Context
There were 5 issues of Optima were produced, a total of 8 copies. Issue 1 was published in 1960 and the very last copy of issue 5 was published in 1962. These 8 copies were produced and published at Leningrad State University, in Saint Peterburg, Russia. Not like all other samizdats, Optima was published for the audience who want to gain information from extra sources other than government-approved literature. While other samizdats were a form of protesting against the government or dissident activities. However, Optima was still samizdat; it was banned by the government. Although Optima was not anti-government propaganda, it was one of those that did not benefit the communist government; or even harm the reputation of the communist government.
This is one of the poems in Optima issue 1. Its name in English is Our Generation. This poem is about war and children were drafted into the army and become soldiers. It describes the War in Europe; soldiers were killed, died cruelly and dead bodies everywhere. A 13-year-old boy was drafted into the army; he was trained to kill, to be a boy scout. He killed the enemy, just like the Russian poet.
This is a photo that was taken during WW 2. This is the Boy scout of the Soviet Union. The boy in the middle is holding a rifle and smiling. There are many other soldiers behind the boy; they look a bit older than the boy.
This is another poem in Optima issue 1. Its name in English is Domestic People. The title of this poem was written by hand in blue; the body of the poem was produced by a typewriter. The title is shaded by brown and another title was written by hand in brown. A creepy smile square face was drawn on the right of the page.