SMAD. An Organ of Student Opinion. 1935. Volume 6. Number 5.
Margaret McPherson Answers Mr. Falla
Margaret McPherson Answers Mr. Falla.
"The Mind Under Capitalism and Communism."
Suggesting that Mr. Falla, in his article in last week's "Smad," had criticised the Russian mind and experiment by a consistent reference to the unrelated background of his own culture and ideals, Mrs. Margaret McPherson, well-known journalist and lecturer, commented in some detail on the writer's outlook. Mrs. McPherson particularised her subject of "Soviet Sidelights" by taking a lead from Mr. Falla's article and speaking on "The Mind Under Capitalism and Communism." Illustrating her comments on the new regime by a series of amusing anecdotes, she pointed out that the virtues accorded to the Russian people by Mr. Falla were a direct result of the progress towards Communism. Such a large aspect of the system, however, could not be covered in detail in the time available, and the lecturer passed on to more incisive comment on the outlook in capitalistic countries as contrasted with that in the U.S.S.R.
The "Rot" In Capitalistic Art.
Under Capitalism, either the upper classes deceive themselves as to the condition of the workers or they drug them into passive acquiescence. The opiate of the talkies and the idealisation of the crook in detective fiction illustrated the bankruptcy and self-contradiction of the bourgeois outlook, in whose fiction the gentleman burglar was the logical hero.
Contrasted with this was the simplicity and directness of Soviet artists, whose literature, in particular was stated to be more virile than the decadent, morbid retrospection of writers under Capitalism. The realistic and objective confidence of "Quiet flows the Don" was compared with the sickly wail of "Not Understood"
Mrs. McPherson explained that the anti-religious museums were being used in the fight against the crippling superstition enchaining the minds of the millions.
Education In Russia.
Referring to Mr. Falla's statement about the exclusive secondary schools for the children of the elite, the speaker said this was a mis-statement of the actual conditions. In Russia, as in all countries, there is a large percentage of people who have no desire for higher education, and the Soviet leaders make no attempt to force them to attain it. However, any person who has the desire and ability to further his studies is given every opportunity. In this way the Soviet is producing artists in the truest sense of the word.
Broadly general as was Mrs. Margaret McPherson's lecture, some of the final questions were considerably more so. In the few minutes available, questions of education, immigration, and the success or failure of the whole experiment were discussed, whilst the time-honoured interest in Soviet marriage was expressed. It was quite refreshing to hear that the housing problem in Russia was not caused by any breakdown in the first or second Five-Year Plans, but was merely the result of an extraordinary rise in birth-rate.
This lecture was undoubtedly one of the best and most entertaining delivered at the College, and we hope we shall have the opportunity of hearing her again.