Love and sexuality were considered central areas of interest in theoretical reflection and literature practices of early Russian Modernism. Decadent and symbolist poets, writers and thinkers investigated Eros as a field for experimenting new forms which would lead to a renewed humanity. Inspired by Russian philosopher Vl. Solov’ev as well as European thinkers Nietzsche and Weininger, they approached theoretically – and experimented in their own lives – non-tra- ditional erotic practices, such as Platonic love for a soul twin, Dyonisian eros, love triangles, homosexuality, romantic love for an unattainable object, and so on. Many writers and poets of that period dealt with these topics: V.I. Ivanov, L. Zinov’eva-Annibal, M. Kuzmin, F. Sologub, Z. Gippius, A. Blok, V. Rozanov. The same themes are reflected – in a more simple and low way – in the so called “boulevard literature”, which at the time enjoyned a huge success among the less educated public. Many of them are represented in the first novel of Evdokia Nagrodskaia (1866-1930) The Wrath of Dyonisus. This novel was published for the first time in 1910 and soon obtained an outstanding success: before 1916 the novel counted 10 editions. It dealt with topics such as infidelity, female sexuality, homosexual love, which prompted many critics to cry “pornography”. In her novel Nagrodskaia strove to enter the “erotic discourse” of Russian Modernism, either in its “high” and “low” expressions.
Modernist conceptions of Eros in the reflection of "boulevard literature": Evdokia Nagrodskaia's novel "The Wrath of Dyonisus" // Modernistskie koncepcii erosa v "bul'varnom" otrazenii: "Gnev Dionisa" Evdokii Nagrodskoj
LENA CORRITORE, Andrea
2017
Abstract
Love and sexuality were considered central areas of interest in theoretical reflection and literature practices of early Russian Modernism. Decadent and symbolist poets, writers and thinkers investigated Eros as a field for experimenting new forms which would lead to a renewed humanity. Inspired by Russian philosopher Vl. Solov’ev as well as European thinkers Nietzsche and Weininger, they approached theoretically – and experimented in their own lives – non-tra- ditional erotic practices, such as Platonic love for a soul twin, Dyonisian eros, love triangles, homosexuality, romantic love for an unattainable object, and so on. Many writers and poets of that period dealt with these topics: V.I. Ivanov, L. Zinov’eva-Annibal, M. Kuzmin, F. Sologub, Z. Gippius, A. Blok, V. Rozanov. The same themes are reflected – in a more simple and low way – in the so called “boulevard literature”, which at the time enjoyned a huge success among the less educated public. Many of them are represented in the first novel of Evdokia Nagrodskaia (1866-1930) The Wrath of Dyonisus. This novel was published for the first time in 1910 and soon obtained an outstanding success: before 1916 the novel counted 10 editions. It dealt with topics such as infidelity, female sexuality, homosexual love, which prompted many critics to cry “pornography”. In her novel Nagrodskaia strove to enter the “erotic discourse” of Russian Modernism, either in its “high” and “low” expressions.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
