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

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.