Artpress Examines Contemporary Russian Literature's Relationship with European Cultural Identity

The March 2015 issue of artpress magazine features an article questioning the enduring concept of the 'Russian soul' in contemporary Russian literature. The piece references a historical footnote from 1834 by the poet Alexander Pushkin, who expressed frustration with Europe's perceived ignorance and ingratitude toward Russia. Pushkin noted that Russia had preserved the nascent Enlightenment despite its own struggles, yet Europe remained dismissive. This historical perspective serves as a foundation for examining how modern Russian writers engage with or reject this deep-seated cultural trope. The article appears in artpress issue 420, spanning pages 74 to 76. It explores the tensions between Russian literary identity and European cultural reception, using Pushkin's 19th-century commentary as a critical lens. The discussion centers on whether contemporary authors are moving beyond traditional national characterizations.