POETICS OF CULTURAL MEMORY AND SUBJECT-MATERIAL ONTHOLOGY IN THE NOVEL BY F.M. DOSTOEVSKY “THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV”
DOI: 10.23951/1609-624X-2020-5-142-154
Introduction. The basis of cultural memory are the processes of “rebirth” and “oblivion”, the ratio of which affects the spiritual make-up of each era. However, the action of the mechanism of “cultural memory” acquires special significance in times of social cataclysms. In the artistic thinking of the crisis time, the semantic complex of “cultural memory” primarily implements the function of “ordering the elemental world”, “modeling” its aesthetically relevant “copy” according to the universal principle of the creation myth and its structure. The understanding of the spiritual reality of the crisis time is carried out in synthesized forms that arise as a result of intrageneric and intergenre transformations. This kind of artistic phenomena includes the final novel by F. M. Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov”, which reflects the author’s desire to create a universal artistic super-form for a comprehensive embodiment of the worldview. Aim and objectives. To study the subject-material world in the novel “The Brothers Karamazov” from ontological positions and in the context of the poetics of cultural memory. In this regard to identify characteristic features of descriptive parts of the plot, to reveal key spatial images, to differentiate the “subject” and “material” meanings of interior objects. Material and methods. The article explores the features of image of the objective world in the novel “The Brothers Karamazov”, relying on the works by M. M. Bakhtin, S. S. Averintsev, A. P. Chudakov, M. N. Epstein, K. G. Isupov. The subject of study is the interior as one of the aspects of the subject-material world and a number of things-operators in their connection with the problems of cultural memory. The study is carried out on the basis of the structuralsemiotic method. Results and discussion. In Russian literary criticism, the problem of object / subject poetics has not been systematically studied. The tokens “subject” and “thing” are most often used in a generalized sense. The differences in their etymons are given, the composite term “subject-material world” is proposed, which combines different (visual and auditory) versions of the artistic interpretation of reality while preserving the original values, and also includes an approach to the subject and things from the standpoint of spiritual development, the discovery of existential meaning. The subject-material aspect in the poetics of F. M. Dostoevsky is represented in an undeveloped manner. However, in the context of the aspiration of thought F. M. Dostoevsky on the “subject-matter”, “substantial” subject-material world acquires special characteristics. The “stereotyped” descriptions of interiors in the novel “The Brothers Karamazov”, as a technique, creates multiple plot calls and repetitions, which together reveal a metaphysical image of the common space. Interior items, depicted extremely conditionally, at the same time realize the symbolic function of the “things” of messengers. The brevity of descriptions, which in the limit boils down to enumeration, actualizes the early, donarrative forms of the cumulative type in the plot, giving dynamics and eventfulness to the descriptive parts of the plot. In addition, the symbolism of objects of the subject-real world includes the possibility of transforming an object into a thing, which is understood as revealing the eidos, living structure or metaphysical depth of a thing and the inverse movement of a thing into an object, “closing” its existential core, “solidifying” within the external forms of material existence. Conclusion. Thus, the subject-material world in “The Brothers Karamazov”, in particular the interior, given in brief descriptions, listings, references, not only dotted outlines the contours of everyday life of heroes, determines the trajectories of their movements, actions, but also implements the possibility of “entering” into existential meanings, into the space of sacred memory, becoming, by the definition of P. Florensky, a symbol of Eternity created in Time.
Keywords: cultural memory, object, thing, interior, iteration, metaphysics, eidos, descriptive fragments, Dostoevsky, “The Brothers Karamazov”
References:
1. Tynyanov Yu. N. Literaturnyy fakt [Literary fact]. In: Tynyanov Yu. N. Poetika. Istoriya literatury. Kino [Poetics. History of literature. Cinematography]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1977. 578 p. (in Russian).
2. Lotman Yu. M. Pamyat’ v kul’turologicheskom osveshchenii [Memory in cultural lighting]. In: Lotman Yu. M. Izbrannye stat’i. [Featured articles]. Tallinn, Aleksandra Publ., 1992. Vol. 1. Pp. 200–202 (in Russian). URL: http://philology.ru/literature1/lotman-92f.htm (accessed 12 February 2020).
3. Pasternak B. L. Doktor Zhivago: roman [Doctor Zhivago: novel]. Kuybyshev, Kuybyshevskoye knizhnoye izdatel’stvo Publ., 1989. 528 p. (in Russian).
4. Faryno E. “Ya pomnyu (chudnoye mgnoven’e)…” i “Ya (slovo) pozabyl” [“I remember (a wonderful moment)” and “I forgot (the word)”]. Wiener Slawistischer Almanach, 1985, Band 16, pp. 30–38. (in Russian). URL: https://periodika.digitale-sammlungen.de/wsa/Blatt_bsb00000484,00029.html (accessed 12 February 2020).
5. Bakhtin M. M. Voprosy literatury i estetiki. Issledovaniya raznykh let [Questions of literature and aesthetics. Research of different years]. Moscow, Khudozhestvennaya literatura Publ., 1975. 504 p. (in Russian).
6. Florenskiy P. A. Stolp i utverzhdeniye istiny: Opyt pravoslavnoy teoditsei [The pillar and affirmation of truth: experience of orthodox theodicy]. Moscow, AST Publ., 2003. 640 p. (in Russian).
7. Schedrakova O. N. Funktsionirovaniye kategorii veshchi v poezii postsimvolizma. Na materiale ranney liriki B. Pasternaka. Avtoref. kand. filolog. nauk [Functioning of the category of things in post-symbolism poetry. Based on the material of B. Pasternak’s early lyrics. Abstract of thesis cand. of philol. sci.]. Moscow, 2006. 24 p. (in Russian).
8. Efremova T. F. Novyy slovar’ russkogo yazyka. Tolkovo-slovoobrazovatel’nyy: v 2 t. [New dictionary of the Russian language. Interpretative and word-forming. In 2 vol.]. Moscow, Russkiy yazyk Publ., 2000. 1209 p. (in Russian). URL: https://www.efremova.info/word/na_predmet.html#.Xj7AHDIzaM8 (accessed 12 February 2020).
9. Tsyganenko G. P. Etimologicheskiy slovar’ russkogo yazyka [Etymological dictionary of the Russian language]. Kiev, Radyan’sk school Publ., 1989. 511 p. (in Russian). URL: http://www.slovorod.ru/etym-cyganenko/cyg-p.htm (accessed 12 February 2020).
10. Segal D. M. O nekotorykh aspektakh smyslovoy struktury “Grifel’noy ody” O. E. Mandel’shtama [On some aspects of the semantic structure of “Slate Ode” O. E. Mandelstam]. In: Segal D. M. Literatura kak okhrannaya gramota [Literature as a safeconduct]. Moscow, Vodoley Publ., 2006. Pp. 253–301 (in Russian).
11. Shanskiy N. M. Etimologicheskiy slovar’ russkogo yazyka [Etymological dictionary of the Russian language]. Moscow, Drofa Publ., 2000. 399 p. (in Russian). URL: https://lexicography.online/etymology/shansky (accessed 12 February 2020).
12. Chudakov A. P. Predmetnyy mir [Subject world]. In: Chudakov A. P. Poetika Chekhova [Chekhov’s poetics]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1971. 291 p. (in Russian).
13. Averintsev S. S. Predvaritel’nye zametki k izucheniyu srednevekovoy estetiki [Preliminary notes to the study of medieval aesthetics]. In: Drevnerusskoye iskusstvo. Zarubezhnye svyazi [Ancient russian art. Foreign relations]. Moscow, Nauka Publ., 1975. Pp. 371–397 (in Russian).
14. Epshteyn M. N. Realogiya [Realogy]. In: Proyektivnyy filosofskiy slovar’: Novye terminy i ponyatiya [Projective philosophical dictionary: new terms and concepts]. Saint-Petersburg, Aleteyya Publ., 2003. Pp. 346–350 (in Russian).
15. Chudakov A. P. Predmetnyy mir Dostoyevskogo [Dostoevsky’s subject world]. In: Dostoyevskiy. Materialy i issledovaniya [Dostoevsky. Materials and research]. Leningrad, Nauka, Leningradskoye otdeleniye Publ., 1980. Vol. 4. Pp. 96–105 (in Russian).
16. Isupov K. G. Metafizika obshcheniya v mire Dostoevskogo [Metaphysics of communication in the world of Dostoevsky]. Filologicheskiye issledovaniya – Research journal, 2007, no 9, pp. 43–70 (in Russian).
17. Soina O. S., Sabirov V. SH. Chitayem Dostoyevskogo: (Opyt filosofskogo osmysleniya mirovozzreniya i tvorchestva pisatelya) [Reading Dostoevsky: (Experience of philosophical understanding of the writer’s worldview and creativity)]. Novosibirsk, Nauka Publ., 2005. 304 p. (in Russian).
18. Nazirov R. G. Simvolizatsiya real’nogo [Symbolization of the real]. Dostoevskiy: estetika i poetika: Slovar’-spravochnik [Dostoevsky: the aesthetics and poetics: Dictionary-reference]. Chelyabinsk, Metall Publ., 1997. 272 p. (in Russian) URL: http://nevmenandr.net/scientia/nazirov-slovar.php (accessed 12 February 2020).
19. Dostoyevskiy F. M. Brat’ya Karamazovy: roman [The Brothers Karamazov: novel]. Saint-Petersburg, Azbuka, Azbuka-Attikus Publ., 2012. 896 p. (in Russian).
20. Volkova A. G. Yazykovaya reprezentatsiya sobytiya: priyem perechisleniya v vizantiyskoy tserkovnoy poezii [Language representation of the event: method of enumeration in Byzantine church poetry]. Yazyk i kul’tura – Language and Culture, 2014, no. 4 (28), pp. 5–16 (in Russian).
21. Faryno E. Vvedeniye v literaturovedeniye: uchebnoye posobiye [Introduction to literary studies: textbook]. Saint-Petersburg, Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia Publ., 2004. 639 p. (in Russian).
22. Rikyor P. Vremya i rasskaz [Time and story]. Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Universitetskaya kniga Publ., 2000. Vol. 2. 216 p. (in Russian).
23. Kandinskiy V. V. O dukhovnom v iskusstve [About spiritual in art]. Moscow, Arkhimed Publ., 1992. 108 p. (in Russian). URL: http://lib.ru/CULTURE/KANDINSKIJ/kandinskij.txt#BM6 (accessed 12 February 2020).
24. Kasatkina T. A. Detal’-veshch’ [Detail-thing]. Dostoyevskiy: Estetika i poetika: Slovar’-spravochnik [Dostoevsky: the aesthetics and poetics: Dictionary-reference]. Chelyabinsk, Metall Publ., 1997. 272 p. (in Russian).
25. Taratinskaya L. A. Izobrazitel’nye funktsii kachestvennykh prilagatel’nykh v romane F. M. Dostoyevskogo “Brat’ya Karamazovy”. Avtoref. dis. kand. filol. nauk [Pictorial functions of qualitative adjectives in F. M. Dostoevsky’s novel “The Brothers Karamazov”. Abstract of thesis cand. of filol. sci.]. Moscow, 2010. 18 p. (in Russian).
26. Polozova I. V. Simvol [Symbol]. Entsiklopediya epistemologii i filosofii nauki [Encyclopedia of epistemology and philosophy of science]. Moscow, Kanon+ ROOI “Reabilitatsiya” Publ., 2009. 1248 p. (in Russian). URL: https://terme.ru/termin/simvol.html (accessed 8 February 2020).
27. Faryno E. Predmetnyy mir [Subject world]. PRO=ZA. Predmet: Materialy k obsuzhdeniyu [Prose. Subject: Materials for discussion]. Smolensk, SSPU Publ., 2005. 172 p. (in Russian)
28. Chulkina N. L. Semiotika “Veshchnogo mira” povsednevnosti: “Veshchi-simvoly” i “Veshchi-operatory” (tsennostnaya pereoriyentatsiya na rubezhe epokh) [Semiotic of the “Material world” of everyday life: “Things-symbols” and “Things-operators” (value reorientation at the frontier of the epoch)]. Tsennosti i smysly, 2010, no. 6 (9), pp. 48–63 (in Russian). URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/semiotika-veschnogo-mira-povsednevnosti-veschi-simvoly-i-veschi-operatory-tsennostnayapereorientatsiya-na-rubezhe-epoh (accessed 8 February 2020)
29. Merlo-Ponti M. Vidimoye i nevidimoye [The visible and the invisible]. Minsk, Logvinov Publ., 2006. 400 p. (in Russian).
30. Podoroga V. A. Skladka [Pleat]. Novaya filosofskaya entsiklopediya: v 4 t. [New philosophical encyclopedia. In 4 vol.]. Moscow, Mysl’ Publ., 2001 (in Russian). URL: https://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/enc_philosophy (accessed 8 February 2020)
31. Kantor V. K. Platki, inter’ery, shlyapy [Shawls, interiors, hats]. Nezavisimaya gazeta. Proyekt NG-Exlibris [Independent newspaper. Projects NG-Exlibris], 2008. 20 November (in Russian). URL: http://www.ng.ru/ng_exlibris/2008-11-20/4_dostoevsky.html (accessed 8 February 2020).
32. Isupov K. G. Sud’by klassicheskogo naslediya i filosofsko-esteticheskaya kul’tura Serebryanogo veka [The fate of the classical heritage and the philosophical and aesthetic culture of the Silver age]. Saint-Petersburg, RHGA Publ, 2010. 592 p. (in Russian).
Issue: 5, 2020
Series of issue: Issue 5
Rubric: TOPICAL ISSUES OF LITERARY CRITICISM
Pages: 142 — 154
Downloads: 600