• The Breath of the Universe. Epic-dramatic Structures in 19th Century Russian Drama

УДК: 821.161.1.0-2"18"

DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-3-91-107

EDN: IKBBMP

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Alexander A. Chepurov

Dr. Sc. in Art Studies, Professor, Head of the Russian Theatre Department
Russian State Institute of Performing Arts
Saint Petersburg, Russia
E-mail: chepurov57@mail.ru

The Breath of the Universe. Epic-dramatic Structures in 19th Century Russian Drama

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the challenges of forming a unique type of epic-dramatic principle for structuring action in 19th century Russian drama and the issues of interaction between literary drama and the stage in the process of achieving the artistic identity of Russian theatre. The article analyzes the principles of non-plot and super-plot construction of action in the works of A. Griboedov, A. Pushkin, N. Gogol, I. Turgenev, A. Ostrovsky, A. SukhovoKobylin, A.K. Tolstoy, L. Tolstoy, and A. Chekhov. It explores how Russian playwrights employ artistic means to present the narratives and conflicts within the encompassing spirituality of an overall worldview. The divergence — the aesthetic “fork” between literary drama and the common repertoire of the Russian stage in the 19th century, which becomes evident in the theatrical process, suggests that Russian drama is developing a principle of staginess — one that is able to express its inherent drama only with the advent of director's theatre.

Keywords

Russian theatre, Russian drama, epic, dramatic, structure of action, nature of drama, cultural identity.

For citation

Chepurov A.A. The Breath of the Universe. Epic-dramatic Structures in 19th Century Russian Drama. Theatre. Fine Arts. Cinema. Music. 2023, no. 3, pp. 91–107. DOI: 10.35852/2588-0144-2023-3-91-107 EDN IKBBMP

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Received: 02.02.2023

Revised: 05.05.2023

Accepted: 16.05.2023