Artist and Authorities. Nikolay Gogol and the Censorship Policy of the 19th–20th Centuries

The article is devoted to historical and theoretical problems of relations between an artist and the authorities. The work summarizes old methodological principles for studying Russian censorship in the 19th century and formulates the new ones. A comprehensive study of the censorship histories of N. V. Gogol's works introduces significant adjustments to the idea of the exclusively negative role of censorship in his literary fate, and proves the overall positive interaction with the censorship department. The author analyzes the limitations of the "class approach" inherited from the past era in the understanding and assessment of censorship, which in fact represents a system of regulatory norms and restrictions. The social significance of the institution of censorship as the most important component of culture is emphasized. Despite the well-known shortcomings of the censorship department in the 19th century, which was exclusively covered by the radical criticism, Russian censorship was at the forefront of the struggle against negative processes that developed in the subsequent 20th century. The character of Gogol's satire as a form of public service is studied. The correlation of spiritual and pastoral denunciation with state interests is considered among other censorship issues.