The Media Chronotope of Dostoevsky’s “A Writer’s Diary” (1873)

The originality of Dostoevsky’s 1873 “A Writer’s Diary” is determined not only by the content of the work, but also by its integration into the media environment — “The Citizen” weekly journal. Using Bakhtin’s concept of a chronotope, the author substantiates the concept of media time-space, which is more concrete and immediate than artistic time-space, owing to their different natures. The article analyzes the interaction of three chronotopic levels: historical, media, and artistic. The specificity of “A Writer’s Diary” is determined by its functionality within the media structure of “The Citizen.” Calendar chronology becomes the organizing principle in Dostoevsky’s column, shaping the plot and dictating the content, genre, and style of each chapter. A model of a multi-level spatial-temporal structure of a publication is proposed (chronotope of an issue, week, genre, as well as the specific historical chronotopes). “A Writer’s Diary” is part of “The Citizen,” yet simultaneously opposes it, forming a novelized chronotope. This is achieved through a synthesis of journalistic, confessional, and artistic elements. Time and space structure the narrative and imbue it with symbolic meaning. Dostoevsky transforms historical and journalistic materials, subordinating them to artistic goals, creating paradox and polyphony.