East Meets West: Tallinn Old Town and Soviet Estonian Pop Music on Screen

Tallinn’s Old Town served as a unique arena for cultural negotiation during Soviet rule, blending Estonian resistance with Soviet influence. The study reveals how the medieval cityscape became a symbol of both national identity and Soviet progress, attracting internal tourism and serving as a 'Western oasis' within the USSR. Through an analysis of Soviet Estonian pop music on screen, the research examines the tension between Russification efforts and Estonia’s enduring Western cultural ties, highlighting Tallinn as a key site for power representation and adaptation. The approach combines historical context with media analysis to uncover the complexities of identity formation in a border state.

Näripea, E. (2015). East Meets West: Tallinn Old Town and Soviet Estonian Pop Music on Screen. Relocating Popular Music, 148–166. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137463388_8