On the Waves of Freedom: Exploring the Evolution of Russian Text in Émigré Publications

Session Submission Type: Roundtable

Brief Description

The roundtable aims to delve into the journalistic practices and historical development of the "Russian text" within the pages of émigré publications, spanning from the first anti-Bolshevik wave of immigration to the present, often referred to as the "fifth wave". Using the modern term "Philosophy Steamer/Airplane" as a starting point, participants will draw historic analogies between the multiethnic Russian emigres' selected publications of the first four waves (1920s to 2021), with a focus on publications such as the "Kontinent" journal (Paris, 1972-1991; 1992-2014, Moscow), "The New Review" (New York, 1942-present), and the "Encounters" (Philadelphia, 1968-2005), as well as journals from the 'fifth wave' – "The Fifth Wave" (Amsterdam, 2022) and the "Secret Tropes" (Jerusalem, 2023).
The discussion will also explore the previous experiences of cooperation between Russia-based and multiethnic Russian-language diaspora-based intellectual publications from the Gorbachev perestroika era to the present. Furthermore, the roundtable will examine the contributions of American publishing houses working with the "Russian text," such as the Liberty Publishing House (New York, 1984-present) and the publishing legacy of Charles Schlacks, publisher, who passed away in 2022.
Central to the discussion will be the challenges surrounding freedom of speech, thought, and uncensored literature, as well as journalistic practices under authoritarian political systems and during the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. The roundtable will also refer to new practices of bilingual journals of the diaspora, and emerging forms of publications in digital formats.

Sub Unit

• Literature: 21st Century

Chair

• Carol R. Ueland, Drew U

Roundtable Members

• Marina Adamovitch, The New Review

• Nadezhda A

• Otto Floris Boele, Leiden U (Netherlands)

• Maxim Osipov, Fifth Wave