On the development and role of culture in rural everyday life of Central Kazakhstan in 1964–1985

Abstract

Culture and art are important spheres that determine the dynamics and trends in the daily life of the population. The article examines the issues of cultural development and its role in the daily life of the villagers of Central Kazakhstan in 1964–1985. The study is based on archival documents (materials from Russian archives — RGASPI and GARFA, Kazakh archives — Central State Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and interview materials conducted by the authors with Kazakh villagers of Karkaraly, Egyndybulak, and other districts of the region. The study of the specifics of the development of culture and the holding of cultural events/projects in Kazakh rural areas allows us to conclude that participation in them was massive. The events held did not set a task and were not used to revive the national spirit, but played an institutional role as an ideological tool of the state in promoting communist ideas. As a result of the study, achievements and shortcomings of development in rural cultural everyday life were identified, the position and place of national culture and art in rural everyday life of the region were determined. In conclusion, in the studied decades in rural areas, the development of Soviet culture was active, but there were certain difficulties and obstacles to the development of Kazakh national culture and art.