Conformism and Resistance

The Birth of the Modern Georgian Literature

Author(s): Malkhaz Kharbedia
Editor(s): Iris Kempe, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perovic, Lili Di Puppo
Series: Caucasus Analytical Digest (CAD)
Issue: 14
Pages: 7-10
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zurich; Jefferson Institute, Washington D.C.; Heinrich Böll Foundation, Tbilisi; Research Centre for East European Studies, University of Bremen
Publication Year: 2010

This article investigates the state of the Georgian literature as it developed since the late 1980s. It argues that Georgia did not begin on a new path even with the collapse of the Soviet Union and that the country needs to conduct an evaluation of its history. There is little interest in contemporary poetry in Georgia, including even the civic lyric from street protests. Georgian literature today is infantile in the sense that it distracts one's attention so that people will accept something against their will. Among Georgia's recent literature you will hardly find powerful, rebellious, insightful, witty, or sarcastic texts. Another problem is the lack of effective criticism. Additionally, media discussions of literature are boring and do not attract attention to it.

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