When Metadata Speaks Stories: Analyzing Vsesvit Bibliographical Records

• In Event: Provincializing Internationalism: Periodicals, Publishers and Practices II: Performing

Abstract

Vsesvit (The Universe), the oldest Ukrainian translation journal, has published over 500 novels and 1,000 poems, short stories, and other literary works since its founding. It played a crucial role in shaping Soviet Ukraine’s cultural identity while offering readers a glimpse into the outside world and fostering a sense of community. Recognizing its significance, Review of the World Literature “Vsesvit” in the 20th Century: A Bibliographic Index to Publications was published. Pomerantz, in Metadata, states: “A description is a statement about a thing, providing some information about that thing. A description sets the described thing apart from all the other things that exist in the universe.” While bibliographies are typically considered descriptive metadata, in Periodical Studies, bibliographic data serve a more complex function. Its analysis can reveal a broader perspective, offering profound and sometimes unexpected insights. Rather than viewing a bibliography as a collection of isolated records, it is more productive to examine it as a dynamic system. This presentation analyzes Vsesvit’s bibliographical data, reconstructs cultural networks, and employs visualizations to uncover patterns, trends, and connections that might otherwise remain unnoticed.

Author

• Valeriia Korotkova, Stanford U