The russian power in the Turkestan region: visualization of imperial space as acculturation factor

The purpose of the article is to study forms and methods which were used by the Russian authorities in the Turkestan Governorate General not only in order to mark its presence in the region, but also to approve symbolically its domination in the alien society. The objects of the research caused a choice of the corresponding methodology. The research of toponyms of the Russian part of Tashkent of the second half of the 19th century was made in the context of all urbanonyms. As a result of their historical and chronological analysis separate groups of toponyms bearing this or that symbolical content were determined. The modeling of new and transformation of the existed city space are being studied by means of the cartographical method which allowed to compare new town plans with the plans of the cities of the European Russia. Studying of monumental constructions of the Turkestan cities, primarily of Tashkent, is carried out by the combination of formal and iconographic methods which on the one hand allowed to describe an image, created by this or that monument, and, on the other hand, to emphasize its figurative and symbolical contents. The comparative analysis allowed to demonstrate the relation of monumental constructions in Tashkent with the similar in central regions of Russia. The symbolical aspect of interaction of the representatives of the Russian power with local population is analyzed with the help of the historical and cultural method allowed to use memoirs in order to reconstruct the epoch. The integrated approach applied in article allows to consider the directions of visual and symbolical impact of the Russian administration on the local population in its typological variety and also allows to arrive at the next conclusion. There is no doubt that since the moment when the Russian government decided to conquer and attach Transoxiana to the empire, at first the designing of image of the new power had spontaneous and natural character of a cult of heroic conquerors of the Asian open spaces, and over the time has taken more systematic form. Seeking to make an image of the presence in the region not only powerful, but also attractive, the imperial administration was not only designed the new reality, but also used the principle of replacement of subjects of traditional sacral representations. Thus, it showed demonstrative respect for local historical and cultural values.

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