Sociocultural development of Yekaterinburg-Sverdlovsk in the era of social upheavals of 1917–1920

The paper analyzes the process of socio-cultural transformations that took place in Russia under the influence of radical restructuring of economic and political foundation of the country caused by the overthrow of monarchical regime and the beginning of construction of a socialist society. The paper shows that Yekaterinburg (since 1924 — Sverdlovsk), being a large urban center, was objectively involved in the cycle of revolutionary events and learned all the positive and negative consequences of perturbations associated with the cardinal reform of fundamental cultural spheres of the city. The paper notes that hardships of Russian revolution, horrors of Russian civil war and difficulties of the initial stage of building socialism had a huge impact on the formation of new models for development of literature, theater, cinema, fine arts and music. They also strongly influenced the creative activity of urban artistic intelligentsia and the content of its works. The paper concludes that after several changes of power, Bolsheviks established themselves in the city, in accordance with the directives of the top leadership, sought to create a «new type of culture» that increases cultural level of the population under state control. Therefore, in the end, they limit the «freedom of creativity» inspired by revolutionary illusions, ideological and administrative dictates.