Evolution of Irony in Soviet and Post-Soviet Mass Media in Russia

Abstract

This paper seeks to research evolution of irony understood as a way to express author`s opinion in mass media in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia. The object of research was language style used in two different Russian mass media that were famous for the irony on its pages. These are satiric magazine ≪Krokodil≫(articles researched were published in late 50ies ― early 1960ies) and contemporary daily newspaper ≪Kommersant≫(articles published in the end of 1990ies―2000s). There were several scientific linguistic methods used to conduct the research. The study was made on the level of Morphology, Semantics, Lexis, Syntaxes and Pragmatics. The research showed that both Soviet and Post-Soviet newspapers used pretty similar methods of expression of authors` opinion, and indeed, irony was the most powerful of them all. ≪Krokodil≫ sought to criticize the ruling party. Due to the censorship authors of the satiric magazine had to hide their critics by developing fantastic and utopian literary style. ≪Kommersant≫ authors are freer to portray current political situation. The major difference is still in the function of the irony in the media texts. ≪Krokodile≫`s irony was targeted on finding paradoxes in the Soviet reality. ≪Kommersant≫ uses irony as a marker of its unique style and new times journalism in Russia. Examples from both media are widely used throughout the body of the article.