Multiple Faces of the Nostalgia Channel in Russia

Abstract

Through the discourse on nostalgia and media’s role in the production of the content the producers and the audiences created a clear-cut division, stressing that relations to the past become essential markers of their identity in terms of political views. At that, relating to the past with “restorative” nostalgic aspirations, not being selective in the viewed content and not being able to question what was shown in the media, was seen as a sign or consequences of sickness, some kind of pathology, brought into life by inability to adjust to the changing world. At the same time, production of new content, where past is questioned, as well as broadcasting of the content, which previously had been shown on soviet television, were seen as educational practice. In this respect, the Nostalgia channel can be seen both as a sickness and as a remedy. It all depends on the position of the one, who defines what nostalgia is.