Тиранія та література: розмова про ретроспективу й майбутнє
Tyranny and literature: a conversation about the retrospective and the future

Summary/Abstract: During the international literary festival "Frontera," a thought-provoking discussion titled "Literature Against Tyranny: A Conversation About Texts and Dictatorial Regimes" took place. Participants included writer and co-founder of the publishing house "Bearded Tamarin" Max Kidruk, analyst and translator Inna Bilonozhko, and Polish writer and journalist Malgorzata Reimer, moderated by journalist Max Shcherbina. The conversation delved into the national specifics of various dictatorships, the idealization of tyranny over time, and the role of literature in opposing oppressive regimes. The discussion highlighted three books: "Escape from Camp 14" by Blaine Harden, "Swamp Sweeter than Honey" by Malgorzata Reimer, and "The Rebellion of Things" by Jose Saramago, each exploring different totalitarian regimes in North Korea, Albania, and Portugal. The speakers shared insights into the creation contexts of these books and reflected on the psychological impact of totalitarianism, such as learned helplessness. The event underscored the importance of literature in fostering empathy and understanding historical and contemporary tyrannies.

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