Belinsky vs Shevyrev: Implementation of Confrontation Strategy in Magazine Polemic of 1836

Section: History of Journalism

The article finds out new approaches to the analysis of Belinsky and Shevyrev publicistic heritage based on modern ideas about various types of polemic strategy — dialogue and confrontational. Detailed consideration of Shevyrev’s judgements in parallel with the responses to them of “furious Vissarion” shows his lack of readiness for tolerant constructive dialogue even concerning the potential ally (for example, in opposition to commercial orientated literature and journalism). The author suggests to refuse from accepted in the history of Russian criticism and journalism the apologetic attitude to Belinsky as to the polemist with democratic views that at all doesn’t mean denial of the real merits of this classic of Russian criticism and journalism.