Leisure Practices of Astrakhan Fishermen during the Mid 1950s to Early 1960s

Annotation

The article presents the first comprehensive study of the leisure organization system for fish industry workers in Astrakhan during the Khrushchev “Thaw” period. The scientific novelty of the research lies in filling the existing gap in studying the regional peculiarities of leisure practices formation during the Soviet period and significantly contributes to understanding the specifics of free time organization for one of the key professional groups in Soviet society. Based on previously unpublished materials from the Astrakhan Regional State Archive, the Russian State Archive of Literature and Art, and the State Archive of the Russian Federation, the study reconstructs a comprehensive picture of cultural and educational work with fishermen during the fishing season. The research is grounded in the principles of historicism, scientific rigor, and systematic approach, employing historical-comparative and historical-systemic analysis methods. It has been established that in the mid 1950s–1960s, the region had an extensive network of cultural and educational institutions, including mobile libraries, film projection units, theatrical and entertainment facilities, and museums. These institutions operated in two main directions: ideological-educational and scientific-enlightenment. Particular attention is paid to identifying trends in the development of the leisure system, which, despite the gradual reduction of institutions (especially mobile libraries and agitation brigades) in the first half of the 1960s, retained its functionality.

Keywords

• The Lower Volga region
• Astrakhan
• fishermen
• the fishing season
• everyday life
• free time
• leisure
• culture
• the Regional Department of Culture
• cultural institutions
• agitprop teams
• Red corners
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