The Eroticism of the Face: Covers of Film Periodicals Ekrano Naujienos and Kinas (1955–1986)

Soviet cinema magazines covers played a crucial role in shaping the cinematic star system of the Soviet Union, yet their significance has been largely overlooked in academic discussions. This article examines the covers of two periodicals, Ekrano naujienos (News of the Screen) and Kinas (Cinema), published in Soviet Lithuania from 1955 to 1986, focusing specifically on covers featuring a single face. The analysis situates these covers within the broader context of the close-up of the face, which held a prominent position in Soviet cinema culture. Additionally, the article explores the unique context of eroticism associated with the face in Soviet cinema criticism.

Quantitative analysis reveals that cover images featuring women’s faces would eventually emerge as the predominant image type on the covers of both Ekrano naujienos and Kinas. By employing qualitative analysis, which divides images into descriptive and narrative categories, the aesthetic evolution of these covers is investigated. In the first half of the period from 1955 to 1972, narrative images were more prevalent. However, in the second half of that time, descriptive photographs depicting the faces of actresses, particularly those that were eroticized, became more prevalent. On the contrary, cover pages followed a standardized logic and avoided visually explicit images during the Stagnation period. The establishment of a cinema star system in Soviet Lithuania and the tightening of the Soviet cinema system are factors that contributed to these aesthetic shifts.