Post-Realist Tendencies in Contemprorary Russian Prose

Abstract

Contemprorary Russian prose is undergoing a complex transformation, where realism as a literary tradition is evolving to meet the challenges of modern era. This literary movement maintains a connection with the realist tradition but renews it by incorporating elements of postmodernism, metaphysics, and linguistic and structural experimentation. The focus of post-realism shifts from an objective depiction of the world to exploring subjective perception, deconstructing conventional narratives, and rethinking the concept of truth.

Post-realist tendencies in contemporary Russian prose are characterized by an effort to go beyond traditional realism while preserving its fundamental features, such as an interest in everyday life, social issues, and the inner world of individuals. However, these tendencies are complemented by elements of postmodernism, magical realism, experiments with form and language, as well as an appeal to metaphysical and philosophical questions. Contemporary authors actively employ references to classical literature, cultural, and historical phenomena. This creates a dialogue with tradition, while often turning the text into a field for playful interaction with the reader. Post-realist prose emphasizes the inner world of the protagonist and their perception of reality. At times, reality is presented as fragmented or distorted through the prism of the character's consciousness.

The leading position in the post-realist artistic paradigm of the 1980–1990 (A. Kim, A. Kurchatkin, R. Kireev, F. Gorenshtein, S. Dovlatov, L. Ulitskaya, and others) is held by Vladimir Makanin. Having entered the literary scene back in the 1970, this writer reached the peak of his creative achievements only in his later novels.

“Underground, or A Hero of Our Time” (1990) is rightfully considered the artistic pinnacle of Vladimir Makanin's work. The meaning of the novel unfolds through references to precedent texts, such as Dostoevsky's “Notes from Underground” and Lermontov's “A Hero of Our Time”. These texts set the vectors for the novel’s central themes: the historical metamorphoses of the "Russian majority" and the fate of the heroic-individual principle in culture. The novel also contains numerous allusions to the literary neo-myths of Pushkin, Gogol, Chekhov, Bulgakov, and others, enriching its intertextual depth and cultural resonance.

Working within the post-realist framework, Lyudmila Ulitskaya poses a fundamental question in her novel “The Kukotsky Case” (2001): is the independence of the human personality possible in the post-humanist era? Through the entirety of her narrative, she offers a definitive negative answer. The protagonist, Pavel Kukotsky—a remarkable man and an outstanding doctor who bases his actions solely on human notions of good and evil, justice—ultimately loses everything he holds dear. He succumbs to alcoholism, deteriorates, and is left in profound emotional isolation. The novel is deeply interwoven with a dialogue with Russian classics, notably A. Chekhov (“A Dreary Story”) and F. Dostoevsky (“Notes from Underground”), further enriching its philosophical and cultural dimensions.

Post-realism in contemporary Russian prose reflects literature's attempt to adapt to a changing world, where reality becomes increasingly multilayered and fragmented. Post-realism does not reject traditions but reinterprets them, making Russian prose relevant and multifaceted.