Philosophical and Aesthetic Dialogue: Yuly Aykhenvald and Piotr Bitsilli

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https://doi.org/10.22455/Emigr.3034-3518-2024-2-158-178

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Abstract: The article compares for the first time the philosophical and aesthetic views on Russian literature and language of two prominent figures of Russian abroad — the critic Yuly Aykhenvald (1872–1928) and the medievalist, interpreter of Russian classical literature Piotr Bitsilli (1879–1953). The author takes into account all facts supported by various materials presently identified, confirming the mutual interest of Aykhenvald and Bitsilli, including documents from Piotr Bitsilli collection at the Institute of Russian literature (Pushkin House) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Among the issues raised are the impact which Aykhenvald’s immanent method of analyzing a literary text had on Bitsilli’s aesthetically individualizing method, the approaches of both authors to solving the morphology of Russian culture and philosophy of the nation, the connection of the Pushkin theme with thoughts about the destiny of post-revolutionary Russia and Russian language in their works, which they articulated during the discussion of Sergei and Aleksandr Volkonskii’s book In defense of the Russian language. Aykhenvald’s review for the Berlin newspaper Rul’ on Bitsilli’s Studies on Russian Poetry (1926), obituary of Aykhenvald, which was published by Bitsilli in the Sofia newspaper Golos (1929) are republished in the appendix to the article.

Keywords: Yuly I. Aykhenvald, Piotr M. Bitsilli, Russian literature, language, aesthetics, Pushkin tradition, immanent method, philosophy of the nation, morphology of culture.

Information about author: Elena A. Takho-Godi, DSc in Philology, Professor, Faculty of Philology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory St. 1, bild. 51, 119991 Moscow, Russia; Leading Research Fellow, A.M. Gorky Institute of World Literature, Russian Academy of Sciences, Povarskaya St., 25A, bdg. 1, 121069 Moscow, Russia; Head of the Research Department, Library-Museum “A.F. Losev House”, Arbat St. 33, 119002 Moscow, Russia.

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6907-8656

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For citation: Takho-Godi, E.A. “Philosophical and Aesthetic Dialogue: Yuly Aykhenvald and Piotr Bitsilli”, transl. into eng. by A.V. Protopopova and T.A. Pirusskaia. Emigrantica. Issue 2: Piotr M. Bitsilli and the Humanities of the Russia Abroad, comp. M.A. Vasilieva, sci. ed. M.A. Vasilieva and A.V. Bakuntsev, ed. M.S. Shchavlinskii, D.V. Zaitsev. Moscow, IWL RAS Publ., 2024, pp. 158–178. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.22455/Emigr.3034-3518-2024-2-158-178

BIBLIOGRAPHY

References

  1. Annenkova, I.V. Neizgnannaia mysl’. Filologiia P.M. Bitsilli [Unexplained Thought. Philology of P.M. Bitsilli], Moscow, Lomonosov Moscow State University Publ., 2011. 146 p. (In Russian)
  2. Annenkova, I.V. P.M. Bitsilli kak istorik i teoretik russkogo literaturnogo iazyka [P.M. Bitsilli as a Historian and Theorist of the Russian Literary Language]. Moscow, Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University Publ., 2010. 107 p. (In Russian)
  3. Birman, M.A. P.M. Bitsilli (1879–1953). Zhizn’ i tvorchestvo [P.M. Bitsilli (1879–1953). Life and Work]. Moscow, Vodolei Publ.,2018. 444 p. (In Russian)
  4. Gerashko, L.V., and V.B. Kudriavtsev. “Fond professora P.M. Bitsilli v Ruko-pisnom otdele Pushkinskogo Doma” [“Foundation of Professor P.M. Bitsilli in the Manuscript Department of the Pushkin House”]. Ezhegodnik Rukopisnogo otdela Pushkinskogo Doma na 2005–2006 gody [Yearbook of the Manuscript Department of the Pushkin House for 2005–2006]. St. Petersburg, Dmitry Bulanin Publ., 2009, pp. 57–222. (In Russian)
  5. Takho-Godi, E.A. “Pushkin v filosofsko-esteticheskoi sisteme Yu.I. Aykhenvalda” [“Pushkin in Yu.I. Aykhenvald’s Philosophical-Aesthetic System”]. Problemy istoricheskoi poetiki, vol. 18, no. 3, 2020, pp. 171–189. (In Russian)
  6. Vasilieva, M.A. “ʽEsteticheskaia problema’ v literaturovedenii P.M. Bitsilli: Kpostanovke voprosa” [“ʽAesthetic Problem’ in theLiterary Studies of P.M. Bitsilli: (on the Statement of the Problem)”]. Sibirskii filologicheskii zhurnal, no. 1, 2009, pp. 109–117. (In Russian)

Sources

  1. Aykhenvald, Yu.I. “Kosnoiazychnaia Rossiia” [“Tongue-tied Russia”]. Rul’,no. 2334, August 1, 1928, pp. 2. (In Russian)
  2. Aykhenvald, Yu.I. “Literaturnye zametki” [“Literary Notes”]. Rul’, no. 1548,January 6, 1926, pp. 2–3. (In Russian)
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  8. Aykhenvald, Yu.I. [Review on] “Khodasevich V.F. Poeticheskoe khoziaistvo Pushkina” [“Khodasevich V.F. Pushkin’s poetic economy”]. Rul’, no. 917, December 9, 1923, pp. 2–3; no. 1104, July 23, 1924, pp. 2–3. (In Russian)
  9. Aykhenvald, Yu.I. “Velikoi pamiati: (K 125-letiiu rozhdeniia Pushkina)” [“Great Memory: (To the 125thAnniversary of the Birth of Pushkin)”]. Segodnia, no. 129, June 8, 1924, pp. 4. (In Russian)
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  11. Bitsilli, P.M. “Derzhavin — Pushkin — Tiutchev i russkaia gosudarstven-nost’” [“Derzhavin –– Pushkin –– Tyutchev and Russian Statehood”]. Sbornik statei, posviashchennykh P.N. Miliukovu. 1859–1929 [Collection of Articles Dedicated to P.N. Milyukov.1859–1929]. Prag, [N. e.], 1929, pp. 351–374. (In Russian)
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  15. Bitsilli, P.M. “Pamiati Yulya Isaevicha Aykhenvalda” [“In Memory of Yuliy Isaevich Aykhenvald”]. Golos, no. 26, January 19, 1929, pp. 1–2. (In Russian)
  16. Bitsilli, P.M. [Review on] “Iv. Bunin. Bozh’e Drevo. Izd.Sovr. zap.’ Parizh, 1931” [“Iv. Bunin. God’s Tree. Ed. Sovrem. zap.’ Paris,1931”]. Chisla, no. 5, 1931, pp. 222–223. (In Russian)
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  19. Frank, S.L. “Rytsar’ Dukha” [“Knight of the Spirit”]. Rul’, no. 2453, December 19, 1928, pp. 2. (In Russian)
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  21. Kochergina, I.V. and D.V. Zueva, editors. Yu.I. Aykhenvald v gazete “Rul’” (1922–1928): v 2-kh kn. [Yu.I. Aykhenvald in the newspaper “Rul” (1922– 1928): in 2 vols.]. Moscow, Vodolei Publ., 2022. 740, 684 p. (In Russia)
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Received: 7 September 2021
Approved after reviewing: December 14, 2022
Date of publication: December 26, 2024

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