«The Stereotype of the Transition Period»: the Process of Media Stereotyping of Ukraine in quality British, German and French press

Abstract

The paper deals with the analysis of the background of the formation of stereotypical images of Ukraine as a transitional society in the mass-communication discourse of the UK, Germany and France, which are reflected in the term «the stereotype of the transition period». The phenomenon of transitivity is determined by a high level of concentration of stereotypes about Ukraine in the articles on cultural themes, which is representative, taking into account the concept according to which culture is the basis of the formation of any society. The article outlines the key heterostereotypes that form the view of the world, of the European readers and determine the image of our country. The author also points out that, unfortunately, the articles on Ukrainian subjects contain stereotypical forms that serve to denote such social phenomena as «crisis», «conflict» and «war», «crisis of national identity» of Ukrainians, «cultural crisis» and «destruction of old canons and culture»; as well as the presence of common cultural heritage of Ukraine with other peoples and the appearance of new subconcepts that are used on the designation of some Ukrainian territories, which also indicates the transformation of social processes in Ukraine.