“New realism” as an object of ideological strategies

“New realism” is a specific phenomenon of the beginning of the 21st century, which has repeatedly attracted the attention of researchers as a literary trend and method, as well as as a literary and journalistic project. This article attempts to consider “new realism” as a phenomenon of the literary and publishing process. The concept “literary and publishing process” is revealed: it is the interrelated functioning of fiction and artistic book publishing; the role of literary and publishing institutions in the promotion of “new realism” is characterized. The organizers of the project sought to promote serious literature, more or less tendentious, with socially significant issues, addressing the past, present and future of the country and the state, carrying a patriotic charge even through nihilism and denial. Special events aimed at reviving and promoting ideologically significant literature were organized, such as the Forum of Young Writers of Russia and the Debut literary prize. The works of the participants of these events were published by “thick” literary magazines, articles periodically appeared there to support readers’ interest in “new realism” and its authors, whose composition continued to be replenished at the annual Forum. The project was implemented in printed periodicals and nonperiodicals. Books following the results of the award were published in several publishing houses: AST, O.G.I., Izdatel’stvo R. Elinina, Svetlye Golovy, etc. Information about young writers appeared on the websites of literary publications and literary awards. The authors appeared on television; there were news stories about the events related to the Forum, and in 2004 a film was made based on the work of one of the nominees. The analysis of the complex of measures aimed at creating, publishing and promoting the works of the authors of “new realism” allowed expressing the following idea: the intentions of the coordinators and participants in this project are ideological and partially fall under the definition of publishing strategies given in a monograph by Lyubov Zimina, who described academic, nonconformist, traditionalist, etc. strategies. The author declares no conflicts of interests.

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