Odessan courtyard as a symbol of humor and nostalgia on Russian television

ABSTRACT Odessa as a place of contradictions, the mythological ‘cradle of Revolution’ and the capital city of humor, is an essential part of Soviet and post-Soviet culture. Recently, there seems to be an increased longing for simple values and genuine interpersonal relationships that could be found in places of communal living, such as the (in)famous Odessan courtyards. Television and film industry feed the nostalgic feelings with productions set in Odessa, and the scenes that take place in Odessan courtyards often feature reassuringly stereotypical characters. The aim of this article is to analyze how humor and nostalgia are conveyed in such content and the emotional response they obtain from the audience.