MARGINAL IDENTITIES AND LIMINALITY IN POST-COMMUNIST LITERATURE - TWO CASE STUDIES: JACHYM TOPOL AND ANDRZEJ STASIUK
MARGINAL IDENTITIES AND LIMINALITY IN POST-COMMUNIST LITERATURE - TWO CASE STUDIES: JACHYM TOPOL AND ANDRZEJ STASIUK

Summary/Abstract: Starting from the premise that the transition time is in fact, a period of identity reconstruction, when individuals are in between undefined social, political and cultural frameworks, this study proposes a comparative analysis of the liminal aspects depicted in the works of two former members of the Central-European underground from the late 80s and early 90s, the writers: Jáchym Topol and Andrzej Stasiuk. The present study brings out their similar perspectives and literary reflections regarding the post-communist period. The aspects of liminality are discussed here mainly with a focus on time and space, and on the conceptual matrix in which the writers have set up prototypes of anti-heroic characters, mappings of marginalized groups and minorities of all sorts. Besides that, through this comparison we have come to a conclusion that certifies to a certain degree, a Central-European specific found in both cases, which is the relationship with the historical past, as well as the mental attitude materialized in the ideal of refusal and mistrust towards a better future.

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