Soviet museums in the publications of the emigrant newspaper Rul’ (1920s)

The article examines the reflection of the events of museum life of Soviet Russia in the materials of the émigré newspaper Rul’ , published in Berlin in 1920-1931, and determines the main thematic emphases characteristic of such publications. The study is based on the analysis of the issues of the periodical for the specified period, in the form of electronic copies posted on the website of the Berlin State Library, as well as on the publications of Russian scientists on the studied problems. Systemic, structural-functional and hermeneutic methods were used. The identification and primary quantitative analysis of the newspaper materials related to the studied topic were carried out. The publications of Rul’ related to the opening of exhibitions and museums, the operation of architectural monuments, emergency situations in the museum sphere, organizational and personnel problems of Soviet museums are considered. Considerable attention is paid to the publications of Rul’ dedicated to the confiscation of valuables from large monasteries and churches in the 1920s, their subsequent sale, as well as the sale of items that belonged to the royal family. The article examines newspaper articles that describe in detail the specifics of auction activities during this period. The author notes that the newspaper’s journalists remained committed to the values of their native culture and strived for publicity. At the same time, the periodical gave the published messages accents that left a rather bright imprint on the presented facts. Among such thematic accents, the following can be distinguished: (1) citing of critical assessments given to Soviet museums by their visitors; (2) absolutization of data on the negative consequences of the use of historical buildings by Soviet public organizations; (3) mentions of abuses by officials working in Soviet museums, exaggeration of facts of incompetence of Soviet officials; (4) exaggeration of organizational and personnel problems of museum institutions; (5) an unambiguously negative interpretation of the sale of museum valuables abroad (without taking into account the difficult socio-economic circumstances in which the country found itself). The author concludes that the publications of Rul’ reflected an alternative view of museum processes in Soviet Russia, focusing the readers’ attention mainly on negative phenomena in museum life or controversial decisions of the Soviet authorities in the sphere of cultural policy. The reasons for the dominance of such interpretations in the reviewed publications are revealed.