A. Blok's article “Art and newspaper” in the context of the “Russkaya molva” daily

While researchers of Alexander Blok’s works have studied the history of his cooperation with the daily newspaper “Russkaya Molva” (1912-1913), the newspaper itself has never yet been a subject of any research. At the same time, it provides a highly valuable material for studies of history of journalism and literature, for textual critics, for example, since in Blok’s collected works, two of his articles printed there are actually the texts of his newspaper publications (in the newest “Complete Collected Works” with the addition of a fragment excluded by the editor), as well as for posing several questions, such as: what context did Blok’s article belong to? What was the “Russkaya Molva” newspaper like? These are the questions the author answers. Blok’s article “Art and Newspaper” was planned by the editorial board of “Russkaya Molva” to be of major importance. And so it was published in the first issue, but with abridgments made by Blok at the insistence of the editor, to which he agreed, but which caused his indignation. Thus, from the very beginning it sparkled a conflict between the poet and the newspaper, which one can see not only as an isolated case, but also as an expression of an internal contradiction, probably inherent to the relationship between journalism and art. The formulation and solution of this issue can be of theoretical and methodological significance in the study of forms of interaction between literary process and the media. Blok’s article is analyzed in the context of the first issue of the newspaper where it was published. As for the newspaper “Russkaya Molva” itself, its reputation, formed in the history of journalism under the influence of VI. Lenin’s solely negative reviews, must be thoroughly revised. The team of writers and analysis of what was published in “Russkaya Molva” support the idea of it as a liberal independent media, which was socially, politically and educationally oriented.