Regional Identity in Literary Plots: The “Chelyabinsk Text” of Dmitry Bavlinsky

The article explores the issues of regional identity formation in Dmitry Bavlinsky’s novels Potato Eaters (2001) and Red Dot (2020). The main objective of the work is to identify the mechanisms for creating a unique image of the city in literary works dedicated to Chelyabinsk, presented under the fictional name Cherdachinsk. The article consists of several sections: the first describes methods of identity formation through spatial and cultural elements, and the second analyzes the structure of the novels and their compositional features. The authors also examine the use of artistic strategies such as ekphrasis and mythopoetics in shaping the city’s image. In conclusion, the article discusses the impact of local texts on regional identity formation and outlines prospects for further research in this area.