The dissertation is presented for a doctor’s academic degree in historical sciences by the specialties 07.00.01 – History of Ukraine; 07.00.06 – Historiography, Source Studies and Special Historical Disciplines. – Zaporizhzhia National University, Zaporizhzhia, 2019.
The thesis’ author explores the journalistic achievements of a personalized character belonging to Serhiy Yefremov (1876–1939), the prominent Ukrainian critic, literary critic, founder of national journalism and public figure. The purpose of the study is to find out the understanding of S. O. Yefremov's role and the significance of journalism in public life; outline the main directions of his journalistic work of the 1890s–1920s; trace the reception of his works by contemporaries and descendants; find out the weight of personalized topics in his portfolio; to comprehend in the methodological contexts the «theory of generations», «sociology of knowledge», the concept of collective and historical memory of the perception of the figures of the leaders of the Ukrainian movement and those who are committed to the Ukrainians of the leaders of the imperial society; finally, to consider the interpretation of the issues of biography and cultural development during the crisis periods of the historical existence of Ukraine and the world on the materials of Yefremov's publications in the journal «Knihar». The effectiveness of research tools in the field of «sociology of knowledge», collective memory theory, «biographies of generations», «intellectual history» is explained on the materials of Yefremov's journalism, the feasibility of using the appropriate methodology for the study of individual topics and subjects (for example, processes of the interaction of representatives of different generations in the Ukrainian movement, the perception of images of the older generation and contemporaries by S. Yefremov, modelling the figures of «ideal Russians» from the opposition group). The corresponding cultural-historical landscape that influenced the journalistic creativity of hero was restored due to the clarification of the most significant events of the life and activities of S. Yefremov, the fullest possible information potential of the epistolary, diaries, memories, obituaries, autobiographies and other documentary materials was used as well as others. Also special studios are depicted in various historiographic and temporal fields’ figures of «heroes» Yefremov’s texts. It was the first outlined on the basis of the journalistic heritage of S. Yefremov of his perceptions of the ideas and significance of the Cyril and Methodius brotherhood. Due to the category of «biographies of generations» («people of the 1840s», «people of the 1860s», «people of the 1870s»), on the basis of the comparative method, it is shown how the images of representatives of S. Yefremov-publicist and memoirist were transformed the senior generation of Ukrainians and contemporaries-like-minded people. It was emphasized that special attention was given by S. Yefremov in his journalism to M. Drahomanov, V. Antonovych, O. Konysky, in the categories of epistemological constructivism, the place and role of these personalities in his civil and creative growth were analysed. The consideration of Yefremov’s texts through the optics of «collective memory» and «the history of generations» proves its participation in the creation of a commemorative canon of the iconic figures of Ukrainians (I. Kotlyarevsky, I. Nechui-Levytsky, M. Lysenko, I. Franko, M. Shashkevich). It is shown in the facts that these jubilee actions were constituents of important elements of the «Ukrainian project», «meeting place» and dialogue of different generations. Memorial collections, obituaries, initiations are treated in this study as a form of «establishing contact» between the Ukrainian legal populist elite of the modern age with its «predecessors» and «heirs». The motives, preconditions and the process of collecting memorial collections in honour of B. Grinchenko and V. Domanytsky are considered. The personality and creative heritage of Taras Shevchenko appears as an integral figure, a «place of memory» of all generations of Ukrainian figures, a common heritage of intellectuals and masses on the eve of radical changes. The key role of S. Yefremov as a co-creator of Shevchenko’s commemorative canon has been proved. On the materials of publications in the bibliographic journal «Knyhar» (1917–1920), the conceptual guidelines of S. Yefremov concerning biography, writing of popular scientific and popular historical and biographical works, a spectrum of views on the relation of traditions and innovations in cultural development were considered. Key words: Serhiy Yefremov, journalism, historiography, biography, generation, collective memory, comemoration, «significant Other».
