Tsira Kilanava
PhD in Philology
Ilia State University, Assistant professor.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Tsira Kilanava
PhD in Philology
Ilia State University, Assistant professor.
Tbilisi, Georgia
Models of Literary Representation of the Caucasus:
Georgian and Russian Perspectives of the 19th Century
Abstract
A forthcoming conference theses will analyze models of cultural perception and literary representation of the Caucasus as depicted in Georgian and Russian artistic works of the 19th century. This research builds upon an issue explored in a doctoral dissertation successfully defended in 2013, incorporating additional Georgian texts and a Russian perspective not previously examined.
In Western literary and cultural studies (e.g., Susan Layton, Harsha Ram), the literary reflection of the Caucasus has been predominantly analyzed through Russian literature. Unfortunately, Georgian literary works have received insufficient attention, with Irma Ratiani's article, "Literary Reflections of the Caucasus and the Caucasian in Georgian Writing," being a notable exception. In the ideologically driven Soviet scholarly discourse, the literary depiction of Georgian-Russian political and cultural relations was presented unilaterally, emphasizing a positive perspective.
This research, presented as a conference thesis, focuses on textual data from the 19th century, a pivotal era in the political life of Georgia and the entire Caucasus. This period is depicted differently in Georgian and Russian literature, each reflecting distinct worldviews and perspectives. From the Georgian viewpoint, the Caucasus region, and specifically the Caucasus mountain system, is represented through geographical, mythological, political, military, and social contexts, as seen in the works of authors such as Al. Chavchavadze, Gr. Orbeliani, R. Eristavi, I. Gogebashvili, I. Chavchavadze, A. Tsereteli, Vazha-Pshavela, and Al. Kazbegi. These texts present multi-perspective cultural representations intersecting at national and regional levels. In contrast, Russian literature, exemplified by Mikhail Lermontov's works, often created from personal experience, highlights the Caucasus as a central theme.
The aim of the comparative analysis of this specific space and its literary representations is to elucidate the circulating ideas about the Caucasus region within the local (Georgian) and colonizer (Russian Empire) cultures of the 19th century. Specifically, the study seeks to identify common characteristics among the literary models of the Caucasus.
To analyze the named complex issue, the theories of national imageology and spatial studies are used, and the method is textual data analysis using an online tool and a comparativist approach.
Keywords: Caucasus, XIX Century, Georgian Literature, Space Models, Russian Literature.