Sedakova and Elena Shvarts
The article discusses the conceptual function of the East-West opposition
in the verse of Olga Sedakova and Elena Shvarts, Russian poets contributing
significantly to the unofficial literature of the late Soviet Union.
Firstly, the concepts of East and West are briefly described from the perspective
of post-colonial studies. Then, they are considered in the mirror of the poetics of
the two poets. It is shown that the Judeo-Christian tradition prevails in both
of them, and that the motifs borrowed from other cultural contexts, traditionally
referred to under the collective term “East”, have a predominantly decorative
function. Both, however, haven’t conducted any in-depth research on these
cultural contexts. Yet, it is important for both poets to reconcile the religious
traditions of mankind. They only perceive them as externally distinct, but unified
at a deeper spiritual level. In the poetry of both, Russia appears as a geographical
space, the purpose of which is to synthesize the various spiritual currents
of mankind.
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Sedakova and Elena Shvarts // Критика и семиотика. 2019. № 1. Pp. 93–107. DOI: 10.25205/2307-1737-2019-1-93-107.