The media image of China in “Sovremennik” magazine (1840s–1860s)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47475/2070-0695-2023-48-2-52-57Keywords:
China, national image, media image of China, Russian magazines, “Sovremennik”Abstract
The article analyses the media image of China presented in Russian pre-revolutionary magazines. The object of the study is the image of China in Sovremennik magazine in 1840–1860s. China and Russia have a long history of interaction, and the reception of the image of China is also present in Russian journals of the 19th century. The media image of China reflects the social situation in Russia at the time and reveals the psychology of authors writing about China, and at the same time has important theoretical and practical significance. A country’s image must be presented in a certain way, and the media is undoubtedly one of the most popular and best ways to present a country’s image. In the field of communication, the image of a country refers to the external image shaped and displayed by a particular country in the various media. There is no doubt that all countries in the world attach great importance to the important role of the media in shaping a country’s image. Many scholars refer to this as the “media image of the country”. The study of the media image of a country helps to link the “physical image” of the country with the “cognitive image”. In this article, more than a dozen articles about China published by Sovremennik magazine in 1840-1860s are selected. To solve the set tasks, the method of textual analysis is used. It is noted that in Russia in historical retrospect periodicals expressed different positions with regard to China. The media image of China has its positive and negative aspects: China is a symbol of stagnation and stagnation; China was once an important part of the history of world civilisation development. The author comes to the conclusion that the image of a foreign country is not a reproduction of the real situation there, but is created in accordance with national understanding and desires, which have a strong subjectivity and emotional colouring. Russian publicists of the time turned to the image of China to express their ideas about Russian society, the authors seek an external perspective to explore their own country.
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