The cultural heritage of a region in the mediacultural space of post-Soviet Russia (on the example of Astrakhan oblast)

The article is devoted to the issues of reflecting activities to preserve the cultural heritage of a region in the mediacultural space of post-Soviet Russia using the example of Astrakhan Oblast. The aim of the study is to determine the degree of coverage of the problems of preserving cultural heritage in the mass media of post-Soviet Russia, based on the study of the evolution of the mediacultural space of Astrakhan. The research materials were the studies of culturologists and historians, as well as publications in regional media. The methodology is based on a system-historical approach and the ideas of the followers of the French sociological school (Emile Durkheim). The analysis of the concept “cultural memory” showed that objects of cultural heritage are an integral part of the history of humankind since they provide a factual basis for the development of ideas that arise in the field of humanitarian knowledge and can confirm them. Such objects’ preservation reflects the recognition of the need to study the past; however, the specific content of the concept “cultural heritage” varies from generation to generation. The author used these ideas in the subsequent review of the media development in Astrakhan Oblast. This process began in the pre-revolutionary period with the appearance of the first sociopolitical newspapers and periodicals on economics. The study of the history of regional media in the Soviet times showed that the number of printed periodicals grew, their influence on the formation of public opinion increased, new media communication technologies (broadcasting and television) appeared. It is noted that the regional features of the media formed in the 20th century contributed to the formation of a single modern mediacultural space. The development of the media sphere of Astrakhan in the post-Soviet period was characterized by intense dynamics. Skillfully using modern communication capabilities, the regional authorities were able to draw public attention to the problems of preserving the objects of cultural heritage of Astrakhan. This became possible due to the nature of the mass communication tools, which have a direct impact on ideas, opinions, values, and guidelines of behavior that form and exist in the public consciousness. At the same time, a continuous coverage of a problem in the media devalues it, reduces its social significance and normalizes its severity in people’s minds. The need for further study of this issue by means of various fields of scientific knowledge, from history, cultural studies and philosophy to multimedia journalism and politics, is indicated.