"Let's make him a front-rank worker."
Description
"Poet: Lezunov, B. “The Fighting Pencil” group, 1972
They give everything to the hero
But ignore the working team:
Here they set records
Only for show!
In the former Soviet Union the highest form of non-monetary appraisal was the honorary degree ""Hero of Socialist Labor"" (although, in an economy where almost everything was distributed and demand was overpowering supply, this could turn into material benefits as well). This title was usually awarded to people who set record achievements in industry, for example coal mining (although scientists who had inventions were sometimes also awarded this title). For public relations purposes, many organizations strove hard to have their own heroes of socialist labor, so they created exceptional conditions for some workers to excel, while ignoring the rest."
They give everything to the hero
But ignore the working team:
Here they set records
Only for show!
In the former Soviet Union the highest form of non-monetary appraisal was the honorary degree ""Hero of Socialist Labor"" (although, in an economy where almost everything was distributed and demand was overpowering supply, this could turn into material benefits as well). This title was usually awarded to people who set record achievements in industry, for example coal mining (although scientists who had inventions were sometimes also awarded this title). For public relations purposes, many organizations strove hard to have their own heroes of socialist labor, so they created exceptional conditions for some workers to excel, while ignoring the rest."
Creator
Belomlinsky, M.
Date
1972
Source
Rutgers
Rights
Source: Holzer, M., Illiash, I., Gabrielian, V., & Kuznestsova, L. (2010). Red Tape from Red Square:Bureaucratic Commentary in Soviet Graphic Satirical Art. Poughkeepsie, NY: NetPublications
Publisher
Rutgers
Contributor
Rutgers
Format
Medium: Poster
Language
Russian
Type
Artwork
Identifier
Art, Satire, Cartoons, Soviet Union, Heroes of Socialist Labor, Socialism, Fighting Pencil
Coverage
Russia
Files
Reference
Belomlinsky, M., "Let's make him a front-rank worker.", Rutgers, 1972
Cite As
Belomlinsky, M., “"Let's make him a front-rank worker.",” Virtual Museum of Public Service, accessed April 21, 2025, https://vmps.omeka.net/items/show/447.