Journalists about Journals: Textbook Review Russian Magazines of the 19th— early 20th Centuries

Abstract

The 2021 publication of the MGIMO editorial, a textbook called Russian Magazines of the 19th — early 20th Centuries is a collection of articles by the faculty of the School of international journalism. The collection gives an idea of the formation and development of Russian journalism at the turn of the centuries, the Silver age of the Russian culture. It is this period that is marked by epochal events that have radically changed the life of society. Thick magazines, the subject of research in this collection, were the mouthpiece of not only socio-political, but also cultural events. Having appeared at the end of the 18th century, they acquired real spread in late 19th century, making the sphere of Russian journalism flourish and develop the professional standards. The thick periodical magazines were brought to life by the peculiar conditions of Russia’s development. Such magazines were not only a literary and artistic collection, but also a political newspaper that embodied the dialogue traditions of both conservatives and radicals. Readers of literary magazines and the authors of articles shaped the intellectual environment that determined the cultural advancement of the country and became significant point on the cultural landscape themselves. In the historical and cultural context of this period, the textbook helpfully explains a few little-known facts from the life of the authors whose publications and editorial activities determined the fate of the journals. Until now, such journals as Bozhii mir (God’s World) and several others have not been the subject of scientific interest. Therefore, the novelty and of the research conducted is important. The authors offer the explanation of why they choose this specific set of magazines. It is due to the place they had the process of formation and development of Russian journalism. The textbook emphasizes that the magazines published not only fiction works, their role was much more significant: they were the arena of political and literary struggle, gave the floor to express certain aesthetic or social principles and represented a type of a popular encyclopedia, thus acting as providers of education. In this way, among the instances why the textbook is of interest for educational purposes one should mention that the history of journalism of the period is reflected in the history of Russian culture.