Formation and Transformation of the Concept Russia in the Picture of the World of Modern American Students

Abstract

The media are one of the significant factors that influence the formation of the world views of a particular person and the nation as a whole. Analysis of Russian-American relations from the 19th century up to nowadays makes it possible to judge the ambiguous attitude of Americans towards Russia through the media. The purpose of the article is to analyze the concept of Russia, its formation and transformation in the world views of modern American students on the basis of the frame approach. Various research methods (associative experiment, questionnaire, observation, complex, conceptual analysis, etc.) made it possible to distinguish two basic components of the Russia concept: Russia: before arrival and Russia: after arrival. In this connection, the content of the concept is different. Russia: after arrival consists of more metaphorical models and subframes than the concept Russia: Before Arrival. Such metaphor models as Russia - Religion, Russia - Food as well as the sub-frames physiological characteristics and mental characteristics included in the metaphor model Russia - The Man: anthropomorphic characteristics demonstrate the extension of the concept Russia: after arrival. As a result of the research, it was concluded that the concept of Russia: Before Arrival was formed under the influence of American media, whose main task was to cover mainly political events. The concept Russia: after arrival has changed: the study of the Russian language, as well as the familiarity of American students with the culture, history, traditions of the Russian people in the conditions of the Russian-speaking environment had a positive impact. The concept of Russia was rather a bright phenomenon filled with expressive, memorable traits and reflecting the American students persuasion that the two peoples separated by political contradictions have similarities and it is necessary to build the intercultural communication between the Russians and Americans in the multipolar world.