Abstract: “Vesy” magazine has become an extremely important milestone on the path of self–knowledge of Russian symbolism - its pages have captured the final design of the main principles and methods of this literary and cultural movement. However, the cultural discourse on the pages of the magazine, despite popular belief, was not homogeneous and static. Having marked the strengthening of symbolism as an important phenomenon in art and public life, “Vesy” magazine at the same time became a platform for discussions about the crisis of symbolism that was brewing at the beginning of the XX century, reflecting completely different stages of the development of this trend. The subject of this research is the journalistic materials published on the pages of “Vesy”, the object of the work was the evolution of the ideas of symbolism reflected in selected materials. With the help of discourse analysis, it became possible to study the most important stages of the development of symbolist discourse, which is the purpose of this work. The analysis of the journalistic materials of the magazine showed that “Vesy” failed to remain within its original ideological and aesthetic positions: contrary to traditional ideas, symbolism sought to live its own time, and during the period of social upheaval, its ideas were certainly developed. The results obtained can contribute to the theoretical knowledge about the symbolist journalism, “Vesy” magazine, as well as the evolution of the ideas of symbolism.

Abstract: The subject of this research is art magazines of the late XIX – early XX centuries and their role in cultural life of the turn-of-the-century era. Based on the comprehensive and systemic culturological approach, which encompasses historical-cultural method, textological analysis, scientific classification (analysis of primary sources, secondary data), structural-typological and other methods of scientific analysis, the author advances the general characteristic of the specificity of the new format of periodicals as an intrinsically valuable phenomenon of the Silver Age. Special attention is given to the prerequisites for creation of art magazine, as well as the cultural context of its emergence. The symbolist magazine did not only promote new trends in art and literature, but also formed the unique cultural phenomena. Being a platform for uncompromising and innovative findings, the symbolist periodicals have become a launching ground for such phenomena as symbolist journalism, symbolist criticism, new illustration, as well as advanced methods of arrangement of printed publications. The novelty of this research lies in determination, classification and detailed description of specific features that distinguish art magazines of the Silver Age, as well as revelation of a range of phenomena generated by this format of periodicals. It is demonstrated that besides the fact that art magazines of the turn of the century have become a unique diary of the era, which most clearly reflected its mentality, as well as evolution of art and thought of the late XIX – early XX centuries, they largely determined the cultural paradigm of the Silver Age. The presented materials and conclusions can be used in lectures and seminars on the history and theory of culture, the history of Russian journalism, development of the course “Art Magazines of the turn of the XIX – XX centuries”, as well as contribute to broadening of theoretical representations of the culture of the Silver Age.