Construction of the collective memory and identity of the Russians in the Lithuanian press in Russian language

Abstract

The article presents the construction of the collective memory and identity of the Russian ethnic group in the mass media (press) revealed in the frame of the qualitative press in Russian language research.
Three newspapers („Советская Литва“, „Эхо Литвы“ and „Литовский курьер“) of the years that were supposedly crucial for Lithuanian state development (1990, 2004 and 2010) were studied. An overview was done of the issue numbers published in January, May and September, except 1990, when issue of March was studied.
History (historical period, events, personalities, culture events, personalities and aspects of religion) is identified as the main sign of the group identity. Interpretations on these issues are being investigated in the public discourse (press).
The theoretical perspective of the article is based on the approach that the concept of ‘history’ or history in general is influenced by the different collective memories (Halas 2008) because of growing role of the mass media and disappearing the difference between popular collective memory and legitimated historical memory. In order to reveal who constructs the collective memory and identity of the Russian group, the analysis of the sources of the articles and the predominant context of the articles’ content (local, national, Russian, European) was done.
The results of the research reveal that mass media generally and specifically studied Lithuanian press in Russian language are seen as the field of the symbolical battles or conflict of historical, collective memory and the representation of the past. The most important elements in constructing the collective memory of Russians in the press in Russian language are the Second World War (WWII) and the interpretations of this War termination. The WWII and victory of Russians in that war – is the main conflict and historical event that is represented in the discourse of the articles, which unity of interpretations of War termination (the presentation of description of the event, accents, arguments) helps to construct the identity of Russians or Russian speaking group by dividing „self “ and „other“ group.
Regarding the analysed content of the press in Russian language about the historical, cultural events, personalities and the aspects of religion, it could be stated that a dual identity of Lithuanian Russians is constructing. From the one side – national identity (with Lithuania) and local (with the place where mostly the representatives of Russian ethnic minority (Vilnius, Klaipėda) live, and from the other side – with their historical motherland (Russia). It should be, also mentioned that priorities in constructing these identities are changing depending on the year, when in particular period some of them become dominant and some are pushed away to the second stage.
In the 1990 it is dominated a different historical thematic, related with different historical periods, meanwhile the content of the articles directs to local, national identity related with Lithuania constructed in Lithuanian press in Russian language. This statement could be confirmed by the using informational sources in the published articles which are prepared by the local journalists. From 2004 it is started to dominate topics related with the WWII and termination of this War and the content of the articles convey very ‘clear’ position regarding the war course, events and its termination interpretations. The discourse of that articles contents could be grouped into the scheme: those to whom the termination and commemoration of WWII is important vs. those to whom the termination and commemoration of WWII it is not important.
In the 2004 and 2010 the articles, reprinted from Russian press, about the Russian popular culture, their representatives (singers, actors, who were popular also in the Soviet period), less about the Russian classical culture and their representatives, predominate the articles presenting Lithuanian popular or classical culture (events, personalities). Similar tendencies are seen when describing the political topics (aspects) in the press in Russian language. In 1990 there is noticeable the lack of ‘clear’ position of the editor reporting about the events, related with the declaration of Lithuanian independence. Whereas in 2004 the editor position regarding some questions (especially about the Lithuanian integration into the EU and membership in NATO) mostly captured from the position predominating in the Russian press, as more and more articles are reprinted from Russian newspapers („Известия“, „Независимая газета“, „Московский Комсомолец“ and other). Predominating topics are more connected with Lithuanian and Russian interstate relations regarding political questions, especially Lithuanian foreign policy. The informational sources of these articles become the view of Russian policy analysts, experts and journalists. Thus the content of the articles of the press in the Russian language shows the construction of identity with the Russian Federation. Regarding the content of the articles about religion, during all investigated years the press in Russian language is paying attention to the Orthodox religion and these articles are oriented towards the Orthodox confessors and community in Lithuania. It is essential to remark that the orientation to the Russian or Russian speaking auditorium in the press in Russian language is the most visible by describing the activities (mostly cultural) of Russian non-governmental organizations. The most actual question for Russian minority reflected in the press in Russian language – the education of ethnic minorities.