The cultural censorship of Western media extended far beyond jazz and rock ‘ n roll music, literature and film in the Eastern bloc. It encompassed architecture, dance, theatre and even graphic design. Even when western films could be shown in later communist periods under some of the less authoritarian regimes, the posters that advertised them came under scrutiny.
Familiar Strangers: Hollywood and British Cinema in Polish Poster Art is currently showing at Coal Drops Yard, London. The exhibition unveils how Polish poster artists interpreted US and UK films while navigating — and subtly critiquing — the harsh realities of Communist and post-Soviet Poland - at a time when censorship, propaganda and surveillance were omnipresent.
All photos courtesy: Kinoteka Polish film festival