Український селянин (Aug 2020)
СЕЛЯНСЬКИЙ ЧАСОПИС «ЛЕМКО»: ІДЕОЛОГІЯ, РУБРИКАЦІЯ, ПРОБЛЕМАТИКА
Abstract
Introduction. Lemkos periodicals are constantly in the focus of scientific interests of the Ruthenian subethnos research. They presented various issues of the western branch of Ukrainians in the most comprehensive way. At the same time, we can observe a certain tendency in focusing only on those those publishing projects that were created from the standpoint of Ukrainian ideology. Thus, Lemko periodicals that were created by adherents of other ideological orientations have been almost completely eliminated from scientific discourse. One vivid example of that tendency is ignoring of rather popular Moscophiles among Lemkos. However, it is obvious that without taking into account all points of view, it is impossible to fully recreate the ideological world of Lemko sub-ethnos. We believe that it is the best to start the explanation of this tendency with the publishing phenomenon of the «Lemko» newspaper in Moscow. The purpose of the article is to investigate the ideological platform, the features of editorial policy and the content of the Lemko newspaper. Results. The idea of a new «Lemko» edition emerged in early 1934 as a reaction to activation of the publishing activity of the pro-Ukrainian part of the Ruthenians. The «Lemko» ideological platform was based on the theories about the Lemko autochthonous age, the ethnic identity of the Lemkos, and their mental unity with the world of «Ruthenian» culture. The main stance of «Lemko» publishers was straightforwardly anti-Ukrainianist, which contrasted sharply with progovernment rhetoric. At the heart of «Lemko’s» historical policy, typical for most Moscophile institutions, was the commemoration of the victims of homicide at the Tellerhof camp in 1914. However, the advisory and economic component of «Lemko’s» editorial policy was quite positive. The magazine’s editorial staff has constantly made significant efforts to broadcast the effects of economic modernization to its readers. Like most peasant periodicals, «Lemko» paid close attention to the intensification of traditional industries and the promotion of new forms of activity in mountainous terrain. Conclusions. The study has concluded that «Lemko» was a unique publishing project that reflected the little-known daily life of the Ruthenians who shared the Moscophile values. The ideology of the newspaper was archaic, leading to the preservation of the Ruthenian community at the level of mental practices of the nineteenth century. This ideological orientation made it impossible to respond adequately to the modern challenges of the first half of the twentieth century, which could only be overcome by united national communities. Therefore, despite all the significant efforts of «Lemko» to enforce its influence on compatriots and expand its readership, the periodical did not withstand competition with the pro-Ukrainian edition of «Nash Lemko» and, despite state support, after less than two years of functioning, ceased to exist.
