Features of the Development of Tatar Soviet Prose: Thematic and Poetic Tendencies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2025.3.7Keywords:
Tatar literature; prose; socialist realism; Soviet literatureAbstract
This article examines the distinctive features of Tatar Soviet prose in terms of thematic and poetic innovation. Its development is marked by three major stages: the first — 1917–1930, the second — 1941–1955, and the third — 1960–1985. These stages correspond to socio-political processes in the USSR and to changing emphases in artistic consciousness and the literary process. The analysis is based on the works of G. Ibragimov, A. Eniki, G. Bashirov, M. Amir, F. Khusni, and R. Batulla. The authors highlight the transformation of the “We — They” dichotomy at each stage.
During the initial stage of the formation of Soviet artistic culture, literature absorbed the romantic pathos of the revolution and civil war. Under ideological pressure, socialist realism was established as the dominant literary method, based on a dichotomy of “We” — fighters for a new socialist life, and “They” — enemies of Soviet power.
In the period of the Great Patriotic War, significant thematic transformations took place. Efforts to depict ethnic characters, attempts to recreate the Tatar national character, and the development of psychological poetics reflected writers' aspirations to overcome the ideological constraints of socialist realism. As in the literary contexts across the Soviet Union, the representation of “We” now referred to the people of the USSR — defenders of their homeland — and “They” to the enemy, the aggressors.
The third stage is characterized by a revival of established traditions in Tatar prose and the reemergence of the theme of ethnic identity in literary works. In line with the sociocultural changes in the life of the Tatar people, prose became increasingly diverse in terms of both themes and genres. The socio-psychological opposition of “We — They” came to be interpreted within an ethnocultural framework.
During this period, the pursuit of ethnic self-expression, humanist ideals, and the search for artistic truth often came into conflict with the rigid ideological boundaries, censorship, and political pressure. Nevertheless, Tatar literature managed to endure, preserve its distinct identity, and make a significant contribution to the development of Tatar culture.
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Ganieva A. F. and Nadyrshina L. R. Features of the Development of Tatar Soviet Prose: Thematic and Poetic Tendencies. New Research of Tuva, 2025, no. 3, pp. 94-111. (In Russ.). DOI: https://doi.org/10.25178/nit.2025.3.7
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Author Biographies
Aigul F. Ganieva, Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art, Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences
Candidate of Philology, Senior Researcher, Department of Literary Studies, G. Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art, Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences.
Postal address: 12/4 K. Marxa St., Kazan, 420111, Russia.
E-mail: aygulgani@mail.ru
Leysan R. Nadyrshina, Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art, Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences
Doctor of Philology, Senior Researcher, Center for Written Heritage, G. Ibragimov Institute of Language, Literature and Art, Tatarstan Аcademy of Sciences.
Postal address: 12/4 K. Marxa St., Kazan, 420111, Russia.
E-mail: lejsan84@mail.ru
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