Authors

Discussion

This work aims to investigate the problem of contradictions in the cultural and aesthetic codes of Europe and Russia as reflected in the literature of Russian pre- and early Symbolism. This period was preceded in Russian journalism by the discussion of "Westerners" and "Slavophiles", the works of N. Danilevsky (1822 — 1885) "Russia and Europe"; and in the field of Realism fiction – by the works by F. Dostoevsky (1821— 1880)"The Brothers Karamazov" and even contemporaneous A. Chekhov’s (1860— 1904) "The Bishop”. The appeal to the artistic and journalistic works of N. Minsky (1855— 1937), I. Yasinsky (1850— 1931), V. Bibikov (1863—1892), D. Merezhkovsky (1865 — 1941), F. Sologub (1863— 1927), A. Blok (1880— 1921) shows the dynamics of understanding the problem. While the earlier works (short stories by Yasinsky and Bibikov in 1880-ies for example) demonstrate the insignificance and even absence of intercultural boundaries, more recent works have noted the growing interest in this problem since the beginning of the 20th century, as well as the achievements of world-class aesthetic innovation. Though the reflection of such intercultural differences predicted forthcoming conflicts, Russian Symbolist writers considered their country and Europe mainly as a similar cultural space. Conclusions value result as significantly more traditional than nowadays political tactics, reflecting in some literary fiction studies.