THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE IMAGE OF A REAL PERSONALITY IN CINEMATIC DISCOURSE

Abstract

Television series are an important part of the modern media sphere, shaping the value system of television and online cinema viewers and forming the basis for their understanding of various historical eras. The study compares the representation of lawyer Plevako’s legal practice in the series “Plevako” with his actual speeches in the second half of the 19th century. The comparison reveals fundamental changes in argumentation: the series alters the lawyer’s main arguments in his speech, making the series’ creators more relatable to a modern audience. This modernization points to the value system of 21st-century viewers: for example, a significant strengthening of “child-centered” argumentation and an emphasis on women’s proactive stance can be detected. Furthermore, the emphasis in the lawyer’s work has shifted from preparation of a speech to investigation: Plevako in the series is more of a detective, similar to Sherlock Holmes, independently investigating the case and visiting the crime scene, than a lawyer working with documentation. This, in turn, indicates a reworking of real historical facts aimed at enhancing their spectacle and suspense.