History Theses and Dissertations

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Collaboration, Tradition, and Reimagination: The Influence of Soviet Cultural Policy on Uzbek Music
(University of Oregon, 2024-08-07) Bender, Walter; Hessler, Julie
This thesis, “Collaboration, Tradition, and Reimagination: The Influence of Soviet Cultural Policy on Uzbek Music,” is an exploration of three Uzbek musicians and their engagement with Soviet cultural institutions. By using the careers of these musicians, this thesis uncovers the trajectory of increasing nationalist sentiment in Uzbek music, the legacy of the Leninist-Stalinist nationalities policy, and the ways that Uzbek musicians interpreted commands from the metropolitan cultural authorities. This thesis also explores the routes to success for musicians within the Uzbek SSR and the different musical movements that took form under different Soviet leaders. This thesis discusses the concept of authenticity in music and within the USSR, where the Soviets attempted to create “authentic” cultural expression from the top down. Musicians in Uzbekistan had ample opportunities to work within the Soviet system, but they were also working for the benefit of Uzbekistan at the same time, creating a culture that continued to be important after the collapse of the USSR.