Let Them Talk as “Encyclopedia of Russian Life”: Latent «Accursed Questions» on Russian Television (2017)

Abstract

International Research Group KVAR performs the first of studies about media influence on the transformation of sociocultural matrix, within which a deep society regulation takes place. For citizens of the Russian Federation, TV is a main source of information about events. Whereas for sociologists and philologists federal channels are unique basic institutions that provide: reproduction of socially significant patterns of citizen’s thoughts and behavior; integration of society on the basis of common values. TV Shows on central channels are constantly reaching the top of media credibility rating: 3/4 of Russians (75%) trust them. They help to create circulation of meanings TV proposes the values, audience reproduces and modifies them. Thus, we have chosen a Russian TV show “Pust’ Govoryat”(Let Them Talk) that presents all the things “that interest everyone” by» exploring intimate issues of a particular person, a family”. Authors of this work seek to find out what “interests everyone” in the Russian society. This article includes first results of the research. Latent Theme Identification analysis of transcripts from every episode of the show for 2017 has led to a conclusion that the Russians see a family as a system-forming value concept, words like “child”, “children” were used mostly in “Let Them Talk” in 2017. Furthermore, our analysis has established a value paradox: “child”, while being an important part of narrative, plays out the role of “McGuffin” (A. Hitchcock)