A NEW APPROACH TO DEPICTING THE FAR EASTERN REGIONS IN MODERN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between the age category of readers and the ways in which geographical space is represented in children’s and adolescent literature. The selected materials are books from contemporary Russian literature that focus on Chukotka, an extremely remote and exotic border region often portrayed as a frontier. These works reflect the natural-geographical substrate through the use of toponyms, descriptions of flora and fauna, and the occupations of residents. However, myths and fairy tales are central to the narrative. The combination of scientific, educational, and artistic components varies depending on the readers’ age group. In the “Tales of the Far East” series, Chukotka is depicted from the perspective of a child from central Russia, with fairy tales framed by the modern world, conveyed through travelogue or fantasy models. Sources include works by historians, ethnographers, and folklorists. In Rudashevsky’s story, the artistic element predominates, using adventure genre techniques, as suggested by the title “The Eater is Looking for a White Owl.” The author reconstructs the life of a now-extinct Inuit tribe, with the narrative supplemented by historical information from anthropologist Dmitry Oparin. The story portrays the tragic clash between the mythological worldview, the ancient lifestyle of sea animal hunters, and advancing civilization, leading to environmental disasters and the extinction or assimilation of indigenous peoples. Thus, the cultural landscape of Chukotka is constructed through the historical dynamics of these books.

Keywords: geographical space of Russia, colonization, ethnic stereotype, Inuits, Chukotka, Evgeniy Rudashevsky, Mikhail Yasnov