Me Kiretu Kirjanduskriitika: 2015. ja 2016. Aasta Kirjanduskriitika Ülevaade
Our dispassionate literary criticism: A survey of 2015–2016

Summary/Abstract: Estonian literary criticism over the past two years (with digressions to 2014 and 2017) is discussed. The authors address criticism at large, not just reviews, trying to capture attitudinal stances aimed at transforming the literary field. The period is represented by ten bright moments, ten tendencies characteristic of criticism at large, and a description of the formal aspect of literary criticism. Various points of obstruction are listed, including an inability to analyse the changed field of poetry (due to obsolete methods), lack of passion, thin argumentation, the reluctance of the critics to demarcate their reading strategies, barren discussions, and an extension of the superficial style of the virtual environment to print media. Most of the landscape of criticism in 2015 and 2016 is dominated by dullness, toothlessness, lack of the wish or courage to generalise. The brightest are single successes – passionate texts with a real personal touch, saving the general impression. However, although the recent years have been called an era of reflections on criticism, a comparison with earlier surveys only proves that the core characteristic of Estonian criticism is resistance to change.

• Details
• Contents