Victor Shklovsky

Definition

Victor Shklovsky was a prominent Russian literary theorist and a key figure in the Russian Formalism movement, which emerged in the early 20th century. He is best known for his concept of 'defamiliarization,' which refers to the technique of making the familiar strange to enhance perception and appreciation of art. His work focused on the formal properties of literature, emphasizing how narrative techniques shape the reader's experience.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Shklovsky's influential essay 'Art as Technique' introduced the idea of defamiliarization, arguing that literature should disrupt habitual perceptions to foster a fresh understanding.
2. He played a significant role in establishing Russian Formalism as a dominant literary theory during the early 20th century, influencing future generations of critics and writers.
3. Shklovsky's focus on narrative techniques has led to deeper insights into the relationship between form and content in literature, highlighting how style affects meaning.
4. His ideas about art's function as a way to renew perception have been foundational for various fields beyond literature, including film studies and modern art criticism.
5. Shklovsky's work often contrasted with traditional approaches to literature that emphasized authorial intent and historical context, advocating for a more objective analysis based solely on textual elements.

Review Questions

• How did Victor Shklovsky’s concept of defamiliarization transform the way literature is analyzed?
  • Victor Shklovsky's concept of defamiliarization transformed literary analysis by encouraging readers to see texts in new ways. By making the familiar strange, he argued that literature could provoke deeper emotional responses and insights. This shift from focusing solely on content or authorial intent to examining formal properties allowed critics to appreciate how narrative techniques influence perception and understanding.
• Discuss the impact of Russian Formalism, particularly through Shklovsky’s contributions, on modern literary criticism.
  • Russian Formalism, driven by thinkers like Shklovsky, revolutionized modern literary criticism by shifting focus from historical context and authorial intent to the study of literary form and structure. Shklovsky’s ideas about defamiliarization not only changed how texts are analyzed but also inspired new methodologies in various artistic fields. His work laid the groundwork for later theories such as structuralism and post-structuralism, emphasizing the importance of narrative techniques in shaping meaning.
• Evaluate how Shklovsky's ideas about estrangement and defamiliarization contribute to our understanding of art's purpose in society.
  • Shklovsky's ideas about estrangement and defamiliarization suggest that art serves a vital purpose in society by challenging everyday perceptions and encouraging critical engagement with the world. By presenting familiar experiences in unfamiliar ways, art compels audiences to reconsider their assumptions and perceptions. This process fosters a deeper appreciation for art's complexities and allows individuals to gain insights into their realities, highlighting art’s role as a transformative force within culture.

Related terms

Defamiliarization:

A technique proposed by Shklovsky that involves presenting familiar objects or experiences in an unfamiliar way to provoke a new perspective and deeper understanding.

Russian Formalism: A literary movement that prioritized the analysis of literary forms and devices, focusing on how these elements contribute to the meaning of a text, rather than on historical or social contexts.

Estrangement: A concept closely related to defamiliarization, suggesting that art should make everyday life feel distant or alien, allowing audiences to perceive its structures more clearly.