Final answer:
Stalin was known by several titles, including 'Man of Steel', and others that praised his leadership and accomplishments. He also used titles that conferred an almost divine aspect to his rule, such as 'the engineer of history' and 'genius architect of communism'. His public persona was a malleable symbol heavily used in state propaganda.
Step-by-step explanation:
Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, was known by multiple titles that reflected his role and the perception he cultivated. Most famously, he was known as the 'Man of Steel', a name that symbolized his tough persona and leadership style. He also went by cadre names like 'Soso' and 'Koba' among close comrades. His name, however, was also part of a broader strategy to create a symbolic persona that included various titles that laid claims to his achievements or capacities such as the 'organizer of the October Revolution', 'creator of the Red Army', and 'distinguished military commander'.
Stalin's created personal myths exceeded those accolades, and he was endowed with titles suggesting almost divine leadership quality, such as 'the engineer of history', 'the genius architect of communism', and 'the great genius of mankind'. His image was a key instrument of state propaganda and was meant to evoke symbolic significance akin to a mythical Russian knight-hero or bogatyr. The Stalin persona was deliberately constructed to be multifaceted and malleable, reflecting a strong, cold, and distant leader, sometimes depicted alongside other leaders or workers.