Russian Culture Research Articles

THE FIRST IDEOLOGICAL COURSE IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN MODERN RUSSIA

Book review: Fundamentals of Russian statehood: an educational and methodological complex in the discipline for educational organizations of higher education. V.M. Marasanova, V.E. Bagdasaryan, Yu.Yu. Ierusalimskiy, L.G. Titova, S.A. Kudrina. Moscow, Publishing house “Delo” RANEPA, 2023, 272 p. In the review, the author examines the features of introducing the course “Fundamentals of Russian Statehood” into the domestic educational process. This educational and methodological complex was developed by teachers from all over Russia with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science. The authors of the educational complex emphasize the value of the civilizational approach, the Russian civilizational school. Among the advantages of the course, the author of the review highlights the fact that the work deeply substantiates the unity and continuity of the historical path of Russian civilization, which logically follows from the close relationship of civilizational archetypes that manifest themselves at various stages of Russian history. The educational and methodological complex formulates the basic characteristics of the state-civilization model. The innovative nature of this discipline is emphasized. It reveals the concept of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values, listed in the “Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values” approved by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 808 of 09.11.2022.

A.S. PUSHKIN AND MIKHAILOVSKOYE IN CRITICAL ARTICLES BY V.YA. KURBATOV

The article is the first registered attempt to comprehend the perception of A.S. Pushkin and the role of Mikhailovskoye in Pushkin’s inner spiritual life by V.Ya. Kurbatov (1939–2021), the well-known literary critic. The material for research is the critic’s articles and notes from the period of 1990–2010 collected in his book “Pushkin for Every Day” that make up his myth about the national poet. In this article the author demonstrates that it is the national idea that becomes the background for the interpretative angle of Kurbatov’s critical reflection in the epoch of self-identification. Being the unconditional value reference point for the critic, Pushkin is perceived by him as the benchmark for integrity and completeness as well as Mikhailovskoye is seen as the place where the comprehensiveness of the Russian life can be found yet at the same time being the reproach to the contemporaries for their duality and spiritual “emigration”. The specifics of V.Ys. Kurbatov’s position is conditioned by his triune religious, philosophic and literary approach to the phenomena of the Russian culture, on one hand, and by his subjective method together with his personal, individual view and his search for self-identity, on the other hand. In this article the author makes the conclusion that the articles and notes of V.Ya. Kurbatov about A.S. Pushkin written in line with the religious and philosophic interpretations of the national poet in XIX–XX centuries, reveal the deep and unique personality, ethical standpoint and aesthetic views of our famous contemporary.

Why did faith lose to ideology?

The article is devoted to the analysis of the role of the religious factor in the Russian Civil War and its coverage in the collective monograph of St. Petersburg historians.

The Tragedy of the confrontation: the religious factor in the Russian Civil War

The article analyzes a collective monograph edited by A. S. Puchenkov and devoted to the consideration of the role and significance of the religious factor during the Civil War in Russia. According to the reviewer, the authors, based on the unique material collected in 22 Russian and foreign archives, were able to show and prove the need to take into account the phenomenon of the religious factor, rightly defining it as «a set of many components affecting the social, socio-political, spiritual, cultural and national life of society, determining the order of functioning of religion and its institutions in the system of relations between the state and society, as well as the influence of religion as a social institution on non-religious forms of public life». According to S. L. Firsov, the authors have made a successful attempt to draw a detailed picture of the state of religious denominations (primarily the Orthodox Russian Church) during the Civil War. In his opinion, the reviewed monograph can be called a kind of encyclopedia of the spiritual life of Russia during the Russian Troubles of the early 20-th century. The authors of the monograph made a worthy contribution to the study of the moral and moral state of Russian society by writing a deep and useful work for all those interested in both the history of the Orthodox Russian Church of the era of Revolution and Civil War, and the history of the Russian Troubles of the early twentieth century as a whole.

Учебник РКИ делового (профессионального) общения: принципы моделирования

In the conditions of the new government demand for training foreign specialists of various profiles in Russian higher education, the task of optimising the existing educational paradigm in the field of teaching Russian as a foreign language for special purposes is actualised, the most important link of which is the methodological goal set for the formation of the learners' (foreign or Russian universities’ students) ability to overcome the ideological threshold in professional interethnic (intercultural) communication. The analysis of research and methodological literature gives grounds to assert that Russian linguodidactics is ready to ensure the convergence of the pedagogical process, in which formal language teaching, professional training and education in line with the Russian culture and value paradigm can be presented syncretically within the framework of problem-based and / or interactive approaches in one (unified) teaching tool — a textbook / workbook / training manual / training course / educational-methodical complex. As one of the possible strategies for a comprehensive solution to the problem of compliance of educational resources with the latest social challenges, the potential of a new method of creating teaching tools — the method of casual illustrated narrative (CIN), which provides synergetic presentation of the language and culture of business (professional) communication in the framework of the scenario form and thus determines the possibility of building a model of the space-time continuum of professional communication, is substantiated. As a proof of the success and practical significance of the proposed strategy — the SIN method — we present the online course "Russian for Life and Work" developed in 2024 for migrant workers from CIS countries (SPbU, Uzbek national version), the results of the approbation of which led the Russian government to instruct a number of Russian universities to create additional national versions.

Использование мультимодальных текстов для развития навыков говорения на русском языке у китайских студентов

Introduction. In the context of the development of cooperation between Russia and China, the importance of communication as a means of interethnic, intercultural and interpersonal communication is increasing. The search and creation of didactic tools for the more successful development of Chinese students' speaking skills in Russian, which are communicatively significant and difficult to master, are urgent tasks. The purpose of this article is to describe the extralinguistic causes of difficulties in developing the Russian speaking skills of Chinese students and to reveal the linguodidactic potential of multimodal texts for teaching speaking in Russian. Research methods include theoretical analysis, pedagogical observation and generalization of pedagogical experience. Results. The authors of the article identify as extralinguistic reasons for difficulties in developing skills among Chinese students: the isolation of textbooks from modern communication practice, a limited number of classroom hours, the written form of passing exams in Russian at Chinese universities, excessive dependence of students on translation programs and low motivation to speak. The authors conclude that the use of multimodal texts motivate students to speak in Russian by mobilizing various channels of information, topical issues, background information about Russian culture and creating a more relaxed and natural atmosphere in the classroom. Scientific novelty. The linguodidactic potential of using multimodal texts for the development of speaking skills is revealed. Practical significance. The use of multimodal texts will help the teacher to improve the level of Russian speaking skills of Chinese students, especially in the absence of a language environment.

Formation of Civil Identity in the Educational Policy System in the Context of Transformation of the Political Space

The relevance lies in the institutionalization of education in the new subjects of the Russian Federation (DPR, LPR, Zaporizhia, Kherson regions, the Republic of Crimea, the federal city of Sevastopol), as well as the processes of re-socialization, adaptation to the socio-cultural, political, value-ideological realities of Russian society, which affects the construction of the civic identity of school youth. Understanding the processes of formation of civic identity in the educational policy system in the context of the transformation of the political space allows identifying the mechanisms of actualization and transformation of identity. Тhe experience of the post-Soviet states, as well as the processes taking place in Russia today, enables making interesting theoretical generalizations and practical recommendations.Aim and Tasks. Identification and systematization of practices, mechanisms and technologies for the formation of civil identity of schoolchildren in new subjects in the educational policy system of the Russian Federation, determination of existing problems and barriers, identification of models of civil identity formation in the context of comparing the experience of Russia and the EAEU countries.Methods. The study uses a focus group interview with senior and middle school students living in the new territories of the Russian Federation, an expert interview with representatives of institutional structures involved in the processes of political socialization and implementation of identity policy, as well as the analysis of secondary data reflecting the processes of formation of civil identity in the EAEU countries.Results. As a result, the key practices of forming the civil identity of schoolchildren in the new subjects of the Russian Federation are revealed and systematized, barriers and problems of implementing educational policy in the system of forming civil identity are identified. The authors propose recommendations for improving the model of formation of the identity of schoolchildren in the new subjects of the Russian Federation. The article shows the difference between the model of formation of Russian civil identity in the new regions and the models of formation of civil identity used in the EAEU countries.Conclusions. The study revealed the existing contradictions that arise in the process of adaptation to a new educational and value-ideological model, manifested in the assimilation of new social norms and educational standards; the difference in the level of political education and the degree of involvement in civic activity of young people was noted. It is necessary to search for effective practices and technologies that contribute to building a consistent model of civic identity formation in the basic education system of new subjects of the Russian Federation. The EAEU member states can use the practical experience of civil identity formation in the education system of new subjects of the Russian Federation to improve their own models of civil identity formation.

The generic symbolism of the scarf in Russian culture

The article explores the symbolism of the headscarf in the linguistic picture of the world, reveals the linguocultural nature of the headscarf in relation to parents, people, and homeland. The paper analyzes the symbolic connections of the macroconcept genus and the image of the headscarf as a national symbol with a multi-layered seme structure. The symbolic connections of the macroconcept gender and the image of the headscarf are manifested in the general structure of the imagery of the texts. The purpose of the study: to identify the symbolic meanings of the image of a scarf. Determination of the symbolic features of the macroconcept genus is carried out using a set of methods: conceptual, interpretive, descriptive. We analyze the symbolic plan of the image ‘handkerchief’ on the basis of the selected representatives of the macroconcept genus. Родовая символика платка в русской культуре Аннотация: В статье исследуется символика платка в языковой картине мира, раскрывается лингвокультурная природа платка по отношению к родителям, народу, родине. В работе осмыслены символические связи макроконцепта род и образа платка как национального символа, обладающего многослойностью семной структуры. Символические связи макроконцепта род и образа платка проявляются в общей структуре образности текстов. Цель исследования: выявить символические значения образа платка. Определение символических признаков макроконцепта род осуществляется с помощью комплекса методов: концептуального, интерпретативного, дескриптивного. Нами анализируется символический план образа-символа “платок” на основе выделенных репрезентантов макроконцепта род. Ключевые слова: языковая картина мира, макроконцепт, символ, образ, платок, род, родина, народ

UKRAINIAN NATIONAL FACTOR IN GEORGE F. KENNAN’S STRATEGIC THINKING ON THE USSR

This article highlights G. Kennan’s strategic views on Ukraine, and his recommendations regarding the Ukrainian national factor in the U.S. strategy. These issues were studied against the background of Kennan's strategic thinking on the USSR, and development of “containment” strategy, mostly in 1946–1952. The conclusions emphasize that the ultimate goals of “containment” in Kennan’s interpretation were to make the USSR abandon expansionist foreign policy, and to change its concept of international relations by means short of war. He believed that the threat from the USSR existed as long as the totalitarian regime was in power, and advocated for gradual and peaceful changes in the USSR towards liberalization and modernization. He rejected the idea of its disintegration, and recognized the right to secede only for the Baltic republics. He did not recommend any policies, and did not support any activities to promote independence of Ukraine. But he did not object to the revival of national life of some peoples, including Ukrainians, and development views among them that would help change Soviet conduct. Kennan viewed the USSR as “Russia”, and believed that the U.S. should build its policy on cooperation with Russians. His personal sentiments, that is love for Russian people and Russian culture, also influenced his policy recommendations. For him, Ukrainians and Russians were too close ethnically, and their economic activities were tightly intertwined. Therefore, Ukraine's secession could cause a negative reaction and consequences for Russians. He predicted that sooner or later Russia would challenge an independent Ukraine, and Ukrainians would be forced to turn to the United States for military support. For these reasons, he viewed the future of Ukrainians in a federal union with Russians in the “new Russia”. Some Kennan's conclusions remain relevant today, and his strategic thinking on Russia and Ukraine continues to influence a significant number of U.S. political scientists and politicians.

Подходы к изучению текстов культуры в работах В. В. Нарциссова

The aim of the research is to identify the peculiarities of perception of cultural texts by V. V. Narcissov, a prominent art historian, staff member of the House-Museum of P. D. Korin, lecturer whose approach helped to form several generations of scholars in the field of Russian culture and medieval Christian culture. The scientific novelty of the work is derived from the analysis of relevant biographic and academic papers on art history. Biographic material helped to identify the characteristics of the culture of Moscow intelligentsia in the second half of the 20th century. Papers on art history were central in uncovering the author’s approach to monument study. Likewise, general artistic principles of fine art have been considered. As a result of the conducted research, through consideration of the available scientific papers by V. V. Narcissov on Russian art it became possible to note specific research approaches and the overall continuity in the Russian art history tradition during the 20th and 21st centuries.

Comparison of Judgment Document Information Between China and Russia Based on Corpus

The study of legal comparisons has become particularly important as the number of foreign-related legal disputes has increased dramatically with the growing number of cross-border trade. This study discovers the differences and similarities between Chinese and Russian judgment documents and provides a linguistic basis for the academic theoretical researches and the call for linguists to enter the courtrooms by establishing a corpus of Chinese and Russian judgement documents, quantifying and analysing the Chinese and Russian judgement documents based on the Legal Discourse Information Theory. It can be found that the macro-structure of civil ruling documents is clearer but does not provide more micro-information. By adding language elements, it can be seen that there are more information points and information components in Russian criminal judgment documents. The information points in Chinese civil judgment documents are more concentrated than in Russian civil judgment documents, while they are more similar in terms of the proportion and type of information components.

Культура чая в России и Вьетнаме: сравнительный анализ

Tea tradition is an integral part of the gastronomic culture of many countries worldwide, where the brewing and drinking tea has historically been regarded as an elegant habit, a means of leisure, or a way to address significant matters. It serves as a time for cultivating the spirit, achieving tranquility, and relaxing the soul. From the East to the West, each region boasts its own tea culture, encapsulating numerous unique features. Both Russia and Vietnam undoubtedly possess their own deeply rooted traditions concerning tea drinking. This article delves into a comparative analysis of tea culture in Russia and Vietnam by examining various elements, including the origins and historical development of tea culture, methods of brewing and drinking tea, rituals, and the sociocultural significance of this beverage in both countries. The authors will endeavor to uncover the commonalities shared by these peoples in their love for tea, while simultaneously highlighting the distinctive features that render each culture unique. Furthermore, the authors of the article shall explore how this beverage influences social processes and enriches the cultural heritage of both nations.

Социально-культурная сфера русского мира. Междисциплинарный подход

The article is a continuation of fundamental research of the Russian world. This paper presents the development of the fluctuation “core” of the socio-cultural sphere of the organizational and managerial system of the Russian world. Based on the synthesis of beatitudes, gifts and fruits from the Holy Scriptures related to the ideal world, the spiritual and moral values of the material world are compared by the method of parallelism. As a result, a conceptual model of the progressive process of personal and social development on the path to truth has been developed. In the future, the model was verified with the principles of acmeology, praxiology, compliance with goals and objectives, systems of “God-manhood” and “unity”. In this regard, the work used an interdisciplinary approach, which synthesized the ideas of Russian religious philosophy, theology and modern achievements of the science of personal and social development. Consequently, a conceptual model of the socio-cultural phenomenon of Russian civilization has emerged, asserting its distinctive identity in the context of inter-civilizational dialogue.

Роль китайских пушкинистов в популяризации русской литературы в культурном континууме КНР

The aim of the study is to assess the scale of research and educational activities of Chinese scientists, whose focus is Russian literature, namely the work of Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. To do this, the authors of the article identify and systematize the scientific works of Chinese scientists using the information capabilities of the scientific platform CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, “Zhongguo Zhiwan” – hereinafter Zhiwan). Various scientific materials are posted here, including those that provide an opportunity to get acquainted with the most popular works of Chinese Pushkin scholars. An analysis of the entire volume of publications on this site made it possible to highlight the names of outstanding Chinese scientists who devoted their lives to the study and popularization of Russian culture and literature among their com-patriots. The characteristic features of the activities of Chinese Russian scholars are highlighted and described. The authors identified and systematized, according to the degree of publication activity, Chinese printed publications that posted materials on the Zhiwan website that, to one degree or another, related to the study of the works of the great Russian poet and prose writer. Particular attention is paid to the systematization of monographs and articles not only by philologists, but also by representatives of other scientific fields. The authors presented a brief description of public events (conferences, competitions, etc.) held in China by scientific and educational institutions to popularize Russian spiritual culture. The research results reflected in the reports of Chinese Pushkin scholars can be found on the Zhiwan website. The methodological basis is the dialectical method of scientific knowledge, which made it possible to trace the continuity of the scientific research of Chinese Pushkinists. The systematic method revealed the wide capabilities of the CNKI scientific platform. The statistical method for identifying and processing textual information provided a quantitative description of the scale and depth of the study of Russian literature abroad. Thanks to the analytical-synthetic method, not only was a database of scientific works created by Chinese researchers of the life and work of A.S. Pushkin, but also their role in the popularization of Russian culture in China was revealed. The conducted research is interdisciplinary in nature and may be in demand by domestic and Chinese Pushkin scholars (philologists, historians, cultural experts, specialists in the field of art history).

British-Armenian Military Relations in Transcaucasia During the Early Stages of the Russian Civil War (1917–1918): A Critical Analysis

This article offers a critical examination of the British-Armenian military relations in Transcaucasia during the early stages of the Russian Civil War (1917-1918), highlighting the complex interplay between British foreign policy, imperial ambitions, and local nationalisms.The plight of the Armenians resonated deeply with the British public and politicians during the First World War. A crucial moment came when the Russian monarchy fell, triggering a complex scenario in Transcaucasia and necessitating a thorough reshuffle of Britain’s foreign and military strategies in the region. In this context, the present study analyses Britain’s political maneuvers and dealings with Armenians in response to the evolving situation in Transcaucasia after the February Revolution. This article shows that notwithstanding the humanitarian ethos that was prevalent in British political rhetoric after the February Revolution in Russia, the strategic undertakings of Britain on the Caucasus front were heavily influenced by its imperial politics and determination to maintain its role in shaping the future of the Middle East and larger Asia. Highlighting the contradictions in British policies toward the region, it argues that these policies were mainly characterized by a colonial mindset that regarded Armenians and other local forces merely as serviceable instruments for realizing a broader imperialist agenda.

Re-Proportioning, Re-Framing, Re-Purposing: Foreign Experience in Russian Disability Organising After the Retreat of Foreign Funding

Russian civil society has experienced a retreat of foreign funding and NGOs. However, where foreign, formal organisations leave, Russian individuals remain. Exploring the pathways of these individuals shows how they navigate a shifting organising environment. Foreign experience is recognised as formational; it continues to inform action and moves into new spheres. However, some actors perceive overt publicisation of foreign connections and experience as heightening risk, and may disavow or obscure these experiences. Where foreign experience is associated with political threat, actors respond with strategies of apparent depoliticisation. Investigating how foreign experience is obscured thus provides a route into examining the political question of who, or what, is perceived as belonging.

Analysis of Cultural Narratives in Works of Art for the Study of Ukrainian-Russian Relations

The article is devoted to the consideration of cultural narratives in works of art as a reflection of the nature of Ukrainian-Russian relations. The purpose of the article is to analyse the cultural narratives presented in works of art during the war, from the perspective of studying Ukrainian-Russian relations. The research methodology includes a qualitative analysis of works of art created during the war, using methods of content analysis and semiotic analysis. The research used the method of narrative analysis to reveal subjective ideas about the given problem. The presented factual information is analysed in the explicit content of the narrative. Content-oriented analysis is aimed at clarifying the implicit content: meaning and significance, manifestations of certain motives, features of the formulation of the narrative, its meaningful changes. Formal analysis consists in clarifying the structure of narratives, the sequence of changes, their relationship with the temporal axis, complexity and interconnectedness; feelings and images reflected in works of art. Semiotic analysis is used to study works of art, the meanings embedded in them in view of the change in the socio-political situation (from annexation to full-scale invasion). Scientific novelty. Its use, along with the traditional one, creates a new path for the development of conceptual art, which is now relevant, since it allows not only to restore one’s identity on the basis of ancient cultural traditions, but also to form a new awareness of oneself in the world space. Conclusions. As a result of the study, it was found that the pro-Russian narratives that existed in the cultural space of Ukraine before 2014 have disappeared, and pro-Ukrainian ones are being promoted more actively, which indicates an awareness of their identity and a desire for national independence. A rather dramatic change can be traced in relation to Russian culture, which is recognised as imposed from the outside and implanted over the centuries by force. Subsequent research involves systematisation and analysis of modern symbolism that arose during a full-scale war and evokes lasting associations.

Literary geography and the problem of the formation of geo-cultural texts (using the example of the Black Sea texts of Russian literature)

The article is devoted to the problem of the formation of geo-cultural texts within the framework of literary geography. An important part of literary and geographical studies is the study of geographical images presented in literary works. The concept of a geo-cultural text makes it possible to typologize literary and geographical images in relation to different geo-cultures. Local geo-cultures with a developed literary tradition usually have a number of representative geo-cultural texts that characterize the landscape and figurative features of the development of a given territory. The evolution of the Black Sea text is considered using the concepts of geo-culture and geo-cultural text. Images of the South, exoticism, and antiquity are explored as key images determining the development of the Black Sea text. Special attention is paid to the formation of interrelations between the images of the Crimea and antiquity. The marine “exoticism,” combined with the “atmosphere” of antiquity, the marginal antiquity of European culture, turned out to be the strongest emotional stimulus for the formation of both southern and Black Sea images in Russian literature. In the geo-cultural context, the “crystallization” of the Black Sea text of Russian literature takes place by the end of the 19th–beginning of the 20th century (I. Bunin, A. Kuprin). This is due to the rich landscape descriptions, which make it possible to talk about the “Black Sea aura” of these texts and the emergence of a kind of “Black Sea ontologies.” Further, the substantial core of the geo-cultural Black Sea text in the 20th century is determined by the works of M. Voloshin, O. Mandelstam, I. Babel, A. Green, K. Paustovsky, V. Kataev. Through the “crystallization” of the Crimean and Black Sea texts and the modern re-creation of its own image of “Black Sea antiquity” throughout the 20th century, Russian culture created its geo-cultural “antiquity” within the framework of the European geo-cultural space. Thanks to the work of I. Brodsky (“Roman” and “imperial” loci), the Crimean and Black Sea texts expand their semantic field, turning out to be a “node” of metaphorical assimilation, uniting the Mediterranean geo-cultural area and geo-cultural zones of influence of Russian literature.

Linguopoetic Analysis of the Perception of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe Novel in Kyrgyz and Russian Cultures

This article analyzes the linguopoetic perception of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe novel in Kyrgyz and Russian cultures. The goal of the study is not only to analyze the linguistic and poetic means used in the translation and adaptation of the novel into Kyrgyz and Russian languages but also to identify the differences and similarities in the interpretation of the text by representatives of both cultures. The paper examines the cultural contexts that influence the perception of the novel and analyzes how these contexts are reflected in the lexical and stylistic features of the translation. Special attention is given to how Kyrgyz and Russian ethnocultural values manifest in the interpretation of the plot and imagery of the work. The study reveals the features of the linguocultural adaptation of the novel and allows conclusions to be drawn about the significance of the linguopoetic approach in comparative literary studies. In the concluding part of this work, we will review the interpretation of Harriet Beecher Stowe's work in contemporary African American studies, focusing primarily on the interpretation of the novel proposed by Henry Louis Gates Jr., a leading historian, and theorist of African American literature, which reflects the radical Afrocentrism of the 1960s and 1990s.

Pushkin and Dostoevsky in Russian Rock Poetry

The article deals with Russian rock poetry, whose authors strive to overcome cultural and personal decay by turning to classical literature and absurdist aesthetics. The rock poet chooses either Pushkin or Dostoevsky as the central and at the same time supporting figures of Russian culture, and his self-determination – the self-determination of a genius of the 20th–21st centuries – occurs precisely at the intersection of myths about two, at first glance, polar cultural heroes («solar» Pushkin and «shadow» Dostoevsky). An appeal to the figures of Pushkin and Dostoevsky, as well as a cultural dialogue with their texts, occurs as follows: on the one hand, the genius seems to be brought down to the modern author’s level, and on the other, the themes and motifs covering the foundations of Russian spiritual culture are affirmed, re-actualized and adapted to new contexts. The purpose of the study is to prove through an intertextual approach that rock poetry can be viewed as a phenomenon of elite culture, since the value paradigm of the texts of rock poets is traditionally built through the juxtaposition of ideal and real plans. A rock performer himself is a «slave of honor» and a «poet» who is invariably placed in opposition to the reality around him. Absurdist aesthetics, techniques of comedy and deconstruction «renew» and at the same time complicate the long-familiar image.