Historical narrative in the work of Kaliningrad poets during Perestroika: the experience of content analysis
- DOI
- 10.5922/sikbfu-2023-3-5
- Pages
- 46-57
Abstract
During the years of Perestroika, discussions about Stalinism and the Soviet legacy became a focal point of public attention. In the Kaliningrad region, interest in history during this period shifted towards the regional pre-war past, the cultural heritage of the area, the history of its settlement, and the development by Soviet people. Historical themes became one of the leading motifs in the works of Kaliningrad poets. The aim of the article is to identify the “images of the past” that shaped the historical narrative in Kaliningrad poetry during the Perestroika period. The primary research method employed is content analysis conducted using the Max QDA 2020 software. The analysis is based on 126 poetic works by 47 authors published from 1985 to 1991. The “images of the past” are examined in the article through the prism of the reflection of historical memory of Kaliningraders and utilizing the concept of “lieux de mémoire” (places of memory). The article demonstrates the dynamics of poem publications over the years and characterizes the prioritized historical themes, including events of the Great Patriotic War, the settlement and recovery of the region, and the fate of the historical and cultural heritage. The conclusion is drawn that during the Perestroika period, influenced by changes in public consciousness, there was a gradual incorporation of new historical images of the pre-war and post-war past of the region into poetic texts. Simultaneously, there was a tendency to preserve and partially reconsider certain components of the Soviet historical narrative related to the war and the formation of the Kaliningrad region.