why do you think the works of many writers, poets, and artists where banned or censored during the soviet era?

Answer 1

There is not just one reason but there are many different cases. For example some films were censored because they were considered to be criticising the Com. party (Eisenstein's Ivan the terrible was considered to be the director's opinion about Stalin). Other art works were banned because they were considered to be promoting the ethnic culture of various national groups within the U.S.S.R. (Partzanov's Sayat Nova was banned for promoting the Armenian culture). Also there were cases of art works that were promoting a nostalgic view of the pre-communist Russia, something of course unacceptable. Probably the most common reason was the formalism in some of these artworks which was opposed to Marxist-Leninist theory (some of Tarkovki's works were censored for this reason)

Answer 2

despots don't like critics

Totalitarian governments are
hypersensitive,
paranoid of subversion,
extremely controlling,
intollerant of viewpoints or hints of criticism.
and they don't like any political competition.

It still happens anywhere there is no democracy:
It happened in monarchist Russia in the time of the Tsar.
It happened in right-wing fascist Nazi-controlled Germany in the 1930's and early 1940's. It happened in left-wing communist USSR from the 1920's until the 1990's. Its still happening now in China and Cuba.

Answer 3

Because they had very leftist views. They may not have actually been Communists or Marxists, but they were left-wing enough for the Government to see them as a threat.

Answer 4

Quality control...

no, seriously. it had to do with creating a religion out of communism.

Answer 5

Because they represented free speech and, thought.