Rumors as a phenomenon of pre-revolutionary everyday life in 1914–1916. Functions, sources, plots, consequences
https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-9-103-124
Abstract
The article studies the functioning of mass rumors in the everyday life of rural and urban strata on the eve of the revolution of 1917. The author analyzes the intertextual nature of rumors, draws attention to the archetypal and religious layers of peasant rumors, the influence of fiction (fantasy, spy detective and religious-mystical drama) on the rumors of the educated strata, as well as the connection of rumors with historical facts. The study notes the variety of social functions of rumors in society and emphasizes the fact that rumors record the emotional state of society and thus act as an important source for the study of public sentiment. V.B. Aksenov concludes that under the conditions of a crisis of trust between the authorities and the society, rumors become a political factor, forming mutually distorted images of the main political actors and predetermining erroneous strategies, which lead to the realization of initially absurd rumors, in which the function of rumors to “self-fulfill prophecy” is manifested.
About the Author
V. B. Aksenov
Institute of Russian History, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vladislav B. Aksenov, Dr. of Sci. (History)
9, D. Ulyanov St., Moscow, 117292
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Review
For citations:
Aksenov V.B. Rumors as a phenomenon of pre-revolutionary everyday life in 1914–1916. Functions, sources, plots, consequences. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2023;(9):103-124. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2023-9-103-124
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