Conceptualization and digitalization of the heritage of soviet architects: A.V. Makhrovskaya, V.I. Kochedamov and A.I. Naumov within the Preserved Culture project

Проект «Сохраненная культура» уже более десяти лет занимается изучением и продвижением в сети Интернет достижений отечественной науки и культуры ХХ века. Статья описывает и систематизирует уникальный опыт проекта по исследованию и актуализации творческого наследия выдающихся советских архитекторов: подготовку и публикацию воспоминаний об ученом-градостроителе, члене-корреспонденте РААСН А.В. Махровской, оцифровку личного архива историка градостроительства, декана архитектурного факультета Академии художеств В.И. Кочедамова и выпуск 4-томного издания его трудов с комментариями современных ученых, а также создание документального фильма «Архитектура блокады», посвященного памяти А.И. Наумова, доктора архитектуры, члена-корреспондента Академии строительства и архитектуры СССР, автора трех генеральных планов развития Ленинграда, организатора маскировки города в годы Великой Отечественной войны. Особое внимание в статье уделено проблеме цифрового разрыва и прикладным подходам и методам его преодоления, позволяющим сохранять и популяризировать памятники «бумажной» культуры прошлого века в условиях информационного общества через создание активного исследовательского сообщества. The Preserved Culture project has been researching and promoting the achievements of Russian science and culture of the 20th century on the Internet for more than ten years. This article describes and systematizes a unique experience on the study and update of the creative heritage of the distinguished Soviet architects. This includes the preparation and publication of the memories about scientist-urban planner, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Building Sciences A.V. Makhrovskaya; the digitization of the personal archive of the urban development historian, dean of the faculty of architecture of the Academy of Arts V.I. Kochedamov, as well as the release of the four-volume edition of his works with commentaries of modern scientists. The article also presents the documentary film “Architecture of the Blockade” which is dedicated to the memory of A.I. Naumov, the Doctor of Architecture, corresponding member of the Academy of Construction and Architecture of the USSR, author of three Leningrad master plans, organizer of the city masking during the Great Patriotic War. Particular attention in the article is paid to the problem of the digital divide and applied approaches and methods of overcoming it, which make it possible to preserve and popularize non-digital cultural monuments of the last century in the context of the information society through the creation of an active research community.

PEOPLE ‘S COMMISSARIAT FOR EDUCATION OF THE CHUVASH ASSR IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1920s: LEGAL BASIS OF ACTIVITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The article characterizes the statutory and regulatory enactments that determined the activities of the People’s Commissariat for Education of the Chuvash ASSR in the second half of the 1920s. The most important among them were the “General Regulations on the People’s Commissariats of the Chuvash Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic” (November, 1925) and the “Regulations on the People’s Commissariat for Education of the Chuvash ASSR” (May, 1929). The functions of the People’s Commissariat for Education are shown to include not only the problems of improving the state of affairs at all levels of education in the republic, but many issues related to the population’s social welfare, the development of science and culture as well. The main attention in the article is focused on showing the structure of the People’s Commissariat for Education as a special body of state power, whereas previously the scientific literature mainly covered the specific results of the activities performed by the People’s Commissariat for Education, when it was mentioned mainly in connection with adoption of a certain resolution on public education. The article considers the matters of separate structural subdivisions of the People’s Commissariat for Education of the Chuvash ASSR, including the organizational and planning part, the Academic Center, the supervisors. On the basis of documents from the funds of the State Historical Archive of the Chuvash Republic which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, general trends of changes in the organizational structure of the People’s Commissariat for Education in the second half of the 1920s are traced. It is concluded that there were significant problems with personnel replacement of full-time positions in the period under review, which was mainly explained by two reasons: low wages and a general shortage of qualified workers in the necessary areas of work. The personnel problem negatively affected implementation of tasks faced by the People’s Commissariat for Education.

The Places of Memory of Ukrainian Diplomacy project as an encyclopedic work

The article is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and foreign countries. On this occasion, cultural and scientific events took place during 2017-2021. Contacts between figures of science and culture of Ukraine and others were promoted with these events. And another profit from them is the study of various issues increasing knowledge about the history of Ukrainian diplomacy. One of the elements of this process was the symbolic marking with memorial plaques in other countries, which make Ukraine’s historical diplomatic ties with them. Team work aimed to study the symbolic marks of Ukrainian diplomacy has contributed to the accumulation of a lot of important information. That’s why the idea appeared to build the encyclopedic work – Places of Memory of Ukrainian Diplomacy (currently being compiled). This article describes the significance of this encyclopedic dictionary in the context of covering the history of Ukrainian diplomacy, in particular showing the formation of close diplomatic relations with other states, which took place during the turbulent period of 1917-1921.

Ivan Dziuba as a figure: opinions of present-day intellectuals

In this article, Ivan Dziuba is seen as a public influencer, literary critic, co-chairman of the main editorial board of the Encyclopedia of Modern Ukraine. On his 90th anniversary, a combination of short communications by famous representatives in sphere of Ukrainian science and culture presented is presented here.

“Science Transforming the World is Created by Geniuses in Need of Protection and Assistance More than Anyone.” (On the Fate of Scientists in the Famine of 1920s)

The October coup of 1917 and the Civil War negatively affected the fate of the country's population, particularly the Russian intellectuals. Representatives of the academic class, intellectuals, who are least adapted to disasters, had to fight for physical survival having left scientific work. The supply of food to university professors was carried out on a residual basis and was a "drop in the sea." The purpose of the article is to reveal the attitude of the leader towards the people of science, as well as the assistance provided by the republican power to alleviate the fate of Kazan scientists. Documentary evidence suggests that the government was indifferent to the fate of outstanding scientists. The catastrophic situation in the Tatar Republic is confirmed by the premature death of creators of science and culture such as N.F. Katanov, A.A. Shakhmatov and many other professors of Kazan universities due to the hunger.

Selves and Spaces in Science Fiction

<p>This thesis proposes a critical framework by which science fiction can be read as an indicator of significant trends and debates in science and culture. It takes as its starting point Brian Aldiss's statement that science fiction's purpose is to articulate in fictional form a definition of humanity and its status in the universe that will stand in the light of science. Science fiction exists as a means by which scientific concepts are constructed as cultural interpretations, and as both have changed significantly over the period from the emergence of the genre in the mid nineteenth century through the twentieth century, analysis of science-fictional forms and practices can reveal the processes of their evolution. A critical framework is constructed based on Aldiss' definition, identifying first, a construction of selfhood and spatiality - physical and metaphysical - as being fundamental, and secondly, identifying the emergence and evolution of major 'Orders' that take different approaches to key issues and which engage with each other both antagonistically and creatively. The thesis begins with an investigation of the cultural construction of space and then covers the emergence of science fiction as it relates to the project to define humanity and its standing in the universe in a manner consistent with science. Three Orders and their emergence are then described according to their architectonic schemae and their epistemological and creative processes. The first is the Modernist Order, based on Cartesian spatiality and mind-body dualism and empirical scientific practice. The second, which emerged as an attempt to synthesise modern science with traditional culture, is the Neohumanist Order. The third, still very much in flux, is the Posthumanist Order, which is very much inspired both by postmodernism and cybernetics. The three following chapters deal with the Orders in turn, selecting exemplary texts from their emergent and developed (or developing) stages, suggesting also the points in the development of each where another Order has disengaged and emerged in its own right. Because science and culture evolve over time, examination of the Orders is intrinsically linked to a concept of science fiction as being an ongoing discourse, each selected text is interpreted as being a response to a particular issue at a particular cultural moment, but nonetheless connected to predecessor and successor texts that represent a line of argument pursued over time within and between Orders. The Orders are not hermetic by any means, and their most enlightening aspects can be their varying treatment of a common concept. The cyborg furnishes an excellent example, being treated differently by each of the Orders as it is an image of the integration of humanity and technology. Issues such as self, body, boundary, location, the other and communication are all represented in the cyborg and the next two chapters discuss the cyborg as treated by different Orders, in the first case, as a body and in the second case, as an inhabitant and creation of architectonics and culture. The conclusion then discusses the current state of affairs regarding the system of Orders as a critical method. It is shown that 'impure' texts that contain aspects of each of the Orders do not negate their usefulness, but rather demonstrate it as texts (and postmodern texts in particular) provide stages on which the Orders can be displayed engaging with each other.</p>

Selves and Spaces in Science Fiction

<p>This thesis proposes a critical framework by which science fiction can be read as an indicator of significant trends and debates in science and culture. It takes as its starting point Brian Aldiss's statement that science fiction's purpose is to articulate in fictional form a definition of humanity and its status in the universe that will stand in the light of science. Science fiction exists as a means by which scientific concepts are constructed as cultural interpretations, and as both have changed significantly over the period from the emergence of the genre in the mid nineteenth century through the twentieth century, analysis of science-fictional forms and practices can reveal the processes of their evolution. A critical framework is constructed based on Aldiss' definition, identifying first, a construction of selfhood and spatiality - physical and metaphysical - as being fundamental, and secondly, identifying the emergence and evolution of major 'Orders' that take different approaches to key issues and which engage with each other both antagonistically and creatively. The thesis begins with an investigation of the cultural construction of space and then covers the emergence of science fiction as it relates to the project to define humanity and its standing in the universe in a manner consistent with science. Three Orders and their emergence are then described according to their architectonic schemae and their epistemological and creative processes. The first is the Modernist Order, based on Cartesian spatiality and mind-body dualism and empirical scientific practice. The second, which emerged as an attempt to synthesise modern science with traditional culture, is the Neohumanist Order. The third, still very much in flux, is the Posthumanist Order, which is very much inspired both by postmodernism and cybernetics. The three following chapters deal with the Orders in turn, selecting exemplary texts from their emergent and developed (or developing) stages, suggesting also the points in the development of each where another Order has disengaged and emerged in its own right. Because science and culture evolve over time, examination of the Orders is intrinsically linked to a concept of science fiction as being an ongoing discourse, each selected text is interpreted as being a response to a particular issue at a particular cultural moment, but nonetheless connected to predecessor and successor texts that represent a line of argument pursued over time within and between Orders. The Orders are not hermetic by any means, and their most enlightening aspects can be their varying treatment of a common concept. The cyborg furnishes an excellent example, being treated differently by each of the Orders as it is an image of the integration of humanity and technology. Issues such as self, body, boundary, location, the other and communication are all represented in the cyborg and the next two chapters discuss the cyborg as treated by different Orders, in the first case, as a body and in the second case, as an inhabitant and creation of architectonics and culture. The conclusion then discusses the current state of affairs regarding the system of Orders as a critical method. It is shown that 'impure' texts that contain aspects of each of the Orders do not negate their usefulness, but rather demonstrate it as texts (and postmodern texts in particular) provide stages on which the Orders can be displayed engaging with each other.</p>

Selves and Spaces in Science Fiction

<p>This thesis proposes a critical framework by which science fiction can be read as an indicator of significant trends and debates in science and culture. It takes as its starting point Brian Aldiss's statement that science fiction's purpose is to articulate in fictional form a definition of humanity and its status in the universe that will stand in the light of science. Science fiction exists as a means by which scientific concepts are constructed as cultural interpretations, and as both have changed significantly over the period from the emergence of the genre in the mid nineteenth century through the twentieth century, analysis of science-fictional forms and practices can reveal the processes of their evolution. A critical framework is constructed based on Aldiss' definition, identifying first, a construction of selfhood and spatiality - physical and metaphysical - as being fundamental, and secondly, identifying the emergence and evolution of major 'Orders' that take different approaches to key issues and which engage with each other both antagonistically and creatively. The thesis begins with an investigation of the cultural construction of space and then covers the emergence of science fiction as it relates to the project to define humanity and its standing in the universe in a manner consistent with science. Three Orders and their emergence are then described according to their architectonic schemae and their epistemological and creative processes. The first is the Modernist Order, based on Cartesian spatiality and mind-body dualism and empirical scientific practice. The second, which emerged as an attempt to synthesise modern science with traditional culture, is the Neohumanist Order. The third, still very much in flux, is the Posthumanist Order, which is very much inspired both by postmodernism and cybernetics. The three following chapters deal with the Orders in turn, selecting exemplary texts from their emergent and developed (or developing) stages, suggesting also the points in the development of each where another Order has disengaged and emerged in its own right. Because science and culture evolve over time, examination of the Orders is intrinsically linked to a concept of science fiction as being an ongoing discourse, each selected text is interpreted as being a response to a particular issue at a particular cultural moment, but nonetheless connected to predecessor and successor texts that represent a line of argument pursued over time within and between Orders. The Orders are not hermetic by any means, and their most enlightening aspects can be their varying treatment of a common concept. The cyborg furnishes an excellent example, being treated differently by each of the Orders as it is an image of the integration of humanity and technology. Issues such as self, body, boundary, location, the other and communication are all represented in the cyborg and the next two chapters discuss the cyborg as treated by different Orders, in the first case, as a body and in the second case, as an inhabitant and creation of architectonics and culture. The conclusion then discusses the current state of affairs regarding the system of Orders as a critical method. It is shown that 'impure' texts that contain aspects of each of the Orders do not negate their usefulness, but rather demonstrate it as texts (and postmodern texts in particular) provide stages on which the Orders can be displayed engaging with each other.</p>

Selves and Spaces in Science Fiction

<p>This thesis proposes a critical framework by which science fiction can be read as an indicator of significant trends and debates in science and culture. It takes as its starting point Brian Aldiss's statement that science fiction's purpose is to articulate in fictional form a definition of humanity and its status in the universe that will stand in the light of science. Science fiction exists as a means by which scientific concepts are constructed as cultural interpretations, and as both have changed significantly over the period from the emergence of the genre in the mid nineteenth century through the twentieth century, analysis of science-fictional forms and practices can reveal the processes of their evolution. A critical framework is constructed based on Aldiss' definition, identifying first, a construction of selfhood and spatiality - physical and metaphysical - as being fundamental, and secondly, identifying the emergence and evolution of major 'Orders' that take different approaches to key issues and which engage with each other both antagonistically and creatively. The thesis begins with an investigation of the cultural construction of space and then covers the emergence of science fiction as it relates to the project to define humanity and its standing in the universe in a manner consistent with science. Three Orders and their emergence are then described according to their architectonic schemae and their epistemological and creative processes. The first is the Modernist Order, based on Cartesian spatiality and mind-body dualism and empirical scientific practice. The second, which emerged as an attempt to synthesise modern science with traditional culture, is the Neohumanist Order. The third, still very much in flux, is the Posthumanist Order, which is very much inspired both by postmodernism and cybernetics. The three following chapters deal with the Orders in turn, selecting exemplary texts from their emergent and developed (or developing) stages, suggesting also the points in the development of each where another Order has disengaged and emerged in its own right. Because science and culture evolve over time, examination of the Orders is intrinsically linked to a concept of science fiction as being an ongoing discourse, each selected text is interpreted as being a response to a particular issue at a particular cultural moment, but nonetheless connected to predecessor and successor texts that represent a line of argument pursued over time within and between Orders. The Orders are not hermetic by any means, and their most enlightening aspects can be their varying treatment of a common concept. The cyborg furnishes an excellent example, being treated differently by each of the Orders as it is an image of the integration of humanity and technology. Issues such as self, body, boundary, location, the other and communication are all represented in the cyborg and the next two chapters discuss the cyborg as treated by different Orders, in the first case, as a body and in the second case, as an inhabitant and creation of architectonics and culture. The conclusion then discusses the current state of affairs regarding the system of Orders as a critical method. It is shown that 'impure' texts that contain aspects of each of the Orders do not negate their usefulness, but rather demonstrate it as texts (and postmodern texts in particular) provide stages on which the Orders can be displayed engaging with each other.</p>

Book Projects on the 100th Anniversary of Belarusian State University

The article provides an overview of the books published in the Republic of Belarus for the 100th anniversary of the Belarusian State University. Four books prepared in the form of essays by faculty members of several departments (history, international relations, mechanics and mathematics) and the Fundamental Library. The greatest attention is paid to two such works. Peer-reviewed jubilee editions give a comprehensive idea of the history of the university, its structure in different years, the current state, and faculty potential. It has been established that the editions are based on rich source material. In this aspect, the work titled Unknown V.I. Picheta is especially significant, as it acquaints the reader with a previously unpublished book Review of the Activities of the Fist Western Committee by the first rector of the Belarusian State University, an outstanding historian, academician of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the BSSR Academy of Sciences V.I. Picheta. The article point out that this book, supplemented with several dozen letters from Picheta’s correspondence with twenty colleagues, students (mainly from the time of the book’s composition), will arouse great interest in the scientific community of Belarus, Russia, and other countries. The review briefly analyzes the structure and content of the book, published in 2019, for the 130th anniversary of the university philosopher, vice-rector and dean S.Z. Katzenbogen. It is concluded that all publications do not only celebrate the anniversary of the first university in Belarus but also, taking into account their scientific component, contribute to the deepening of the study of the history of the development of Belarusian science and culture of the 20th and early 21st centuries.