Zanda Gūtmane's article discussing realism in Soviet-era prose
An article by Zanda Gūtmane "Where Was Realism Hidden in Soviet-Era Prose?" has been published in the online magazine Punctum.
The article was developed within the framework of the Latvian Council of Science research project "Recovering Latvian Realism: Literary Innovation as a Quest for Identity" (REALT), carried out at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia.
The article invites readers to reconsider and explore more deeply the literary works produced during the Soviet period—works that navigated the tensions between the demands of the regime and creative freedom. Through an analysis of Ēvalds Vilks's short story "The Insult" and the influence of Italian Neorealism, Gūtmane demonstrates how writers employed traditional realist strategies and close attention to everyday details to undermine the dogmas of Socialist Realism from within.
This publication continues Punctum's ongoing series of essays exploring the questions and challenges of literary realism.