Childhood under the scope of time: the 20th-century child in the aesthetics of Neorealism and Soviet cinema

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify the evolutionary scenario and the specifics of the transformation of the child's image in Russian art, primarily using Soviet cinema as an example, taking into account the experience of world art development and the connection between the "Sixtiers" and the aesthetics of neorealism. The article analyzes the causes and nature of significant changes in the image of the child in 20th-century art, considering large-scale social, cultural, and ideological transformations. One of the prominent movements that shaped original perceptions of childhood was Italian neorealism, in which the image of the "orphan child" became a symbol of the tragic consequences of historical cataclysms and socio-economic crises. Soviet art, from its very inception, actively used images of young characters. For instance, the films "Kino-glaz" (1924), "The Desperate Battalion" (1933), and "Golden Honey" (1928) presented children as active participants in social life. Children were often depicted as miniature adults, actively involved in labor and patriotic processes. The article shows how, in the 1960s, Russian art, influenced by the aesthetics of neorealism, began to re-evaluate the image of the child. The "Sixtiers" paid more attention to child psychology, themes of socialization, friendship, and growing up. The relevance of studying the image of the child in contemporary art is linked to the need to support and assist children in the process of socialization. Modern cinema about children and for children not only showcases young heroes but also transmits important moral and ethical lessons to them and to society as a whole. The research results have demonstrated that realistic art, which rejects fantastical elements, offers children an experience based on real-life situations, helping them develop critical thinking and emotional perception of the world.