Humanities and Science University Journal
"Humanities and Science University Journal" is on the List of peer reviewed Russian academic journals and publications, which are required for scholars seeking PhD and Full Professor's degree.
Dear Colleagues,
Discussions on the priority directions of the 21st century science continue unabated. Still, most scholars agree that modern science is painstakingly different from its 20th century model. 21st century rests on and benefits from human intellect; hence, we witness three major features of the modern science that predetermine our vision of the forthcoming journal.
First, a modifi cation of scientifi c paradigms and rapidly vanishing borders between different branches of sciences and an ever deepening integration of social and natural sciences and technology; Second, an intense synthesis of innovative ideas, processes, and technologies and its incorporation into specifi c sectors of the real economy;
Third, the emergence of a new knowledge-based information society, a renewed interest in the quest for the ground-breaking principles that link science and education,two major indicators of the cultural development of a nation.
The first decade of the 21st century has witnessed the formation of a totally different research environment. It is now based on the transfer of knowledge between universities, scientifi c and industrial entities, as well as corporate and academic communities. Quest for the new knowledge, as well as the verifi cation of the latest scientifi c results, is no longer possible without conducting an open dialog within the scientifi c community. The research journal, an open and accessible forum for such a dialog, fosters a holistic approach to science in a social context and serves as an effective tool for popularizing and disseminating results of scientifi c research to the public at large. Our research journal also lays the ground for the development of scientifi c knowledge, inclusion of science into a social context for a productive interaction between scientists and university faculty, thus making science transparent for the public at large and government entities which determine funding priorities for specifi c branches of science. The “Humanities and Science University Journal.” is a major peer-reviewed scientifi c periodical intended fi rst and foremost for the scholars and scientists of the Russian Federation and the international academic community. The nature and format of publications from contributors to our Journal are, in its essence, in full compliance with standards of international bibliometric and scientometric indices of the full line of products by Thomson Scientifi c (Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts & Humanities Citation Index) and Elsevier’s Scopus. Articles in the “Humanities and Science University Journal” are intended not just for exchange of current information, but also primarily as a tool to evaluate an output by an individual scientist by a scientifi c community and his or her level of professional recognition.
The Journal strives to increase the h-index of its individual contributors and enhance its impact factor. The impact factor is the primary formal standard for the evaluation of level of scientifi c output in related areas, quality control of the performed studies through the system of peer reviews.
In the process of allocation of grants or nominations for scientifi c awards (including the Nobel Prize) the experts always consider indices of the author’s publications in high-impact journals. The journal’s reputation and its impact-factor go hand in hand with the quality and caliber of its contributors.
We are confi dent that our “Humanities and Science University Journal” will meet the priority challenges set by the information community.
Chief Editor Vladimir V. Laptev
Chief Editor Vladimir V. Laptev
Current Issue
No 89 (2025)
Articles
Memoirs of the Minister-Secretary of State A. F. Langhoff (1906–1913) as a Source for the History of Government Policy of the Russian Empire in the Grand Duchy of Finland
Abstract
The article examines the features of the memoirs of A. F. Langhoff, Minister-Secretary
of State for the Affairs of the Grand Duchy of Finland, as a historical source on the history of
the policy of the tsarist government in Finland. The article analyses the features of the structure
and content of the memories, as well as key stages of A. F. Langhoff’s biography. Based on
the analysis of the available research literature, a conclusion is drawn about the reasons for the
relatively limited research interest in this source. It is shown how the features of Langhoff’s
offi cial status and the complexity of his interaction with P. A. Stolypin were refl ected in the text
of the memoirs. It is concluded that Langhoff’s goals in writing his memoirs were not only to
preserve for his contemporaries the history of the most important decisions of the tsarist gov-
ernment concerning the Finnish question, including the laws of 1908 and 1910, and to discuss
the situation of landless Finnish tenant farmers, but also to document his own, albeit ultimately
unsuccessful, attempts to infl uence the decisions of the tsarist government in the interests of
the Finnish people and the autonomous rights of Finland.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):13-19
13-19
Examination Books of Female Students of the Department of Theory and History of Art at the Bestuzhev Courses as a Historical Source (Based on Materials from the Central State Historical Archive of Saint Petersburg)
Abstract
Within the social direction of the historiography of higher education, scholars
have shown sustained interest in some types of administrative and record-keeping sources
produced by universities. Among them, student matriculation records, later transformed
into examination record books, stand out. The university tradition of student identifi cation
documents was transferred to the Bestuzhev Courses. Using the material from the examination
books of female students who specialised in the Department of Theory and History of Art,
this article, for the fi rst time in Russian historiography, reveals the distinctive features of this
type of historical source.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):20-24
20-24
The Arrangement of the Russian Folk Song “Venuli Vetri” by D. D. Shostakovich for the Choir: the Method of Working with the Folklore Source
Abstract
This article examines D. D. Shostakovich’s methods of working with folklore sources, using the a cappella choir “Venuli Vetri” as an example. The study compares various versions of the melody and lyrics of this song and characterises the distinctive features
of Shostakovich’s creative approach, which predetermines the methods used by several composers of the “new folk wave” to work with authentic folklore samples.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):25-32
25-32
W. A. Mozart’s Sonata for Piano and Violin in D Major (KV 306): Features of Genre and Stylistic Dialogue Against the Background of Performance Interpretation
Abstract
Of all Mozart’s diverse instrumental duets, the authors of this article highlight the Mannheim sonatas for a number of reasons. First and foremost, these sonatas marked the composer’s transition from his early experiments to a mature style. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Sonata for Violin and Piano in D major (KV 306) from the perspective of genre and stylistic dialogue and its performance
potential. In addition, the authors present convincing arguments in favour of considering Mozart’s six ensemble sonatas (KV 301–306) as a macrocycle. Studying the score in the context of the proposed concept makes it possible to present Sonata KV 306, on the one hand, as a vivid synthesising fi nale, and on the other, as an independent concert piece. In this respect, its stylistic characteristics take on a number of new accents: a wide range of
interconnections (intonational, tonal, genre-related) with other Mannheim sonatas, as well as the organic inclusion of components of theatrical-concert dialogue into the sonata cycle.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):33-40
33-40
The image of the Foremother Eve in the Work of S. D. Erzia
Abstract
The purpose of the article is to analyse the artistic features of the statue “Eve” (marble, 1919) created by S. D. Erzia. To achieve this goal, formal-stylistic and comparative-stylistic approaches were used. The author compares Erzia’s work with interpretations of the image of the biblical foremother in the works of his predecessors and contemporaries (G. Klimt, B. M. Kustodiev, A. Rodin) and identifi es the specifi cs of the Russian sculptor’s interpretation.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):41-46
41-46
Research on the Pathways of Dissemination and Mechanisms of Infl uence of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in Russia
Abstract
The subject of this research is the translation history, scholarly reception, and practical application of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War in Russia. The methodological framework is based on historical-typological analysis, makes it possible to identify four distinct stages
in the dissemination of this treatise. The Russian academic community values not only the
treatise’s military-strategic content but also its philosophical dimensions, actively applying
its principles in military, political, and cultural spheres. At the same time, Chinese scholarly
perspectives remain underrepresented. It is necessary to enhance collaboration through joint
translation projects, multi-format dissemination, and comparative studies.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):47-59
47-59
The Textual Lexical-Semantic Field of Colour in the Works of Konstantin Paustovsky
Abstract
The article examines specifi c features of Konstantin Paustovsky’s individual textual field through the lens of the lexical-semantic dominant of colour. The study focuses on the transformation of lexical meanings and the systemic relationships among units
within the colour fi eld as they function in artistic imagery. Particular attention is paid to the representation of objects of “colour painting” (tsvetopis’) in accordance with the author’s
creative intent, whether expressed through the position of an impartial observer or that of an emotionally involved participant in the changes occurring in nature.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):60-64
60-64
North Ossetia in the 1930s: Trends and Features of Modern Historiography
Abstract
The paper presents an analysis of the scholarly literature devoted to the sociopolitical and socio-economic development of North Ossetia in the 1930s. The author highlights advances in the study of a wide range of issues concerning the history of the autonomous region during this period in contemporary Russian historiography and examines the main trends and characteristics of regional studies. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of publications by the regional academic community examining certain aspects of national-state and administrative-territorial development in North Ossetia in the 1930s. Conclusions are drawn regarding the signifi cant expansion of both the scope of research and its source base in the present era.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):65-72
65-72
Impressionism in Painting and Music in the Research of Modern Chinese Musicologists
Abstract
The article examines the influence of Impressionist painting on musical art, particularly on the creative style of C. Debussy as explored in the works of Chinese scholars. Special attention is paid to two main aspects of expression – harmony and form – in connection with their special transformation in the works of C. Debussy as a prominent representative of musical Impressionism.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):73-80
73-80
Graphostylistic Features of Russian-Language Insertions in the Letters of Otto von Bismarck
Abstract
Based on the linguistic analysis of Otto von Bismarck’s correspondence, the article examines the graphostylistic features of the Russian-language insertions and the related strategies for rendering culture-specifi c elements, including quoted words, explanatory translation, calques, and functional equivalents.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):81-89
81-89
Nestorians at the Court of the Great Khan According to William of Rubruck
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to identify data from the records of the French Ambassador
William of Rubruck about Nestorians at the court of the supreme ruler of the Mongol Empire,
Möngke Khan. The source base of the research includes the treatises “The Journey of William of
Rubruk to the Eastern Parts” by William of Rubruck, “The Story of the Mongols Whom We Call
the Tartars” by Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, “The Remaining Signs of Past Centuries” by Abu
Rayhan al-Biruni, “The Journey through the Holy Land” by Riccoldo da Monte di Croce, “The
Compendium of Chronicles” by Rashid al-Din. The article examines evidence from a mid-13th-century Latin source. The Mongol Empire and the Genghisid uluses, which were formed after its
collapse, were multi-religious states where, until a certain time, a policy of religious tolerance was in effect. While the religious policy of the Mongol Empire and the Genghisid states, as
well as the spread of Islam and several Christian traditions (Gregorian, Catholic, and Orthodox), have been studied in considerable detail, Nestorianism — or East Syriac Christianity — during the Mongol period remains comparatively under-researched. Based on a critical analysis of the sources, data on the geographical distribution of Nestorianism and its influence among the nobility and offi cials are revealed.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):90-97
90-97
The Åland Islands as a Factor of Tension in Russian-Swedish Relations during the First World War
Abstract
The article examines the role of the Åland Islands as a factor of tension in Russian-Swedish relations during the initial phase of the First World War. It explores the historical background of the dispute, the military-strategic significance of the archipelago
for the Russian Empire and neutral Sweden, and attempts at diplomatic resolution amid the global conflict. Particular attention is paid to Petrograd’s stance on the demilitarisation of the islands and Stockholm’s response to the growing Russian presence in the Baltic Sea. Drawing on archival materials and diplomatic correspondence, the study demonstrates that the Åland issue remained a key element of bilateral interaction, reflecting broader tensions between Russia’s defensive security concerns and Sweden’s efforts to maintain neutrality and secure its western borders.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):98-103
98-103
Variability as the Essential Foundation of Collage Art in the 20th Century
Abstract
The article is devoted to the problem of transformation and variability in avantgarde, and the methods of transforming compositions by processing visual elements. The article reveals the essence of collage as a creative method, as a direction for finding artistic ways to refl ect the diversity of human activity, its sensory and emotional reactions to the world, and as a way to shape new modes of artistic perception among audiences. The article establishes the scientific roots of the phenomenon and describes the ways of constructing tectonised images by representatives of Cubism, the Russian avant-garde, Dadaism, and
Surrealism.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):104-112
104-112
The Contemporary Russian Silent Book in the System of Artistic and Educational Practices
Abstract
The article examines the phenomenon of the “silent book” — a format in which the narrative is conveyed exclusively through images, without text. Using the works of Russian illustrators from the early 21st century (I. Oleinikov, O. Fadeyeva, M. Shebeko, participants of the Silent Book Contest) as examples, the study analyses the genre’s key features: visual narrative, interactivity, the ability to overcome language barriers, and the capacity to engage the readers in creating their own interpretation of the story. The relevance of the research stems from the growing popularity of this format in today’s visual-oriented society. The development of the silent book in Russia and its role in fostering a culture of “slow reading” are also explored.
The study demonstrates that the silent book is becoming an important tool for multicultural communication and a new format of the author’s book, where the illustrator acts as the full-
fledged author of the narrative. There is also a noted increase in interest in the genre among illustrators, readers, and publishing houses.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):113-125
113-125
Paintings by François Boucher on Chinese Subjects
Abstract
The 18th century marked an era of Sino-Western exchange. Amidst the European “China craze”, the French Rococo artist François Boucher became a key mediator between Eastern imagination and Western aesthetics through his unique artistic language. This study focuses on his chinoiserie works, uncovering the mechanisms of creative interpretation of the cultural “Other” during the early stages of Europe’s engagement with the East. Boucher constructed an image of China as both a mirror of authentic Eastern civilisation and a poetic fantasy of the European aristocracy. Employing an interdisciplinary approach, the analysis
explores how the artist harmonised the decorative features of Rococo with the symbolic meanings of Chinese visual motifs, using pictorial means to shape a European cultural landscape imbued with Eastern fl avour.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):126-134
126-134
Features of the Transformation of the Social and Public Status of Highland Women in Dagestan during the Transition to Soviet Power
Abstract
The article describes the everyday life of women in Dagestan during the period of transition to Soviet power. The author analyses the role played by the Soviet authorities in bringing about changes in family and social relations. With the consolidation of Soviet power, significant adjustments were introduced to the women’s question, which for a long time had remained under the infl uence of traditional and religious norms and customs deeply rooted in Dagestan society.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):135-140
135-140
Cognitive Motivation of the Dative Case in Russian: The Possessor as an Affected Participant
Abstract
The Russian dative case exhibits a wide range of semantic functions, including recipient, benefi ciary, experiencer, and possessor. These meanings are not isolated but are interconnected through a common cognitive schema. Historically, the dative case encoded a spatial meaning, denoting the endpoint of directed motion. Other meanings metaphorically derive from this initial spatial sense. The use of the dative in predicative and external
possessive constructions represents the result of such semantic extension. Physical motion is metaphorically mapped onto the transfer of energy or impact, while the endpoint of motion
corresponds to the possessor who becomes the target of this impact. In these constructions, the key factors motivating the dative are the close relationship between the possessor and
the possessed entity, as well as the affectedness of the possessor.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):141-150
141-150
Composer O. S. Grebenshchikov: Yugoslav Folklore in the Works of the Soviet Period
Abstract
The article is devoted to the Soviet period of work of the composer and scientist O. S. Grebenshchikov (1905–1980). Grebenshchikov’s musical legacy is almost unknown to the public. At the same time, his works are vivid examples of creative engagement with the folk traditions of various countries. The leading line of creativity is his sustained engagement with the music of Yugoslavia, where Grebenshchikov lived for thirty years
(1920–1950). The research material is the composer’s manuscript notebook “Yugoslav Melodies for Work”, as well as some published compositions written after returning to the USSR, in the 1960s and 1970s.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):151-162
151-162
Chinese Piano Variations: Tradition and Modernity
Abstract
Chinese music is characterised by its colourfulness and national identity, which is predetermined by the specifi c features of the national culture itself. The genre of variations also fi nds an original interpretation in Chinese music. Based on national instrumental music, Chinese piano variations include intonational formations characteristic of Chinese melodies, as well as imitations of Chinese national instruments. The use of syncopated
rhythms, metric shifts, and long pauses are just a few of the distinctive features that have been adopted from folk music. Furthermore, national folk songs often serve as the thematic
basis for piano variation cycles.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):163-168
163-168
Art Songs on Ancient Texts by Contemporary Chinese Composers (late 20th – early 21st centuries)
Abstract
This article systematises the development and artistic characteristics of Chinese chamber vocal music based on ancient poetry from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. This genre has followed a dynamic trajectory within Chinese musical culture, manifesting itself at all stages of the stylistic evolution of the modern professional compositional school. Its development ranges from imitation of European models of Romantic provenance to bold experiments that combine traditional Chinese melos with contemporary compositional innovations. The article examines vocal works by a number of prominent Chinese
composers and also addresses issues related to performance practice and pedagogical application.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):169-177
169-177
Traditional Chinese Auspicious Ornaments in the System of Decorative and Applied Arts: Problems of Adaptation in Modern Interior Textiles
Abstract
This article explores problems of artistic form-creation and the adaptation of cultural heritage in the fi eld of decorative and applied arts, using traditional Chinese auspicious ornaments as an example. It focuses on the methodology for transforming these
visual systems in the context of a modern object-spatial environment, particularly in interior textiles. Overcoming the limitations of existing research, which focuses primarily on classification and iconography, the work proposes a theoretical three-level model (“semantics — context — pragmatics”) and specific strategies for artistic adaptation. The model is based on the principles of semantic analysis and receptive aesthetics, and its application is demonstrated in the practice of contemporary artistic design. The scientific novelty lies in the development of a comprehensive methodological approach that ensures the preservation and actualisation of traditional ornamental heritage through its organic inclusion in contemporary artistic practices and design.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):178-188
178-188
Ritual Functions of Guruu Duu: From Shamanic Rites to Court Ceremonies
Abstract
The article examines the song genre guruu duu as a ritual phenomenon of Mongolian musical culture. Particular attention is paid to its functions in shamanic rites, court ceremonies, and collective forms of sacred communication. The semantic, structural, and historical-cultural features of the genre are revealed. The study uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining methods of ethnomusicology and cultural anthropology. The novelty of the work lies in the consideration of guruu duu as a dynamic ritual system that is adaptable to historical and cultural changes. It has been established that the genre retains its sacred core despite institutionalisation and functions as a musical mediator between different levels of social and spiritual space. Its role in the transmission of power, memory, and cultural identity is demonstrated.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):189-196
189-196
Development of China-Kazakhstan Cooperation within International Organisations: Historical Aspects and Contemporary Challenges
Abstract
The article examines the development of cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of international organisations, taking into account historical preconditions, institutional mechanisms, and
contemporary challenges. Special attention is given to the analysis of multilateral cooperation in structures such as the SCO, UN, APEC, and EAEU, as well as to the alignment of national strategies, including the Belt and Road Initiative and the Nurly Zhol programme. The author identifi es key risks and problems related to geopolitical pressure, asymmetry of potential, and threats to regional stability. It is concluded that a balanced and adaptive model of participation in international institutions is essential for strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):197-205
197-205
Antonio Gramsci’s Conceptual Glossary: Framework and Relevance
Abstract
The article presents a systematisation and extended interpretation of Antonio Gramsci’s conceptual apparatus, developed in his renowned “Prison Notebooks”. The author focuses not only on the central categories of Gramscian theory – such as
“hegemony”, “civil society”, “organic and traditional intellectuals”, “historical bloc”, and the “philosophy of praxis” – but also on a number of less common yet equally signifi cant concepts. These include, in particular, the “party’s position”, “molecular processes”,
“Caesarism”, and “passive counter-hegemony”. The goal of the study is not only to clarify the meaning of these concepts but also to actualise them in light of contemporary sociocultural and political transformations. It is demonstrated that Gramsci’s conceptual
framework can serve as an effective tool for analysing power, ideological structures, and cultural processes in the context of globalisation, post-industrial shifts, and the crisis of traditional forms of political representation.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):206-218
206-218
Images of the First Line of the Leningrad Metro in the Products of Art-Industry Enterprises: on the Occasion of the 70th Anniversary
Abstract
The Leningrad Metro, one of the city’s most important symbols, was an integral part of the “chamber propaganda plan”: images of its pavilions and stations appeared in numerous works of art and crafts, incorporated into the everyday space of virtually every Soviet apartment in the 1950s and 1960s. The artistic and plastic design of these mass-produced items coincided with the stylistic coordinates of the station images, which transformed from the “Triumph” style of the fi rst (red) line to the contemporary style of
the second (blue) line. Using objects created at the Leningrad Enamel Factory, a leading Leningrad manufacturer of consumer goods, this article identifies the expressive and semantic features of the representation of images of the fi rst line of the Leningrad Metro in works of art and crafts.
Humanities and Science University Journal. 2025;(89):219-226
219-226