History of the origin and content-design features of the satirical journal “Osy” (Tomsk, 1906)

The paper discusses the origin and development stages of the first Tomsk satirical journal “Osy” (Wasps, 1906). Also, the content and illustration peculiarities of the journal are analyzed. The censorship cases of the State Archive of the Tomsk Region (GATO) are studied. A comprehensive analysis of the content of the surviving issues of the journal is conducted. The satirical journal “Osy” was published in Tomsk during the First Russian Revolution. In total, 30 issues were published in 1906. Despite there being two different editors, first V. Fedorov, then K. Troitsky, the journal was published according to one stable model. The thematic field of “Wasps” represented primarily the reaction of the inhabitants of Russia, Siberia, Tomsk to he changes taking place in the country. The editorial staff carefully monitored the preparation and organization of elections to the First State Duma and observed the events of the “great” Russian and world politics being reflected and interpreted in the province. Different genres were used: fables, dictionaries, feuilleton, fairy tales, conversations, and many others, including “small forms” - aphorisms, sayings, remarks, “conversations.” To enhance the satirical effect and to circumvent censorship, the journalists often used the motives of the famous literary works of Russian authors: Saltykov-Shchedrin, Gogol, Nekrasov, and others. The study allowed identifying the high level of satire in the “Osy.” Due to the well-coordinated work of the editorial board, “Osy” proved to be a vivid phenomenon in the public and literary life of Tomsk.

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