Defining the genre specific nature of the literary tale: tales as a memeplex in the works of J. Zipes and Bakhtin’s conception of ‘memory of the genre’ in the works of M. Lipovetsky

Abstract

This article reviews theoretical conceptions concerning the genre specificity of the literary fairy tale. We refer to two key theories in the field of the genre - the works of M. Lipovetsky, based on M. Bakhtin’s conception of “genre memory”, and J. Zipes theory of the fairy tale genre as a memeplex. Despite the fact that these conceptions are not traditionally considered in the scientific paradigm as complementary, we attempt to bring them into a single logic. The article identifies the connection between the studies of M. Lipovetsky, J. Zipes and the conception of “metafictionality”, or “self-reflexivity” of the literary fairy tale genre. We argue that metafiction is a key parameter of the genre being in direct connection with the category of intertextuality. Metafictionalism underlies the genre nature of the literary fairy tale; in addition, it can be expressed through particular techniques, including the “the method of breaking the fourth wall” technique, the “mis en abame” technique, the change of focalization, etc. The article concludes that the “metafiction” of the text, manifested in the literary fairy tale at all textual levels, can be a tool of genre differentiation.