofthe book about the subway ex {temel vuole materia ona ers of theme tinortes on Sit? ‘Relations between Young Men nd Women’ ‘Reatons between Old-timers and Youth” aa soon Experienced woters were on hand to help. Serge Budanse, as weave seen, was ead to help with the new construction projet Sin hod particulary hgh hopes forthe ealectie tak tat tay iat he away prec Fle contact wih wor hee would mean that "Yr the Erst tine nook collective labor wil be guaranteed.” Budansex slong with so many others, focused ot nly on the construction ofthe Snost maja Inst Dut so On the fact hat "poople ae growing inthe activity "Badass enthusiasm af teary 1 meet vas seconded bythe weiter Tvanoy, who expresed the finn conicton that the “iter was becoming an industria write nthe ul sie of he Word” As both explanation and pao hs point he nated tat ‘ie years ogo ft would hve ben det fo tnagine™ that so sany‘authors would tun gut to partisipate in suchen even, Gromit fora writer means “adaptation to hes the era" lranow noted Now tha then 2 environment that growth ea take pace. "A healthy Word Tol ut before him and the methods of work emscves eau how forms” Confessing tha "we writers ae aay Tok" anor looks for help i collective work: He recommends that authors be assigned in smal groups to particule shat o areas othe con Structon seo ensure tha he portant as of wring about te project actualy gets done" for example, would nd boring 0 {0.10 the shall by mel, ul to or thre people would take ene {nother in hand ad it would be useful to them all Responding {oademand onthe pot that he speak out and explain what have done forthe Metro," he notes tha he bas promised to write afm ‘ceased nthe ubway pect eam that wero Serpt isnt going wel ssenar et igo), but he argu ha his Collective work will sl be of use, “It might be 8 Bad scenario, 45) mvoinc sexck WN 7IME, FORWARD! 2 nay itl bead jo, but all the same wil be ust to out ‘mon st nanos ears ike those of other prcipans inthe ansaey sncsng were metvith aps, ut tes cea even fo ew ‘Bound wont preset om ta ccson that collet his {oy of icra athe Moo subway mesa 100 poly cared anol ste contcton projet rv tse cay, or example, comtnued ty emerge o- Sis lara uneluated lores Yok dresons abut hl {nc rot eninrs whoetraninand oral cas come put iemat eds wate the projet an the worker on Were eh ihcpreblom how tote susie without cag doubt fie ene enters The poverty and inexperience of ost of {hewmorsers the pmitv condont in whien hey toed and te Aso wih sie he projet was being cared ot wee ena "Resucstons tata hd tonepatate inter ecsouns ofthe ‘Sretncton "ome weirs used cones ors to organi ht ought in snc interpret acme Te "tusk" cammented Vole {2 ove the ements cast war one contvton st vealand ghearlaie rection Voyna thot wrt Should [eso fc poles in part bxaue ha Kind fori ueaon ‘vase conpretensbleto authors san were echcal ues of scl, wh would reset tgs the unde Stinlingta tes" Onco the questions thought athe might “And the cupola of Crt the Savin. do youher me? si they al the apts ef Crt he Sora hal Terk hat “Good” Margie tered “eer ton ofthe cupola was evr fc wide. Ard by de way tua ihks the ind fs mon, you Bea to ies ered. "Go om goo (Wala opera, 1960, 138 ead cari these characters do not regret the pasing of architectural his- tory tis because they are too busy builing thelr own, Authors ike Kalaev chronicte the end of ol teaditions with ite regret because ‘their focus ison the new world coming int> shape before ther ven yes. Bruno lasenski offers a similarly fascinating landscape of ‘he new capital under construction In his own production novel eae ee ee Pinter ta neta ae orn és Comm eatin Guay Mena cne e Nat are bang iy Ci fect semi ct cee rh ain ect Heber ace ou ote ee ao See ssa tin i iin Semon oer neg per cr tenga earch ie, Se ean wan at he ate acl red bs Sten et peel ged eed ace es sree trey ora an ents Novo len in oI man Sa Eh ip an a ole See en org heehee toe are a ar eye) teh al pos cea sata te tt a ee eee Seber enpe Ac alocommepem aan iy ang Sag wh ator Ee ce et etre ro ee en ih imperial randeus and the magnificence of antiquity.!"™ ep eeepc a oder amend Tt od Eloy oy pesin Dae kn meade Se eee ee ee eee ge teen aa lng mae ee nr i ge ram ceca cre ad eae (9h Arete i ta a Se ae Lea aeeantermbter gen iecetetiert nda ey ion pci pening cot Pee ne cee meter icra, Themen lini sce pe boceh roe236 warteRs ar won art of the vast 1955 plan to recostrct Moscow, ands imminent, demise is already obvious in lena’ desenption, hall ofthe ‘hur’ upper fgade i obscured bythe fame of “itl we. Seater automobile attached tothe balding, “evident the a ‘ertsementof some Soviet automobile ft (12) “he sight of the car bursting through the second Noor ofthe hape causes Clank wo “laugh ot loud (12) andthe reader toys soni ied saein the aac Ch seo ae ight fades temporarily as he pasts the Liberty Once which been installed ina burst of arte fervor onthe fist amivesary ofthe revolution, Clark particslny sie the stone maiden’ at {he foot ofthe obelisk, which eminded hima al the stone Mases and Teedome seatterod over the various squares of the lobe= (Go) 8s dsstsaction wth finding suel'arecogniable tne, therefore, inappropriate monument dasppears, however whey he Catches sight of places he recognizes rom reproductions {Se Basis) orhis exceptionally limited knowledge of Cyril (Lenin mausoleu) This Kind of set place early part of he plewsare of IB oicton noel ede command of nase {ey survey pose Jim Clarks joyful naivete nds its peopaph lel center when be aes posession of Red Square tA gs gn he “ons gare san se despite the correct geography he ha ese in school, sf hisetie journey here rom New Yor had led hi up te tally ising curve of a semicitle unt he amved at this calminaln point” Cark’s raining as an engter allows hn ocompetend the simple geometrical rth of such production novel He fad made it to the "oot ofthe word” (17-18) Hs latr Journey to Ths wher he wl ke prin an important constacion project end refrged hse. thus originates in Soviet pace at Read his readers have alread recognized and made their own ‘Such waten descriptions of ealty sul inthis transitnal petiod, or actual landscapes that. donot vet lve upto the ter fry portrayal. One such ation of theft asthe cals Pace ‘ot Soviets wich was intended to honor the st Fiveaear Han {nd projected fo the very ste othe raced cathedral tat Kalas Prodiction novel mats only in pssing. Out of eae with tm fended surroundings, the colossal tower was never bul but Sela Fzpatrck has argued, tat fct scarcely rated. tn he spirit ofthe ea, the never complete Palace of Sovetsneverthe- les vas more familiar than most etl buildings" Fob plans for the architectural fat, hike he deseriptons of other Om Structin projects included i ransitional production novel, wee '5/ NDING SPACE IN TIME, FORWARD 27 intended to wbitat andy fo ely tha was illo {en imperfect and incomplete. Such a "Compensatory function” Saraclerzed much of the discourse and behavior during this riod Aremarlableanceote from a memoir by Wollgang Econ: Fart makes the process clear he dserbes the map he and is other prance n 1853 tha shed projet tecture n= royements already proudly ensconced on paper" PiKatae's engineer imagines a “young Moscow" quit diferent, however, fom that of ether old Moscow or the monumental new version assocated with the gargantuan Palace of Soviets, His fo- {Casisnotan oppressivecity beng dlamanted ora vision of wopian Skyserapets, but city under construction. As BE. Gaatow hs rte out inthis sense Time, Formard acres asa pidebook 0 Theaspiraions ofthe society Kataew wanted inhabit and insisted he served. 1s vals, humane and Meafirming in Katacr’s entation, ae ostensibly reflested in projects like the new ft Dynamo, che gardens ofthe big Park of Culture and Rest near the Center ofthe city, andthe new swinming pools end tennis fours now available to all the ely’ inhabitants” Picturing & Sie bout 0 ene a evming pol Katey imagines tht “he Spread out his arms ashe wanted to embrace evrything that ay ‘the fore imino red miacolos ara eid ng Moseow—the iver, pey-lue, scarcely touched by the plo Ing its ofthe dawn, te pviions of flowers inthe Park of Cul- fare and Rest he Ctimean Bridge, the he smoke of Sparrow Hl tle tug and its barge, the wiring ofthe Shaboloy radio Station, loud, roses, tennis ets, street ca, a building inthe ‘rocest of consteuction” (78). ‘Substituting an altrate landscape to both the oppressive past and the undisciplined present. Katacy imagines a miraculous Out eatively modest fate. In one of many description of Magito- fost deserve the ity rm the air Kate oersan sea view the site Arriving back a the Magntogorsk construction site byalrlane, the director ofthe constracton stein Time, ord Plcturesa landscape that iterally inverts the worl: "the starry field ofthe earth swayed and tumed..-‘The moon-white steam of teins Swiled up, Dotted lines, strips of street and roads stretch inal di ‘ection, lashing and crossing each otber The bulging sides of Ils, Stade wih js sa Inthe say geomet of is ‘omple enterprise” (512), the engineer notices disorder but i lnlazed since he vlnew that this was merely the preliminary Sketch He looked down on the spe ofthe construction asi ‘were an illuminated blueprint He saw a8 it would look a year238 warrens Ar won hence. In earl these separate, torn details would be joined tc- feter, smoothed ore welded, ntprated, polished. The Constr lon would have become factory, andthe factory would spread ost -vthallits ves pipes and einders”(S12-13) Chaos bought to coer by standing the nommal organisation of space on is hese, [stbeforeetuningntheny ety. then ate orp near tnd bang the wer hates down o ear “eo sing from the gonerl othe particular, the uirplane whisked Teeth hoa of swing eversed the potion ofthe tary ain the starry earth (the moon and the hate, mae one lst ci A, straightened out, and swooped down to he landing” (313). 6 Deconstructing Soviet Work: Andrei Platonov and the End of the Production Novel Many crtnics WILt BE UNHAPPY TO FIND ANDREI PLATONOV (1899- Mopac suena rma eh sels har ates meats a Sreebel ty steer nares ee Ae reece ee i ey Pes He ROLE ed i et a eee en (erp etait eterna oe ec eae Sec ithai ete Solna seep a eel are es aaa se ec So, Ranta lc Pema SIE ES et nn i nen oh onc ce Stews ts cea ce ie dct eh eas ge, pistar ah erecuarna ei en Sou otareteicinarieume trates Depeche tony ta Secrar cee nial Serine at mcesate Bool baie e's cy ea pels eugay orate tn ferret aes oy EST Sh cece Issuance Sisal at! pany240 warrens 4 Wonk Icigathemorerenarable then free that the autho con tinued to beleve that his unwieldy prose was a worthy cons tion tothe edie Sove writers wereconstructingat the endo the 1920s and the beginning af the 1850s. Despite repented remo Strance from the regi erry poltciane at the ine Platonov Obstistly submited hi work a &epltimatesaditon to thecone Inna terary effort, He turned repeatedly tothe dean of Sov (Ea Gwe tr Hey nc or lp and worked doggedly to publish his pices even when tho autores ao Tee fos born tne {place in the rans of proletarian iterate were many but poe taps the most trenchant argument wes biographical, Platonoy es a genuine member ofthe working class, and, a auch, he fel jst tied to satus asa proletarian ath” ‘Other wrters might have needed an inttodcton tothe work ay world in order to become “engineers ofthe human su bat Platonov had grown up there and needed no help imagining it. was accustomed to the world of scence and technology i 2 that few of is fellow authors wer, and at numerous points he {echnial ie even overshadowed i terry acti Incommens ffom 1921, heilustrates the prejudice for tion ovr contemple tion that Was common a the me how much one wants fo 59) and how unnezesary ts oak becatse warors are needed now, Mot dreamers.” Platonov's remarks fom 1902 are equal deli The invention of machines" he insists “ihe cen of a ‘Working. fon consrictons--thes proletarian posts.” Link the tecnologia! andthe human in an spproach tet would char acterize his ater work, oo he comments cevery new machines eine proletarian poem. Every great new work on ateing nature for man"thets eles, proltaian, exciting prose An ierview that Viktor SktovskNappened to conduc th Patonov in Vo ner in 1925 indicates aslar preference or dee ction, whi ‘ist wh Platonow's hiding treet nthe Iewary wos Te ‘rites who Was working at the time as a technician to alleviate the ‘tought that had stricken the are, spoke to Shidovsi “about ie erature about how i's impossible to desebea sunset and i's inpossibic i write short stee = Mita year cf tenenae the field Patonov had practical and journalist experience, sient and iechicl articles, and even patents fo backup theoctiel ut derstanding of the problems facing a county set on indstial ton, ‘An eal and fervent supper of the revolution, Pletonot ‘eh ial sated to pareptem ling te Soviet production 6 peconsrmucrine soviet won 2a ‘And participate he did, Despite continued exclusion from oficial public liscourse, Pltono was an intense and active contributor {othe discussion of howto bull the improved word in which new Soviet men and women would tse. His literary works ares fused with themes, vocabulary, plot elements, and philosophical ‘musings related tothe meaning of construction, ana he wrote & ‘numberof journalist works, including some that he was unable {o publish, on pressing isues of publicimerest. Natalia Kornienko ‘Saget local that Plato alan ey as ied es epublic response to Mayakovsky's piece on “How to ‘iate vind That had dear in fn 10S eect Krasnaie rod Even more compeling shi 1929 industrial sketch (roieood- Steen ocherk) found years later onthe back of one of Pstonow's fetional manuscripts; the author apparently hope to publish as fart of theofficial campaign to send writers to factories that yest {What kept Platonoy out of the debate, hen, was noc his unviling- ‘ess 10 contribute or his hostility to the process itself, but rather his exclusion by those who were setting the tems of the debate His work belongs in an evaluation ofthe development of the pro {ction novel andthe evolution of Socaist Realism sel. Ths Is ‘point worth stressing since it contradicts the reading numerous scholars have given to Platonov's work. ‘Much of Platonov's oeuvre hasbeen read as ani-utopian or pa- ‘odie, with a numberof scholars coneluding that Platonov rejected the itopian dream of universal brotherhood that were an expt part of Stalinist shetrie® Nothing could be further from the frath, Platonoy’s opposition to events in Soviet Russia was d rected against bureeucraticcapice and political hubris, not omar Utopian aspirations themselves. The same "Fabrik iterator txample suggests the writer's continued interest in shared trary Activity with ts exhortation of writers o organize ther craton the basis of industil production, Today's erie may view such sug gestions with irony, but, ap Tomas Langersk notes, the tone of Fatonov’s comments andthe social context of his argument make Wg Yo conclude ht the sth wae arg one Sheek Platonov's remarkable insight Into the potential dangers Of the totalitarian state convinced him of the need to speak out boat those threats. But his opposition neve extended plans to sue mae pert exience part, Atiough eva wel Acquainted with the imperections of ife on earth, Pstonov con- Sine to believe inte possibilty ot improvement. David Bethea oes tat even Plstonows mature works are "neither fly utopian oly ant-utopan "Asis daughter comments a posthumous2a vwrrrens 4 wen cation of he father's work, “some people regard his main writ 85 more of less anti-Soviet, but at 2 rite Platonov Was above rude ideology.”” ‘Platonoy relies on the metaphor of building to explore his char- acters” deepest mativatons, and ft provides him with a means (0 Aiscuss both the noble aspirations nd the fatal drawacks ofthe elaborate plans to emake the world tet characterized tis period in Soviet ussia.Pltonov himself was intimately involved in ey- eral Soviet consiruction projects, and he depicts « world in which architectural decisions have profound, cecasionally even fatal con. Sequences for its inhabitants. Despite the clear drawbacks, Now. fever, the author never abandons his seach fora beter built Ervonment Areitcture fo, olen reduced hte fs, ot primitive incarnation, is thus both the stusve goal an the tragic Errproduct of human steving The drive to ull is an essental component of human existence in Platonov’s universe, and his characters engage in the process at every opportunity. Platonov's embrace ofthe material world and is bult environ: ‘ment was decidedly ambivalent, however One ofthe primary func. tions of the consiructed universe in Patonov’s work Is (0 oller human beings temporary shelter from natural word thats arely hostile to those very construction projets. The amorphous space ‘or prosiranseo, that surrounds his characters threatens to engult the aad! any moment, Much ofthe action in Paton’ works takes place, therefore, atthe decidedly uneasy nexus be- {ween the man-made universe andthe natural world Divisions that make sense in other contexts lose tho teleologcal certainty in Platonov's universe, e the boundaries between natural and art ‘alure and man, even animate andinanimate begin to waver “This is certainly the ease In Platonov's work Chevengu which hha numberof provisional tls that rect the authors interest in building better world, including “Proiskhozhdenic mastera™ {Orig of the Master) and "State srany (Bulders of the Land) * The novel opens with a description of Zakhar Pavlovich, who like other such eccentric characters in Platono, isa builder and self-taught inventor In Zaklhar Paviovih’s universe, obvious, Seemingly immutable eategories are dismantle by his ereative ae lity alone. "He regerded people and fields with indifferent ten- demess, not infringing upon the interests of ether” and he spends the winter evenings making “unnecestary things such as towers of ite, ships cut fom pieces of roofing tin, paper diigibes, and 32 (on. Such inventions, which run eontfary to expectations and ‘gains ype, amaze Zakir Pavlovich’ sontemporaries with that 6 DECONSTRUCTING SOVIET WORK 2s to and visionary thrust. Thus, he fashions a fying pan out of ‘wood, for example feat thats deseo as pat «surround Ing universal mystery which transcends arbitrary divisions we Imght otherwise be empled to make. Such experiments compe Ie very meaning of Ife for atono's homegrown builders“ d eight now, myself” Zakhar tela mortally pease, "ba ou kon how it avhon youre worsng onion hing A iver in progress, t east inital, he thinks with satisfaction that "empl Sny hat saw maton gooe ante io hands people are far fom having invented everything”, Ag ies Zaha Pavan can oe bye elon a egorizaion toa world of arstc potential. Patonov even uses the ‘ord “art (shussto) to describe the man’s homemade but revo [itionary excursions into the world beyond binary divisions. is Colleton of inventions hl assortment of sgrcltra tools fhichines, instruments, and household devices” made ently of fond ecnclog aad a rset boundary be {heen technology and nature, Patonow points out how strange Stat nota sgl item that Zahara lahioned rom tise fensibly “natural” matecal “repeated nate” (5) The ability {0 ttansress seemingly xed borders characteristic of al of Pato tov sselE Such "wellntended experimentation olored many ofthe Stalinist project ofthe late 18505 and 19503, {6/ DECONSTRUCTING SOVIET WORK 255 and the experimental notion ofthe plan to reorganize Russian eu- ‘allie appeals to both Dostocvsky and Sasha. Sasha n particular, finds the potential for development much more compeling than ‘any completed work could evr be, Ths, Platonov notes that Sasha ignorance more than culture, for ignorance is a bare field, ‘while cultareina fal slready grown over with plant so that noth Ing else cam grow there. Dvanov was happy tha in Rasba the r= ‘olution had weeded absolutly clean the few spois where Were had been sprouts of calture, while the people remained what they had always been, fertile space” (108) In this universe, where Sasha serves as a conduit forimeless eb and low the notion of endless possiblity is much more compelling than a nal product. Sasha's looking, after all forte perfect bal lance beeen process and sabi, and, asa result, he inno par ticular “hurry to have anything sown” (108) on the vast fala of potentiality. Thies revealed inthe "monument othe revolt” {athe helps design forthe commune that he and Kopenkinare vis- iting. The figure he draws for the monument is deceptively simple "the eight on is side signifies eternity of ime and the upright a row with wo heads means infty of space," he els the president ofthe commune. "There's both eternity and infty here,” agrees the president, "and that means theres everthing, Couldn't tink up anything smarter if we ied” (108) "This perfect balance of “everything” is altogether rare, but that does nt dissuade Sasha and the others from seeking continually ‘Onoezasion, Patonos's characters even achieve the perfect amal fam of process and stasis, fecling and thought, movement and tll hess, Such moments bring happiness, but the experience of hhapiness isso feeting and meager that it might easly be confused with its opposite. Here, too, Platonoy reverts tothe idea ofan im patil watchman, or stom, who stands apart from the fay and Drovides distance and perspective on the torments ofthe word as ‘ve know it Sasha siting on Kopenkin’s powerful horse, the ap- Dropriately named Proletarian Strength, seems to enter a kind of Contemplative sate that partes of both emotion and rational ‘thought in search of perfett unity ‘The felngs ose up high wit his heart ae tumbled down behind it ira tformed ints seam of ligating thought. But above he erratum th dy ofthat wean wh aes 0 pr sony rmsing wt on for ey fw py The it wed Branoraseelohspacerthe warn swelling lake ofeligs andthe258 warrans 4 won longs of hough bead he a, ing fa i ow pel Andrea coal eh hen shih Sak Sid coins nde slob hay Choon 11988, 161) ee - “There itis—theraw material fo socilsm!” Sash nots shorty his exchnaton acoso cho fhe ete “Thew ist" C2) is epiphany, that isnot too exceptional a term for such quiet and ephemeral discovery, fellows Sashy'sclaar-eyedevalue ton ofthe Russian countzyside The landscape that spreads out be- fore him is a humbled twentith-eentury visken ofthe view Herzen and Ory ad se om het as pon Spry sn preceding century. As Dvanoy peers at i “poor landscape in front oh," he notices that “both earth and heaven were unlucky {othe point of fague. Here people ved sons and ook no eta ving ie frewood sec upon the bonfire * Ths seemingly inausp ous site nevertheless evoes hope, even joy in Sasha end Roper ‘in. Kopenin points out the “dar and sad valley” while “rec. ‘ngas though he had already iden straight ino the town As tey fe down the road, “it seemed as though if ne were to bull up some speed, would be possible to break rex and fy" Tiss te location on which Sasha and Kopenkin hope build thelr own ver= sion of he future. As such, ts desolate aspects the priest seting {or world that i always being completed, but will never be come plete. "Not even a single building” Sasha concudes tlumphandy, ust the misery of nature, an orphan! Platonov advances a srr argument in a comment by hs char- acter Gopnet,a welder who declares that “we reall comrades only when there is identical rouble for everybody As soon as thee ‘bead and propery, why you'll never get aman out oft What do you mean feedomy if everybody hes bread fementing tn his bly and your heat watching hr ikea awk? Thought loves Ugh ‘ess and misery" (141). Desolation and emptiness provide these characters with a sens of individual possibilty tha fs uthervise lacking. Gopner shares Sasha's fascination with the empty space {hati he essential locaton forthe nexus of thought sd action Only the baren void provides enough rom ar the nvidual prs formance of meaning "My father want to se God with ison v0 eyes,” he notes, “and wha { wants some sor empty space, damit, 30 as to do everything over from the beginning depend ing jst on my own mind.” (148). Theat is folowed ‘pointed editorial comment: “Gopner wantednot so much happe estas precision "= 6/DecoNSTRUCTING SOVIET WORE 255 ‘The vision Sashe and Kopenkin have ofthe future is ever act ally constracted ofcourse, Sasha soon parts company with Kopen- tinndheads forthe city instead. There he meets Chepurn res dent of Chevengur, who describes his town as an idle destina- tion the loeation a the end of everything” the end ofall of world history" (146) Sasha s fascinated by the notion of a place where fel tvsion ve aedy en ovrame, ne atk Che my to contact Koper 0 thatthe elderly warrior can eval- Eeithe'toms facta, When Chepuryt ea Ropenkin Say Ineet, however, it is in the open expanse of the seppe, whl ""Nopped nowhere, running right up t the lowered sky ma smooth lingering slope that no horse had ever conquered entirely” (133) ‘This amorphous locaton, where even the border between sky and Tand hasbeen erased is he most likely spot for communism to = tumph Only here can temporery boundaries be overcame and hu- man beings comprehend thei fl, unfettered potenti “That potential, lite reality itself. changes with every passing minute as Platonov clear understands, and, sa result he ine fuabtants must react to continually changing conditions. The town itsell is constantly “in turmoil.” Patonov depicts is townspeople {nperpetual motion, "wandering around the own among the clea ings andthe brush, some In pal, some alone, but all without bun dls or property." They are bus, lo, rearranging the environment, ‘repzing the buildings, oven moving the gardens, which, ike evry thing eke inthis loration, are constany being shifted reseed fromone lation to another on dally basis (138). “Tres grew on most all the streets of Chevengur giving their branches as stalls to the wanderers who roamed through Chevengur but didnot stay thenight"Pistonov tellsus, so that even the stretsand boulevards ‘must constantly realign themselves (161) ** When told about an a Teged “moral path to socialism,” Chepurayi scots. "What do you mean path when weve arrived? Now, my fiend, there are no Paths, The people have arived" (163. Plaionov understands what Chepurmy does not, however: this location at the end of histor is itslt temporary one. The “Chee ‘tngur pedestrian, Lut” i the most obvious expression ‘of this problem. Hl has begun to realize that “communism meant the une Interrupied movement of people into the distance of earth,” and he {testo convince Chepuryi that “communism should be declared to bea journey and Chevengur removed from its eleral sede tization” (oehnaia osedst). u's argument stems from his be- lief that stasis wil inevitably Be followed by oppression: “the wind histo pour over a fellow or else right off hel take up oppresing256 wrens st wom no els hel dy up om his own and get all de- Spairng tke * On the road, however, “nobody can ated fiend ship: nc there be engugh jobs Tor commis” (172-75) 2 Lit decision to leave Chavengur is enrelyconsaten ith tis, belie thatthe revolution must be permanent. “Thee is no way communism wil ake place on a sedentaried spot, fort can ae ‘ether enemies norjoy he insists: Fromisown spoon Herzen's metaphor hile, Ll deides to join the navy-and tava he ‘World inthe endless motion that areal serch for prfcton fe "ules, Looking back down onthe “Chevenga lowlands" he tums Shay from stability tovard eternal movement “Farell, comsades and communism!” (173-74. Kopenn seems to dss Lai’ contention intl, buts soon ashe seesthe pedestrian leave, he decides “nally tay et the ‘Whole communism of Chovengur and then take his measures ‘When he eads back to town todo 0, even Proltaian Strength almost lees its way "Beeause ofthe reloeation of the houses the Strets of Chevengur ha diseppeared, and al srctres wee in ight, notin place Proltarian Strength, who was sed to smoot, Stret roads, grew anxious and sweaty from the bequen lus (18) Ropes conker dssion inthe mid of unity. “Hel ts so good herein Cheveng"hesays, sly “But how is hat there's been no sortow orjnized? Con Munism sould be biting, juste tad poisonous even” (175). AL {ough he tived twenty-four hours confident in Chevengur” he "then grew weary of his stayin the town, for he id not feel any communism int" (195). Like Lhe soon ries that “aroun, CChevengu there was no! communisn, ust transtionl sages" (19), hele endo soap the dey ft at heen of everthing sell only tempora ven more distesing isthe redizaton thatthe much vaunted {ute ust beens erlted and eral by those who wah springen ti ens tab eet {Chepuray for example, she wits impatiently for he imposition of cman Cheyer Ning Ml th overs and pereial beds and gardens” are“snsh cultivation" Chepurr ‘ows to have them Scat down and trampled on fore in Chever™ ur” (198) Only partly satisfied wih his destructive impale Chepurmy want o balance that destruction vith a constructive ‘Este, ut hes hampered by the lined scope of hs own nd ‘Vidual fescures, He noes with sadnes that sowie nether im ‘ook nor in fairytales, was communism written ou a «compe. IRensible song that might be recalled for comfort in dangers 6/DuCONSTRUCTING sovtET Won 257 hour” (199), Chepurni notices this ack of ar” (256), and he be- roang its absenee singe tore Kim to rely solely on his own in Spired heart and sift strength in order to gain the future (499-200), “Posters in Moscow and the provines *Chepurnyi and Platonov note sadly, “depicted a hydra of counterrevlaion and tens ied with calico and broadleth chugging into villages that had cooperatives, but nowhere was there a touching pitas of that future forthe tke of which the hyde's head had tbe lopped of land the heavy feght tains had to Be pled (199) Inte end, hepa eon ye ta he ow ao rary ten steppe beneath a sky that ls resembled steppe so that nd [taut naturel force wor ible weber to Sat people from communism and seduded intrest for one another" 21) “The conundrum that Platonov has posed here isthe one that ipped alo Stalinist Russi: there was no lsting place forthe n- vidual inside an endlessly evolving collective and no permanence to the human element in a universe at the end of tne. Sasha Deanov comprehends tis tragedy when he visits Chevengur and realizes that "time comes ever sto beng and disappears: while man stays in one place with his hopes forthe future” (273). Thi Snetdingpts Sha gh into he Boho Chere. {Bir led now by his adopted brother Prokof who wants “the com Tales to sacrifice truth, because all the samet won't ive for tong” (267) Ina long conversation with clear allusions to the Grand In- {quisilor scene fom Brothers Keramazoe the bothers Sasha and Prokoi debate the merits of asking the populace t take up some ‘lherhappiness which wil ive lors longtime, unt he tevest rath all finally arives (287). Prokoffs planning "to hol al of com mnunism and the happines i would beng inside of some protective ‘serve Such a plan wil allow hi the hixury of “dling out 10 the masses impartial doses” and let him “thus protect the inex. bugtblty ofboth propery and happiness" (268. “Their conversation on ths plan to gather powe forthe good of the masses has no end in the novel, uti i clear that Sasha wl Ihaverno part in i By the end ofthe narrative. he ha acepted the fact hat human beings are diferent from machines and realized {hat their progress toward perfection cannot be hurried, He tells comrade, for exanple, tat communism in Chevengut must de- velit weaver he xpi tt ech ism i's people living here. You cart get them squared aroun nthe gt thomscves arranged. used to tak ofthe evel fiona asieem engine, but now Tee that's not (272), He con tines his attempts to bald better sokty forthe inhabitant of258 warrens at won the town, helping with projects to construct « dam, tigation canals aSolar-powered electri plant, and a defense system. But in his personal search for resolution of the conundrum tha latonov Ina set fr his characters, Sasha tums tothe lessons his own fac ther taught ‘esha notices that “evening was gathering within him,’ a "time cof maturity, a dine of happiness of repre” This is precisely the “sort of sundown of life that Dvanov's father had hidden perma- rently inthe depths of Lake Mutevo, "and now Sasha, too, ites ing the end ofhis usefull. "My youth sending,"he notes “Within me tis quiet, and dusk s gathering above allot history" (259). This rowing sense of personal obsolesenceis evidence that Sasha has Fearmed to accept the harsh truth that his individual consibation to human progress willbe lited. He cleanly recognizes that his roles conduit for universal forces is drawing toa close Despite his pang of loss" (273), he sees this approsching end in positive terms a. cycle completed. Mumbling nis slep, Sasha seems to comment on another existence that he and his father wl share be- yond the boundaries of this fe “Tlwake up soon father... sleep- Ingis tiresome too. want olive on the outside, fel inhere. "In his slep,itscems, “Dvanov's perished ‘Wound his hear well with his own hopes" (275-76), is father's image f connected with the ny watchman who has ollred a synthesis of proces and stasis to Sasha before, Here, oo, “uke watchman openel the rear door of memory and Dvanov ag {elt the warmth of consciousness in his head. He was svalking in ‘the village at night, and he was ait boy" (319). This dean im. age evolves into and mingles with Sasha's discussion of the weapon he is attempting to fashion to protect Chevengur. That conversa tion s interrupted n urn, bya conversation about hisformer love Sofia Aleksandrovna, and Sasha realizes with "shame and the sticky weight of memory” that"he might well have enclosed him- Self with the closeness of one person unt death, and only now did fhe understand that tebe, unrealized eof his in which he might have remained forever like ina house tat hed fallen down! (520) Tn eontrast tothe hoeror of cha narrow individual existence his fathers experience is presented as an optimistic example of how fo meet life's challenges. The architectural metaphors “house that had fallen dows™is chosen carefully since it signals the loss that precedes new construction of a beter future. The sherman \who sacrifices himself in an elusive but high-minded pursut «emerges in Platonovs final accounting asa role mode, and Sasha's ‘own release fom the travails of his world becomes te natural fu {6 DCONSTRUCTING SOVIET WORK 259 fiment ofa cycle, Thee desths allow the author to post finally lone tothe problem tht has troubled him rom the begining esngor Oy death ings a onthe Sd, a such, offers a potential moment of hope and pos dosing. The faint posit of uining understanding, fice, meaning or even simple human companionship drives the ction. of bo Sesbe and his father Thee sues are not sel. fenfered, then, But evidence of ther dying hope thet something beter ca sil be built. "Hope," Platonov explains tous, "cannot berealized and sl best witht man, for tell the man tes, andifitis not, the man remain, atin orment, andthe hee feats om nthe mul ofthe man, ine place fom which there no escape" (276), "Hope and sell acc are estential to Patonov’s understanding of Soret construction, as we see as ell in The Foundation Pi, Fatonows short novelicomlate 199 o erty 1950. VA. Chalmaer Aescries this novella (poves?) as Pltonov's "most eapacious ‘tore andthe eonstnetion ste that provides the tie forth ‘Tov help foster that sense of endesiy expanding space that cha Teterized the Soviet imagination dring these transitional years Platonov’s fetions cretion embodies the naraiv of reali Some actoy naira sense on the back ofthe mans for Kodooan archival researchers found the writer's description of his ‘into the Kamenslaia Paper Factory in 1929, This remarkable dis: very provides graphic demonstration of the way Pafonoy snd ‘ther incorporated oil discourse about Soviet prodton into thot creative endesvors AT M. Vaititova notes, Patonors oc: {oy sec Sra Vl he canonical gee that wa ng tsttblished for such pieces ding those yeas yet, she comments, ise that cmt human ft contact sod roceres Bt pooryn [is] type of simpli sketch = ‘What makes Patono's production novel o fascinating, how. vertnd so este oth study of transitional examples ofthe Emre tha the "ht seemed erect natural othe writer him Sei Paton saw no inherent contradiction between oficial ds ouse about the factory, which he mse intended to prodace ‘ler all, and his own feionl approach tothe subject. Although Talditova sees “sharp emotions sdeologeal, esthetic vision (ween Platnov's“pubiist writing and the ats text," she ‘ventually concludes thatthe two works demonstrat a "paradox: Kal closeness This seeming paradox is acualy pretiable, However and rately justine The contradiction tween pub icthetoric about blldmg and Platonewsproscon the topic exited260 ‘wnrrens st wom ‘only in the minds of those who excluded him from the public fo- rum. The fact that his two narratives literally bleed into one a- other, 25 one manuscript encroaches upon and overvrites the ‘other demonstrates how pliant Platonov expected the production hovel inthis transitional period toe, The author himself yas en {rely sympathetic to Soviet architectural projects and admired the ‘desire they evinced to organize human exstence ina more jst and hhumane fashion. He was acutely aware of the high cos of such [les especialy the price that had to be pa by ind uilders, und he focused naturally on the inevitable Ios that the in- lividua must bear in creating a better future forall. In the late 1920s and early 1950s, Platonov and other stil believed that pul lic discourse could eccommodate such complexity “Tne novella begins with the architectural metaphor in iste. Particularly for readers of the time, the name earies connotations of change, reneval, and improvement. These notions are implied in the image ofa foundation pi, the ausion to plans t0 “build so. cialsm” inherent inthe image. The building site serves as the lo cus for much of the action in this work, although Platonows tad oad ht and tovardarchieiral sractrein eral is as ambivalent as expected from this sophisticated author ‘The event that opens this work is actualy negative one: the dis- missal of one of the central characters, Vosichey, rom his jb at small factory on his thirtieth birthday. His age, the same as Christ's atthe beginning of his final minis, i signicant since i signals ‘the beginning of Voshehe’s own quast eligious journey?" ike Christ, Voshchev is reluctant at frst to begin his mission; hae has been iet go from the factory “on account of weakenin Strength in him and thoughtfulness amid the general tempo pour = Plano tums duit ak archer! metaphor lescribe his character's plight, Vosheher gathers his belongings from his room and oes “outside so as beter to understand hf ture out in the air” (1) Thus, from the fist words ofthe nove, Platonov seems to be setting up a dichotony Between confining Structures and the relative feedom of open space. The author ine edit subverts his own inary ste, however by com ing the opposition he has just established. The clarity Voshchey expects from unconfined nature evades him: “the air was empl” and Voshchey “didnot now where he et draw" This state mo- ment ialso reflected inal he surveys: "motionless tees were ce fully holding the heat in their leaves, and dust lay Boringly on the deserted road—the situation in naire was quiet” Instead of OF 6/orconsraucrNe soviet WORK 261 fering movement and rlese from confinement, the open ar rep- ‘esens new imprisonment and sass instead the tees old eat the road motoniess and “deserted (1) ‘oshchev’s indecision soon finds him at another architecturally signfcant juncture the moment of transition between iy andthe txpanse bcjond. He stops in confasion “at the end of te town and leans, characteristcaly for Patonov, oma low fence. Fences, ih ecard eve ts inportan aos ce a in Pltonovs universe They ar aries ofcourse, but often uriously permeable ones. They define boundaries, but do noteo pletely restrict movement. They fence undesirables nas esl as {hy et tem outs spon tht Veshchey pass Inf t ean on the low fence ofa large house where child ‘with no fay were being habituated to labor and use") “The children (essemeinye det) arein transite like Vosichey msl and ic snot surprising that they are Tocated in this asc fecturly significant cation. they are behind a knee to Be sre, but ti low one Ther existence iim te publi phere, adit fe, bt on te forage, On this tannional ope tie einen fein trained for lief te new world. A aint notion of eosreon etortessy accompanies the Iniroducion ofboth the soca vo. Cabulaty of work and the existence o «new generation in whose pang cies ile mae Sen owes ae ingot ths fare generation staking pice ina scuctue elt ver fr the ps the wad bo (cunt eat or irs) tt uses the net generation scems to imply 8 return to te echt ‘iva din oo vu cy Bt ie Foundation country dwelling mars nat the bepnning of rural pleasares fat ihe end of e leary dined existence. Chkren repent the future in Platonoy's world, but thee poston is desided insecure. Beyond the chilren's dweling, he town stopped” (petra: ‘tchalta).Agan, the ransional location is movant for Pato and has his character linger im the momen of ambiguy In this amorphous state between ct and country, there was ony beerroom" Nether town nor country the ber halle Dosedon the landscape tno Indigenous to either sie of the po set retical dehorom. ty poor ft ints surroundings gs another comparison to the aulhor’s mind the pub for me {Bais and “low-paid categories sands “without any Jarl” ke {one official buling or other” Thi carious metaphor om the ori artical structures is then microm by comparison fo the ‘tual envionment. Behind the bet hal saclay moun” with202 ‘wnurans at Wome “ano te (tat) grew on its own there aml right weather” (1 ‘The tek the er joint, mark the place wee Scy erica nu Tithe psec locaton of mow of Pao’ charactors in th Fike oman, Yosef ete tom path hi i reno stat und the ot of ies space The beer hal shelters he rowty neoydrchanrye Te song wh ashe elmore cat ant ene” ue ‘egee) Inside he manages oexit Giutstooal) nt ven, “antl the nose ofa wind of changing weather (1) Characters cally Voshchey pauses at the window another architectural dive, {0 consider his options" From the window" barr but tans: Parent an opening but rescted—Voshctevnotless the te, ‘hich is being rocked bythe change forthe wort nthe westher ‘As we have aedy seen the wind that brags wou he a tion plays an important ofr latonov as Signal of movement ftom one stte to another Not surprisingly the wind roves ret. Jel back and oth between the cy and the county Bese he ‘ard of maneade ste a pes fret Pons Univers, this movement back and forth suggest a fares {tansiton between the world a its and theword as could be ‘The wind that rocks the tre inthis tansinal locaton aries sound aswel Voshchey hear band droning nthe distance The Finanotonows music” was “pting nowhere’ a the wind cates itaway, seeping across he baren emis that Vosheher i habit to disappear ino a nearby ravine, cand into natre™ (2) The avin wslfan importa ops in Paonays wordt ap- ar azn and gunn in work, particulary in The Foundation Fit where wil ay aoe in Ptonovs atten tosynhesee the World of manmade structures andthe natural universe. Here a ‘ewher, the ravine mars the endo the Blk environmen and the gmboic being ofa naturl one, dt Sonn pressed into Seve asa temporary place of rele for Vorhcher, Siting atthe ‘sndow ofthe pub, Noskehe steno the sosndsof the nit and eas the arial muse ofthe distant band disappear tothe ‘vin, His respite a te edge of two word fe Aeeang. tends when he is unceremoniously sent out ofthe beer oil. Siu pd {ora beverage ot for promises” (Vy placa npn, @ he 2 Pomesichentt the walter announces denn bth te it Portane of the archiectaral metaphor fr Paton and the at Sonal nature of such strctores tn his universe 2). Tea mae atVoshchevs desperation that he turn owar heavine fr sh {er Stretching ou thereon is stomach, he hopes forte obvion 6/ pconsrnucrNG sovier Wonk 265 of sleep but is tormented instead by question of existence, not mowing “whether he was of use tothe word or whether evry: {ng would gt slong ne without hin (3). In tis tortured state Hs body itself becomes a hostile oslon “bard and stony con: {hiner fr his anguished best (3) When Vosichey wales in the moming, he sacs long, cir cuts journey that wil occupy him or the est ofthe novell The realy ceaseless movement that characterizes hint begins in the faving and lads fist back (othe trade union commies. Asked ‘ny he had been thinking in the middle of the working dy, sherpa ea Sorting lan oe tt was ‘omething hike happines (3), Whes he fais to convince the ta tum oe reliably of his plan, Vshchev hed off gain. This tine ni journey is both spatial and temporal. is path on footy fami summer” we ar tl. tine sil Space seemingly uniting st {scr moment. "On either sdework was now ander way-on {hcl improvement andhouingbcks whether ‘Shelered masses would son lead the spectee existence” (i) "The adverb Platonay uses~speahless or Bezmalono adds 8 curious note of neue notindiference to athitectral struc tures, Voshchev seems ule to comprehen the fall igncance ‘ofthe stuctires within which he exis His "body was iniferent loco se tld "He eine, hou ehaaton nan pen space”) In fat, ths physi ably to exist outside of Senne cvranment ee have eek anda he had BlnelWwith an unhappiness of his own daring the ime of plenty, ding th day of peace hs pat ging” Ye athe anae Is tps pas the beer joint and rersably away from hs odie, he seems equally detached, out of pce in thi new "natural en: ‘ronment At the site where he camed the previous night in the avin he notices that "something in common wilh is wm ie sl Teale there" Voshehev is poised then, in nosman’s land. He oun inset in space, with ony the horzon before him and the ‘ee the wind against his dowmnben: ace 3) _Througheut The Foundation Pt, Patonoy returns to this pare ticular landscape the distant horien~to comment on the fant Bossy of beer world in which the natural andthe mst-made Will cocxat in harmony. Like the ftire, this synthesis sways [Bs.out of each, Here asin Cheng, Patonov searches for 8 lance beeen that tage shared Perfection and an me ‘Individual sacrifice. The soltion be posits mn The Foundation Pits the sume one he offered in hat earlier Work movement fo