Thе activity of the Ukrainian intellectuals in Dykanka village at the beginning of the XX century on the development of national culture
Authors: Shcherban A. , Bozhko L. 
Published: October 2022

Dykanka village in Poltava region is still perceived in mass culture as one of the most famous representations of a traditional Ukrainian village. But by the beginning of the XX century, as a result of the purposeful russification state policy in the Russian Empire, due to the penetration of foreign, quite often distorted elements, the local folklore tradition was significantly transformed. As a result, the Ukrainian spirit of Dikanka residents was gradually leveled off. But thanks to the purposeful activity of the intellectuals, these processes were suspended. During the times of the Russian Empire and the USSR, the role of the intellectuals in the preservation of the national cultural features of Dykanka people was silenced in scientific and popular science works. Currently, there is a significant number of publications (in particular, by Vasyl Sheiko), which, within the framework of the historical and cultural paradigm, describe in detail the role of the intellectuals in the socio-cultural transformations in the Ukrainian lands during the beginning of the XX century. In the conditions of the current situation in the cultural life of the population of Ukraine, the study of the successful historical experience of the formation and development of the national identity of the masses, taking into account the work of culturologists, is extremely relevant.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ways and results of the influence of the intellectuals on the processes of change in the socio-cultural life of Dykanka village in 1905–1917.

The methodology of the study are the principles of historicism and systematics in combination with historical-comparative and micro-historical methods.

The results. The article is devoted to the cultural analysis of information on the socio-cultural activities of the intellectuals of Dykanka village (Poltava region) during 1905–1917. The mechanisms of influence of a small but socially active group of residents on the transformation of the national identity of the local masses are shown on the basis, mainly, of newspaper publications of that time.

The conclusions. By spreading progressive enlightened Ukrainian ideas among the villagers, in particular through the distribution of literature in the Ukrainian language and the demonstration of Ukrainian-language theater performances, they were able to protect the local folklore culture from the ugly imperial invasions, in particular russification. Activities conducted by individual intellectuals (the most active was the teacher, writer and translator Oleksa Dikhtiar) prepared solid ground for the national revival of 1917–1918.

The scientific novelty: for the first time, a cultural analysis of the national educational activities of individual representatives of the intellectuals of Dykanka village (Poltava region) during 1905–1917 was realized.

The practical significance: the historical experience of the formation and development of the national identity of the masses can be used in modern socio-cultural activities.