Key Concepts of Russian Formalism
Literariness (Literaturnost):
- One of the foundational concepts of Russian Formalism is "literariness," which refers to what makes a text literary or distinct from ordinary language. Formalists argued that the defining feature of literature is its use of language in ways that deviate from everyday speech, thereby drawing attention to its own form. This focus on the formal aspects of language, such as sound, rhythm, and syntax, is what creates the aesthetic experience of literature.
Defamiliarization (Ostranenie):
- Another central concept is "defamiliarization," coined by Viktor Shklovsky. Defamiliarization involves presenting familiar objects, situations, or language in a way that makes them appear strange or unfamiliar to the reader. By disrupting automatic perception, literature forces readers to see the world from a fresh perspective, thereby renewing their awareness of everyday phenomena. This concept became a cornerstone of Formalist analysis, as it highlighted the innovative use of language and narrative techniques in literature.
The Function of Literary Devices:
- Russian Formalists were particularly interested in identifying and analyzing the various literary devices that contribute to a text's overall effect. They argued that literary devices, such as metaphor, metonymy, and irony, are not merely ornamental but are central to how literature creates meaning. By focusing on these devices, Formalists sought to uncover the underlying mechanics of literary texts.
The Autonomy of the Text:
- Like New Critics, Russian Formalists believed that a literary work should be studied as an autonomous entity, independent of the author’s intentions or the social and historical context in which it was produced. They argued that the text itself, through its formal properties, contains all the information necessary for its interpretation and appreciation.
Plot vs. Story (Syuzhet vs. Fabula):
- Formalists made a crucial distinction between "plot" (syuzhet) and "story" (fabula). The "story" refers to the chronological sequence of events in a narrative, while the "plot" refers to the way these events are arranged and presented in the text. This distinction was important for understanding how narrative techniques contribute to the overall impact of a literary work, as the arrangement of events in a plot can create suspense, surprise, or thematic complexity that would not be apparent from the story alone.
Important Contributors to Russian Formalism
Viktor Shklovsky
Role and Contributions: Viktor Shklovsky is one of the most prominent figures in Russian Formalism. His essay "Art as Technique" (1917) is one of the foundational texts of the movement. In this essay, Shklovsky introduced the concept of "defamiliarization," arguing that the purpose of art is to make the familiar strange and to renew our perception of the world. He believed that literature achieves this effect by manipulating language and narrative structures in innovative ways. Shklovsky’s work laid the groundwork for the Formalist emphasis on the study of literary form and technique.
Key Concepts: Shklovsky’s concept of defamiliarization became a central idea in Formalist theory, highlighting the transformative power of literary language. His focus on the techniques of narrative construction, such as plot (syuzhet) and story (fabula) , also influenced subsequent Formalist analyses of literature.
Roman Jakobson
Role and Contributions: Roman Jakobson was a key figure in both Russian Formalism and later Structuralism. As a linguist and literary theorist, Jakobson made significant contributions to the study of poetics and the relationship between language and literature. He introduced the idea of the "poetic function" of language, which emphasizes how the structure and sound of language in poetry contribute to its meaning. Jakobson also explored the concept of "foregrounding," where certain elements of a text are highlighted to draw the reader's attention, thereby enhancing its aesthetic impact.
Key Concepts: Jakobson’s work on the poetic function and foregrounding expanded the scope of Formalist analysis to include not just narrative techniques but also the linguistic properties of literature. His interdisciplinary approach influenced both literary theory and linguistics.
Yuri Tynianov
Role and Contributions: Yuri Tynianov was a literary scholar and novelist who played a crucial role in developing the Formalist approach to the study of literary history. Tynianov argued that literature is an evolving system where new forms emerge in response to the obsolescence of old ones. He introduced the idea of "literary evolution," suggesting that literary innovation is driven by the internal dynamics of the literary system rather than by external social or political factors. Tynianov’s work helped Formalists understand literature as a dynamic, self-regulating system.
Key Concepts: Tynianov’s concept of literary evolution provided a framework for understanding how literary forms and genres change over time. His work emphasized the importance of internal literary mechanisms in shaping the development of literature.
Boris Eikhenbaum
Role and Contributions: Boris Eikhenbaum was another leading figure in Russian Formalism, known for his work on narrative theory and the history of literary forms. Eikhenbaum emphasized the importance of the "literary fact," arguing that the analysis of literature should be grounded in observable, verifiable elements of the text. He also explored the relationship between literature and other art forms, such as cinema, highlighting the unique qualities of literary language. Eikhenbaum’s work contributed to the Formalist emphasis on empirical, systematic analysis of literary texts.
Key Concepts: Eikhenbaum’s focus on the literary fact and his interest in narrative structures reinforced the Formalist commitment to a scientific approach to literary analysis. His interdisciplinary perspective also enriched the study of literature by drawing connections between different artistic mediums.
Vladimir Propp
Role and Contributions: Vladimir Propp, though often associated with Russian Formalism, is best known for his work on the structural analysis of folklore. In his seminal book Morphology of the Folktale (1928), Propp identified recurring narrative structures and character types in Russian folktales. He proposed that all folktales follow a similar narrative pattern, composed of a limited number of functions or actions. Propp’s work laid the foundation for the structuralist analysis of narratives and influenced later developments in literary theory.
Key Concepts: Propp’s identification of narrative functions and his structuralist approach to folklore provided a model for analyzing the underlying structures of literary narratives. His work demonstrated the applicability of Formalist principles to a wide range of literary genres.
Conclusion
Russian Formalism revolutionized literary theory by shifting the focus from content to form and emphasizing the importance of the text itself as an autonomous object of study. The movement’s key concepts, such as literariness, defamiliarization, and the distinction between plot and story, provided new tools for analyzing literature and understanding its unique qualities. The contributions of scholars like Viktor Shklovsky, Roman Jakobson, and Yuri Tynianov laid the groundwork for future developments in literary theory, including Structuralism and various formalist approaches. Despite facing political repression in the Soviet Union, Russian Formalism’s legacy continues to influence contemporary literary studies, particularly in the areas of narrative theory and poetics.