Satirical materials in the magazine “Crocodile”: issues and themes (1922-1985)

The first issue of the “Crocodile” magazine was published on August 27, 1922. Before that, it was an appendix to the newspaper Rabochy (also known as Rabochaya Gazeta), which was owned by the Organizational Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPSU(b). From the very beginning, the publication presented a wide range of problems and topics, as well as genres - both artistic-publicistic (pamphlet, feuilleton, humoresque, epigram, etc.) and visual (caricature, cartoon, poster). For almost seventy years, the magazine emphasized different problems and topics, which was due to changes in the agenda and the general line of the party. For example, during the period of the New Economic Policy the “Crocodile” actively denounced and ridiculed the so-called nepmans or nepachi (entrepreneurs), during Collectivization - kulaks (wealthy peasants), and during the Great Patriotic War - A. Hitler, the high command of Nazi Germany and German soldiers. The Nazis were exposed by outstanding artists and writers - Kukryniksy, V.P. Kataev, S.V. Mikhalkov and others. In addition, we noticed that the editorial staff's interest in foreign events increased or decreased depending on their ideological “favorability”. In particular, at the height of the Cold War, “Crocodile” repeatedly spoke out against the imposition of democratic values by the U.S. on Third World countries and generally against certain actions of the U.S. government. This article takes an overview of what issues were raised and what topics were covered in the “Crocodile” from its inception to the beginning of Perestroika (1922-1985). Some attention is paid to the stylistics of the materials.

1. Bednyi D. (1922) Where did “Crocodile” come from. Crocodile. No. 8. P. 2. (In Russ.).

2. Bednyi D. (1923) Three pops. Crocodile. 1923. No. 3. P. 2. (In Russ.).

3. (1942) Without comments. Crocodile. No. 21. P. 3. (In Russ.).

4. Golubev A.V. (2018) Soviet political caricature 1920-1930s. Russian History. No. 6. P. 84-102. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.31857/S086956870002292-2. EDN: YPXQEP.

5. Gramen. (1929) About peons (research). Crocodile. No. 43. P. 2. (In Russ.).

6. Daneliya B. (1961) Mutual politeness. Crocodile. No. 24. P. 12. (In Russ.).

7. Dykhovichnyi V., Slobodskoi M. (1961) Review. Crocodile. No. 10. P. 13. (In Russ.).

8. Zadumchivyi Gall. (1923) Active non-opposition (German drama in many and nasty phenomena). Crocodile. No. 39. P. 2. (In Russ.).

9. (1965) Foreign Review. Crocodile. No. 26. P. 13. (In Russ.).

10. Kataev V.P. (1942) Mirror, or New Year's fortune-telling in the new imperial chancellery. Crocodile. No. 1. P. 3. (In Russ.).

11. Kataev V.P. (1945) Eight forty. Crocodile. No. 5. P. 3. (In Russ.).

12. Kumach V. (1923) Easter on the Fish Eye. Crocodile. No. 14. P. 5. (In Russ.).

13. Kushner A.S. (1926) The First Impression. Leningrad: Soviet Writer. 96 p. (In Russ.).

14. Labkovskii N. (1961) At the foot of skyscrapers. Crocodile. No. 24. P. 8-9. (In Russ.).

15. Mart'yanov I. (1965) Mother-in-law's fault . Crocodile. No. 26. P. 3. (In Russ.).

16. Mikhalkov S.V. (1943) Defective strategy. Crocodile. No. 10-11. P. 2. (In Russ.).

17. (1961) You can't think of anything on purpose. Crocodile. No. 24. P. 15. (In Russ.).

18. Oleinik S.I. (1961) Prov Osot. Crocodile. No. 24. P. 3. (In Russ.).

19. Peshkin L.E. (1930) His own people. Crocodile. No. 26-27. P. 12. (In Russ.).

20. (1922) Letter to the editorial office from Kokhma. Crocodile. No. 8. P. 2. (In Russ.).

21. Raskin A.S., Slobodskoi M. (1941) With a shout “Ua!” Crocodile. No. 21. P. 6. (In Russ.).

22. Romanov A.G. (2013) Russian satirical journalism: from the Soviet past to the present. Russian Journal of Education and Psychology. No. 3 (23). P. 24. (In Russ.). DOI: 10.12731/2218-7405-2013-3-24. EDN: QCLWKN.

23. Solodar' Ts.S. (1965) Saving authority... Crocodile. No. 7. P. 3. (In Russ.).

24. Stykalin S.I., Kremenskaya I.K. (1963) Soviet satirical press: 1917-1963. Мoscow: Gospolitizdat. 484 p. (In Russ.).

25. Tobolyakov V. (1930) Sportswoman. Crocodile. No. 31. P. 9. (In Russ.).

26. Fedorova L. (1961) Petrov cross. Crocodile. No. 24. P. 11. (In Russ.).

27. (1963) Quadrangular sadness. Crocodile. No. 11. P. 9. (In Russ.).

28. Shatrov S. (1961) Stop! The kolymaga (vehicle) will not go further! Crocodile. No. 24. P. 2. (In Russ.).

29. Yurkov A. (1965) Spiral poetry. Crocodile. No. 7. P. 5. (In Russ.).

30. Yakovlev M. (1945) Capitulate. Crocodile. No. 18. P. 5. (In Russ.).