Almanacs and the broadcasting of power discourse during the French Revolution

Authors

  • Georgy P. Vorotnev Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia
  • Taisiia M. Demicheva Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia

Keywords:

almanacs, power, image of the ruler, French Revolution
Supporting Agencies
The study was conducted with financial support from the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 22-78-00106; https://rscf.ru/project/22-78-00106/).

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the discourse of power in the sources of everyday culture of France on the eve and during the French Revolution. French almanacs of the second half of the 18th century were used as materials for this study. Calendars, songs, anecdotes and documents contained in the almanacs are considered. For the first time, sources of everyday culture act as objects of study of the power discourse of France in 18th century. A comparative analysis of similar content moments in the anthologies published in different years is carried out. The functionality used by the authorities to promote certain narratives in the almanacs is established. The article examines the introduction of the revolutionary calendar and the development of the system of saints in it, the transmission of the qualities of a real French citizen through calendars, songs and anecdotes, as well as the reception of political events by the compilers of almanacs. It is concluded that during the transition to the state of the modern type, the transformation of power in France was associated with the processes of de-Christianisation and secularisation of consciousness, creation of the image of a new citizen discrediting of royal power and deconstruction of the figures of rulers. The study uses methods and approaches defined by R. Darnton.

Author Biographies

  • Georgy P. Vorotnev, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia

    laboratory researcher at the Institute of History

  • Taisiia M. Demicheva, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya Embankment, Saint Petersburg 199034, Russia

    PhD (history); senior lecturer at the department of history of modern and contemporary history and senior researcher, Institute of History

References

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Published

2025-01-30

Issue

No. 1 (2025): Journal of the Belarusian State University. History

Section

World History

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How to Cite

[1]
Vorotnev, G.P. and Demicheva, T.M. 2025. Almanacs and the broadcasting of power discourse during the French Revolution. Journal of the Belarusian State University. History. 1 (Jan. 2025), 21–29.