Ewelina Bator: Socialist Realism in Finland? A Post-1989 Perspective on Finnish Poetry

Srdečně zveme na přednášku Eweliny Bator, Ph.D. (Univerzita ve Varšavě) na téma „Socialist Realism in Finland? A Post-1989 Perspective on Finnish Poetry“, která se uskuteční v úterý 19. května od 15.50 v místnosti P319 (v angličtině). Přednáška se koná v rámci jejího dvouměsíčního badatelsko-pedagogického pobytu na oddělení finských studií ÚGS FF UK podpořeného programem 4EU+.

Abstract:

Socialist Realism is traditionally viewed as a mere tool of Eastern Bloc propaganda, leading many scholars to dismiss it as „non-art“ and leaving the field under-researched. However, more than thirty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we can finally examine it through a different lens—not just as a political instrument, but as an artistic movement with specific aesthetic characteristics.This lecture explores Finnish leftist poetry of the 1950s within Finland’s unique geopolitical context. By analyzing the works of poets such as Elvi Sinervo, we will consider whether these texts represent a distinct literary trend rather than just ideological submission. The presentation draws on the findings of Dr. Ewelina Bator’s newly published book, Kohti sosialistista realismia, offering a fresh, objective perspective on how Socialist Realism manifested in a country balanced between East and West.