Macedonian Literature Research Articles

Reflection of the Cyrillo-Methodian Tradition in the Contemporary Macedonian Literature

Reflection of the Cyrillo-Methodian Tradition in the Contemporary Macedonian Literature

Simple and strict – Koneski. About the interest of the young generation in the giant of Macedonian literature

I. Antonovski makes his first attempt at a new interpretation of the work of the giant of Macedonian literature and culture B. Koneski. His book is an undeniably valuable contribution to the development of Macedonian literary studies and is unlikely to be left without due attention. Antonovski has proven that Koneski is an eternal author who attracts and will continue to attract attention, that the depth of his work is inexhaustible, which will allow researchers to turn to this work and supplement it in the future.

ЗНАЧЕЊЕТО НА ПРИЈАТЕЛСТВОТО И ОСАМЕНОСТА ВО МЕЃУВРСНИЧКИ ТЕРЕЛАЦИИ, ПРИКАЖАНО ВО МАКЕДОНСКАТА КНИЖЕВНОСТ ЗА ДЕЦА И МЛАДИ

Humans are social beings for whom social communication with other people is vital. Usually, when the word “loneliness” is mentioned, the first association is related to older people, or people of an advanced age. But the fact is that loneliness cannot be linked specifically to a certain age in a person. Neither children nor adolescents are an exception to that. Adolescence is a period of transition, in which young people face many new challenges, both in their family and at school. Hence, it is crucial for the young man to have harmonious relations in his family, and especially to establish friendly relations at school, in places where young people go out, etc. In this way, friendship with peers can relieve them of the stress related to school, grades, appearance that changes “overnight”, etc. In this article, we refer to those few key moments, through appropriate examples that we will extract from contemporary Macedonian literature for children and youth.

Environmental Threats in American and Macedonian Dystopian Fiction

Various environmental changes threaten local environments and the world at large. Some of these changes have visible immediate effects on people’s lives, as exemplified by the pollution in the Macedonian capital of Skopje, which for several years has ranked among the world’s most polluted cities. Additionally, global warming is estimated to have devastating consequences for all life on Earth. While American writers have increasingly incorporated discussion of climate change into their fiction, Macedonian literature has rarely delved into environmental issues. Therefore, this article aims to contribute by exploring specific environmental aspects in several previously unexplored Macedonian dystopian works by Branko Prlja, Ivan Šopov and Biljana Crvenkovska. These works are compared to the novel Forty Signs of Rain by the American writer Kim Stanly Robinson, analysing the approaches employed in addressing environmental threats. The comparative view, as well as placing all of these works in the context of existing factual information about climate change and pollution, indicates the cultural differences between the narratives, but also the common ground they share about possible responses that may be undertaken to tackle environmental problems.

RE VIEW OF THE BOOK: SHESHKEN A.G. MACEDONIAN LITERATURE OF THE 20TH — EARLY 21ST CENTURIES. ESSAYS ON HISTORY. MOSCOW: INDRIC, 2022. 478 p

The review analyses the monograph of A.G. Sheshken on the history of Macedonian literature. It is emphasized that the main achievement of the author is the comprehensive description and analysis of Macedonian literature, its periods and most important representatives which is the first in Russian scholarship. The Macedonian literature is placed in the context of the Yugoslavian literature, and the role of foreign (including Russian) artistic experience and translations for its formation is emphasized. The great merit of the book is the coverage of the achievements of the Russian Macedonian studies.

Prolegomena for Contemporary Macedonian Poetry

Lyric poetry in Macedonian literature, continues to have the status of one of the dominant literary genres, attractive to authors of different generations. This text offers an interpretive and typological overview of six books of poems from the recent Macedonian poetry, published in 2021–2022. The interpretive focus is placed on the thematic, structural, compositional, and stylistic features in the poetry of Zoran Anchevski, Risto Lazarov, Sande Stojchevski, Violeta Tаncheva-Zlateva, Daniela Andonovska-Trajkovska, and Andrej Al-Asadi.

Macedonian Literary Reality after the Postmodernism (The Reality as a Future Challenge of the Literary History)

This paper is dedicated to the events of the Macedonian literary scene in the period after postmodernism, with a separate focus on the poetics of the authors born in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century. At the same time, the question of the poetic (un) coverage of the authors who debuted in the end and after the end of postmodernism is separately opend, while analyzing whether in the current moment, in the Macedonian literacy area in general, a separate stylistic formation can be recognized, but at the same time, is the postmodernism really over? By tracing the development of Macedonian literature, it is also analyzed whether it is even possible to speak of new literary generations in the sense in which the literary generation was prevously regarded in the Macedonian literary history. With this, the paper builds on the insights of Ala Sheshken in relation to the Macedonian literary history, with that it touches to the period of postmodernism, but then follows a great (future) challenge – how literary science will (can) valorize the current literary reality.

The Role of Literature in the Processes of Destereotyping (Through Examples from Macedonian Literature)

The Role of Literature in the Processes of Destereotyping (Through Examples from Macedonian Literature)Considering the imagological conceptions of the Other by Daniel-Henri Pageau and Gordana Đerić, this text analyses the role of literature in the deconstruction of stereotypes that circulate in communication between Balkan neighbours. In the focus of our interpretation are three novels of contemporary Macedonian literature (Luan Starova’s Balkanvavilonci, Dragi Mihajlovski’s Mojot Skenderbej and Blazhe Minevski’s Nishan), which are paradigmatic in two ways: 1. they refer to historical events and figures, thus confirming that history is the basic mechanism for the argumentation of stereotypical images; 2. they depict processes of destereotyping both thematically and structurally, but also by their appearance in a particular sociohistorical context, with the aim of promoting supranational, universal, human, civilizational, and cultural values such as love, empathy, forgiveness, dialogue, tolerance, education, love of books, optimism, humaneness, all of which are usually treated as originally European values. Literature, by articulating the processes of destereotyping through the narrative strategies in the works, confirms that it holds the potential to act correctively on systems where different forms of power are based on discrimination and submission. Rola literatury w procesach destereotypizacji (na przykładach z literatury macedońskiej)Przedmiotem tekstu jest analiza roli literatury w dekonstrukcji stereotypów krążących w komunikacji między bałkańskimi sąsiadami z perspektywy imagologicznych koncepcji Innego autorstwa Daniela-Henri Pageau i Gordany Đerić. W centrum uwagi znajdują się trzy powieści zaliczane do współczesnej literatury macedońskiej (Balkanvavilonci Luany Starovy, Mojot Skenderbej Dragiego Mihajlovskiego, Nishan Blaže Minevskiego). Są one paradygmatyczne z dwóch względów: 1. odwołują się do wydarzeń i postaci historycznych, czym potwierdzają, że historia jest podstawowym mechanizmem argumentacji obrazów o charakterze stereotypowym; 2. ujawniają procesy destereotypizacji zarówno pod względem tematycznym, jak i strukturalnym, a też przez zaktualizowanie określonego kontekstu społeczno-historycznego, co służy promowaniu wartości ponadnarodowych, uniwersalnych, ludzkich, cywilizacyjnych i kulturowych, takich jak miłość, empatia, przebaczenie, dialog, tolerancja, edukacja, miłość do książek, optymizm, humanitaryzm, traktowanych jako wartości fundamentalnie europejskie. Potwierdza to, że artykułując procesy desterotypizacji przez strategie narracyjne, literatura ma potencjał do działania korygującego w systemach, w których różne formy władzy oparte są na dyskryminacji i uległości.

The First History of Macedonian Literature by the Foreign Macedonist (Ala Sheshken. Macedonian Literature of the 20th – Early 21st Centuries. History essays. Moscow. Indrik Publ. 2022. 480 p.)

The First History of Macedonian Literature by the Foreign Macedonist (Ala Sheshken. Macedonian Literature of the 20th – Early 21st Centuries. History essays. Moscow. Indrik Publ. 2022. 480 p.)

Essential Reflections: Alla Sheshken’s Interpretations of Blazhe Koneski’s Opus

The literary creativity of Blazhe Koneski is one of the main scientific interests of Alla Sheshken, professor at the Lomonosov Moscow State University and member of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Her books “Themes on Macedonian literature: The 20th century” and “Studies about Macedonian Literature” are interpretation of Koneski’s poetry and his translations. The article is focused on three trends of these studies: 1. the interpretation of the influences of Russian literature on Koneski and analysis of his translations of Russian poetry, 2. the influences of folklore on Koneski’s works, and 3. the role of Koneski in the development of Macedonian literature.

Alla Sheshken’s Scientific Contribution at the Conferences on the International Seminar of Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture

The numerous scientific contributions of Alla Sheshken presented and published in Proceedings of the International Seminar of Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture in Ohrid, reveal topics dedicated to the penetration of Macedonian-Russian literary ties through an intercultural prism. Using a comparative approach, a number of topics on several essential topos are treated: Fyodor M Dostoevski and Macedonian prose; translation and study of Macedonian literature in Russia; reception of the work of S. Janevski and B. Koneski in Russia; M. Bulgakov and Macedonian literature; the contribution of M. Gjurchinov in the affirmation of the scientific interest for the Russian literature in Macedonia, etc. Numerous papers include Alla Sheshken as one of the most passionate scholars and affirmers of the Macedonian-Russian intercultural relations.

Blaze Koneski (1921–1993) the Great Macedonian Culture Person: On the Centenary of His Birth

The celebration of the centenary of the Macedonian poet, scientist and public figure Blaže Koneski (1921–1993) is a reason to appreciate his large contribution to Macedonian literature. The essence of his lyrics is a deep connection with the folk and world art traditions, and the Russian one among them is the morest important (Pushkin, Yesenin, Mayakovsky, Blok, etc.).

REDISCOVERING THE WORD: THE MACEDONIAN PORTION OF LITERARY RUPTURE (On the proceedings of articles The Written and Literary Heritage of Skopje and its Region, Skopje: Institute of Macedonian Literature, p. 194)

REDISCOVERING THE WORD: THE MACEDONIAN PORTION OF LITERARY RUPTURE (On the proceedings of articles The Written and Literary Heritage of Skopje and its Region, Skopje: Institute of Macedonian Literature, p. 194)

«Macedonian Literature of the 20th century» as a Good Addition in Celebration of the Great Jubilee – Blazhe Koneski 100 years (Themes of the 20th century Macedonian Literature. Skopje: Dialog, 2021)

«Macedonian Literature of the 20th century» as a Good Addition in Celebration of the Great Jubilee – Blazhe Koneski 100 years (Themes of the 20th century Macedonian Literature. Skopje: Dialog, 2021)

Рецензія на книгу Митевски Витомир. Преглед на Византийската книжевност. – Скопjе: Филозофский факултет, 2018. – 125 с.

The review emphasizes that the meaning and value of V. Mitevski's work is that he, although rather sketchy, gives the Macedonian reader the opportunity to get acquainted with the main genres and leading authors of Byzantine literature, both theological and secular. The author pays special attention to the connection between Byzantine and Macedonian literature (through the example of parallels between the Acritic Songs and the epic cycle about Prince Marko). The author accepts the broadest time frame of existence of the Byzantine Empire: from the moment of moving the capital to Constantinople to its fall to the Ottomans in the XV century.

EVTIMICA JANCHEVA: THE AUTHOR OF THE FIRST REGISTERED MACEDONIAN WOMEN’S LITERARY POLEMIC

In this paper, we refer to a polemic from 1898 in which the teacher Evtimica Jancheva from the town of Voden took part. The polemic developedas aresponse to two texts in which the authors criticised women, especially teachers, for 18their attitude towards fashion and work. Jancheva's extensive text, published in the newspaper Novini, in the section Correspondence, defends the right of women to be teachers, to follow the latest fashion trends, etc. In this way, the article by Evtimica Jancheva is the first registered polemical writing in Macedonian literature, in which a woman had taken part, while Evtimca Jancheva is considered to be the first Macedonian woman to take part in a public polemic

ДИСКУРЗИВНЕ ШЕТЊЕ ПЕЧАЛБАРСТВА КАО ТРАУМЕ: ОД КОЛЕКТИВНОГ ИСКУСТВА ДО СТВАРАЊА НОСТАЛГИЈЕ

The paper starts by tracing the shifts in the status of Anđelko Krstić in the framework of Serbian and Macedonian literature. We interpret the possibility of Krstić being unconditionally accepted as an author with more than one homeland as a non-ideological principle of literary history that could be involved in a de-traumatization of the past and the creation of a conflict-free future. The similarities in the depiction of migrant workers in the novels Trajanby Anđelko Krstić and Infidelityby Dejan Trajkoski are marginal when compared to the involvement of contemporary novelistic protagonists in the modernization processes which open the affected individuals to the experiences of the Other. However, we conclude with the observation that the discrete historical context of Infidelityreproduces memory narratives that perceive their subject solely as a victim of collective trauma in the past. Although Infidelitycontains elements of an invigorating relativization of memory, it is influenced by dominant discourses that abandoned multi-perspectives of the Balkan past and the inclusion of the Other. Such multifaceted perspectives which include the Other represent a prerequisite for a conflict-free future of the Balkan peoples and cultures.

Literatura macedońska dla dzieci (rekonesans badawczy)

This short study embraces both the first sprouts of the written Macedonian literature for children (somewhere around the second part of the 19th century), and the literary production which happens after the establishment of the contemporary Macedonian language, that is, after the 1945. Still, the main accent is on two newer books: Verses also Grow (И строфите растат) by Alexandar Kujundziski and Jump and Skip (Скокни прескокни) by Vasil Mukaetov which is a part of the refreshed reading list as an optional book for the Macedonian language lessons in the primary schools in Macedonia. Both authors put an emphasis exactly on a child’s sensitivity and such issues as character growth and maturation. In their books, they transfer the reader from childhood to adulthood unnoticeably and lightly. Their message is to help the little human in the complex process of his or her own comprehension and to show him or her that he or she are not alone in this process.

Македонската литература за деца (мала студија за запознавање)

This short study embraces both the first sprouts of the written Macedonian literature for children (somewhere around the second part of the 19th century), and the literary production which happens after the establishment of the contemporary Macedonian language, that is, after the 1945. Still, the main accent is on two newer books: Verses also Grow (И строфите растат) by Alexandar Kujundziski and Jump and Skip (Скокни прескокни) by Vasil Mukaetov which is a part of the refreshed reading list as an optional book for the Macedonian language lessons in the primary schools in Macedonia. Both authors put an emphasis exactly on a child’s sensitivity and such issues as character growth and maturation. In their books, they transfer the reader from childhood to adulthood unnoticeably and lightly. Their message is to help the little human in the complex process of his or her own comprehension and to show him or her that he or she are not alone in this process.

THE DOYEN OF TURKISH LITERATURE IN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA- ILHAMI EMIN

The subject of our interest in the research that preceded this scholarly work was the life and creative path of Ilhami Emin, that is, his contribution to the development of Turkish literature in the Republic of Macedonia. For the purpose we consulted with literary works that offer many data, that is, they talk about the period in which he lived and created "the poet of the Turkish people". Beginning from his birth in the city of Radovis, his tumultuous school years to his work and successful acting in various cultural areas, we once again prove his great merit for the development of Turkish literature in our region. Ilhami Emin conveyed another important feature in his creation, which is bilingualism. Namely, he creates and publishes in parallel both in Turkish and in the Macedonian language, that is, his works are published in the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey, which is why we can say that Emin has in range and aesthetically charged both the Turkish and the Macedonian literature.