On the History of Potential Russian Journalism

Abstract

The paper is dedicated to the unrealized project of a literary journal elaborated in 1913 by some members of the Moscow group “Lirika” — Sergei Durylin and Iulian Anisimov in cooperation with Ellis, Bobrov, Pasternak and some others (N. Aseev was skeptical about the idea). The outlines for the editorial project, its intended topics and potential authors manifest the organic connection between the concept of the journal and the experience of some literary communities in the early 20th century (“Musaget”, “Rhythmical Circle”, etc.). It is remarkable that the team of potential authors included the contributors to the editions and collections, most significant for the members of the group “Lirika”. The term “potential journalism” is suggested to define similar well thought-out and quite realistic editorial projects for some would-be journals/almanacs that remained unrealized; they, however, may be of great interest for the researchers of literary and cultural history.

Keywords

• early 20th century literature
• history of journalism
• potential journalism; group “lirika”
• s. durylin
• s. bobrov
• b. pasternak
• ellis