Филологические науки / 3. Теоретические и методологические проблемы исследования языка

PhD. Sorokina O.N.

Siberian State Airspace University

Andreeva M.

1^st year student of Siberian State Airspace University, Humanitarian Faculty

The Image of Russia in Eastern Mass Media (Olympic Games Context)

Nowadays there is a large number of studies which are devoted to the research of mass media effects, persuasion and suggestion techniques and also to the principles of informational warfare. It is not deniable that the purposeful mass-media influence on mass consciousness is capable to alter public opinion, representations, knowledge, valuable orientations and to fill consciousness of target audience with quite new cognitive tenor caused by customer’s ideology.

While broadcasting some knowledge of the social realm, mass-media process the submitted information in a special way, purposefully forming both emotional and behavioural stereotypes and target audience’s orientations. Within the linguistic analysis of mass media one of the basic problems is the research of key elements of events’ perception and interpretation which cause images/representations realization produced through mass media. Thus, the process of informational models formation in consumers’ consciousness is attractive for researchers.

The process of mass media representing in a special way constructed informational models is rather poorly known. Despite a very huge popularity of the concept «Image» in domestic and foreign linguistics ([3]; [4]; [5]; [6]; [10]), there is no any standard definition yet.

Following their own interests and ideas, different researchers fill the concept «Image» with various tenors. Thus, I. V. Arnold considers that in a broad sense this term means external world reflexion in consciousness [1, p. 73]. Meanwhile N. D. Arutyunova believes that the concept "Image" is a complicated psycholinguistic phenomenon; she says: «Image – that is an obvious representation of any fact of the reality, it is such an inadequate reflexion of phenomena and subjects which characteristics are scrupulously selected in order to transfer through them the defined concept in a concrete graphical form» [2, p. 123].

Research of «Image» gets a new view in connection with its consideration as the product created by mass media. The fullest and the most complex research of image produced by mass-media is presented by authors of Far Eastern State University in teamwork paper «Language Representation of Russian Image in Mass Media of the West and the East» (E. G. Megrabova, M. G. Lebedko, A. I. Sheveleva, M. N. Rassokha, Z. G. Proshina, A. I. Edlichko, М. E. Stupnitskaya (2009)). This study is undertaken on the basis of four languages (English, German, French and Spanish). So, the given research comprehensively reflects multidimensionality of the concept «Image». According to the authors, image is a mental reflexion of any subject or phenomenon; that is the representation noted by individual perception and, consequently, by individual relation. «Image is an alloy of various signs; its components come out of both sensual perception and rational, realized selection» [11, p. 6].

So, within the limits of the scientific field devoted to the research of image represented by mass-media, various scientists give their own sense of this definition. For example, E. G. Megrabova states the following understanding of the given concept: «Image formed by political magazine is an embodiment of how the given edition sees a certain fragment of the world, how it designs image on pages, what model it creates for the readers» [9, p. 7].

We consider that the most relevant for our research is the term offered by M. G. Lebedko: «Images are mental representations created on the basis of cognitive perception process; thus, in view of this, they are indirect conceptual analogues of environment». The author believes that image components are representations about society, events, separate subjects and objects, their relations, natural phenomena, physical and mental processes, situations as world fragments [8, p. 50].

Rest upon these definitions and also considering the peculiarity of the investigated concept we believe that images which are created by mass media can be considered as the result of cognitive processings of modelled information in mass-media.

It is obvious that such reality reflexion has an established character and depends on practical activities of journalists, on that subject activity in which it is included. On that basis, it is possible to draw a conclusion that created by mass media informational models have quite radical influence on the nature of human perception. So, the reality perception ceases «to start from objective conditions of material activity of a subject» [7, p. 85], as informational models are, first of all, the realization of journalists interpretative schemes. Introduction of informational models by means of mass media is predetermined by mass-median language particularity as «the world can be interpreted due to the usage of signs, concepts’ systems and the symbols which also depend on interpretations» [12, p. 55-85].

The primary goal of this study is a research of the Russian image created by Eastern mass media in the context of Olympic Games. Nowadays the most common theme of all foreign mass media was Olympic Games hold in Sochi. And it is really scientifically interesting to discover what image of Russia Western and Eastern mass media create. Thus our research is devoted to study materials the Chinese press in order to find out what image of Russia is created.

Content analysis revealed that the subjects of the Russian Japanese and Korean newspapers write about the process of Olympic Games conducting in Russia, more often they write about the success of their athletes. Chinese media are more active and they write not only about sport events but also they attract addressee’s attention to the development of Russian-Chinese relationships and express their support and encouragement.

The proof of this is the description of Chinese president’s visit to the opening ceremony. We found the following quote: «President Xi Jinping reached Sochi in Russia on Thursday to attend the opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympic Games. By accepting the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the event, Xi has not only become the first Chinese head of state to attend a major sports event abroad, but also proved that China-Russia relations have been moving full steam ahead». «The Russian president has emphasized that Russia and China share a special relationship and that he has a special feeling for China. Xi's Chinese Dream and Putin's vision to revive Russia within 20 years both are aimed at nation building and can drive China-Russia ties to greater heights in the coming years». By Ruan Zongze China Daily, February 8, 2014 [http://www.china.org.cn/wap/2014-02/08/content_31405751_2.htm].

Meanwhile it is interesting to compare Japanese description of the Japanese officials’ attendance of the Olympics games opening, which was an important step of the relationships development between Japan and Russia. «Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 8, the day after Abe attended the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympic Games in the Russian city of Sochi. The leaders of major European countries and the U.S. were absent from the ceremonies, primarily on the grounds of Russia's poor human rights record. But Abe dared to attend. The action underscores the importance Abe places on enhancing the personal relationship of trust between him and Putin» [http://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Perspectives/0213VPS2AbePutin-relationship-of-trust-can-help-advance-territorial-talks].

Along with quite positive information it is also found absolutely neutral information under this theme. For instance, on the 7^th of February it was said: «Online 13 Japanese volunteers worked on the Olympic Games in Sochi» [http://russian.people.com.cn/31514/8529397.html].

Also there are fairly positive reviews for the Olympics closing: «Russia closes Sochi on a high», Shanghai Daily writes (February 24, 2014) [http://www.china.org.cn/wap/2014-02/24/content_31575290.htm].M.L. Titarenko, Director of the Institute of Far Eastern Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, said Xi's attendance of the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics showed China's support for the Olympic movement and Russia's hosting of the Games. The Chinese president chose Russia as the first leg of his maiden foreign trip after taking office in March last year. The two visits demonstrated the great importance Xi attaches to China-Russia relations, Titarenko said. Moreover, he believes Xi's presence at the Winter Olympics not only helped enhance personal relations between the two countries' leaders but also was an important step in expanding non-governmental exchanges and cementing bilateral bonds through sports diplomacy. [http://www.china.org.cn/report/201402/28/content_31627546.htm].

Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference on Saturday that China believes that the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation will continue to be strengthened, Beijing, March 8 / Xinhua / [dissers.ru/1raznoe/obraz-rossii-sovremennom-kitae-1991.php].

Summing up the result it is possible to say that China and Russia are one of the most influential countries and their relation have long and rich history. Key role in the modern international relations play not only economic factors. Against the Olympic Games we can observe successful development of diplomatic relations. Against sharp criticism of Russia opposite reaction from China is brightly allocated with the Western mass media. During research of the Chinese mass media This situation illustrates friendly moods of China and gives prospects for further successful cooperation between China and Russia.

References

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11. Jazikovaja Reprezentaciya Obraza Rossii v Publicisticheskom Diskurse Stran Zapada i Vostoka [Language Representation of Russian Image in Mass Media of West and East]. Vladivostok: Izd-vo Dalnevost. un-ta, 2009. 248 s.

12. Lenk H. Interpretationskonstrukte: Zur Kritik der interpretatorischen Vernunft. F.a.M.: Suhrkamp, 1993. 698 s.

Sorokina Olga Nikolayevna, Assistant Professor of Chair of Business Foreign Language in Siberian State Airspace University, Candidate of Philological Sciences, A.P. Address: Krasnoyarsk, Krasnoyarskii Rabochii Street, 31.