Article

Name: Parable as the Tool of a Cultural Transfer in Literature of the Russian Avant-Garde: Ry Nikonova’s “Student Jesus”

Authors: I. S. Poltoratsky

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences

Abstract: This article is devoted to the analysis of metagenre category of a parable in the context of literature of modernism and avant-garde. Stylistic and semantic properties of a parable, such as laconicism, metaphoricalness and didacticism, during the different periods of development of literature keep potential of plot and form new strategy of arts. The parable performs functions of a cultural transfer, accumulating in itself experience of existence of culture and building parabolic communication between various paradigms of thinking. Reconsideration by writers of the 20th century of a parable’s genre canons is explained by process of return to mythological thinking of the art consciousness, which has faced need of reset of basic ethical and metaphysical questions after the failed positivistic attitude to the reality. The parable deprived of an ethical basis becomes isolated on itself, opening infinite space for modernist and postmodern interpretations. In this article the story «Student Jesus», which has been written in the 1969 year by the Russian avant-garde writer Ry Nikonovа, is analyzed. Ry Nikonova (real name Anna Tarshis), was a Russian artist, poet, writer, she was a main theoretical thinker of Transfurism movement and editor of Russian samizdat magazine “Transponans” (1979–1987). The story “Student Jesus” is constructed on mix of an autobiographical and bible narrative. The story contains a set of the lyrical digressions, presented in the form of the parables, corresponding to various significant cultural phenomena. Anticipating approach of postmodern paradigm of thinking, Anna Tarshis creates a parable meta-genre, in which the cultural transfer becomes the defining esthetic and ethical beginning. The story “Student Jesus” is an example of the cultural reception which has developed contrary to the existing ideological templates. Anna Tarshis, combining the principles of creation of a proto-narrative and modernist parable, finds a productive way of existence of the bible text in avant-garde literature.

Keywords: cultural transfer, parable, avant-garde, transfurism, Ry Nikonovа, Russian literature of the second half of the 20th century

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