POLEMICAL FORMS OF CRITICISM ON THE PAGES OF THE MAGAZINE “KAZAN UTLARY” IN THE 1980S

Abstract

The article presents a study of polemical forms of criticism on the pages of a magazine “Kazan Utlary” (“Lights of Kazan”), which were written on the occasions of discussions, conversations, and round tables in the 1980s of the last century. Particular emphasis is placed on the most vivid forms of polemics – discussions. They raised issues about the current state of Tatar prose, poetry, literary criticism, and also touched on the general history of the development of Tatar literature. The analysis of the articles shows that the discussions began with a current formulation of the issue in the problematic article. This is followed by response articles that allow to look at the issues raised in a broader and deeper way. The discussions of this period reflect both the emergence of new critical thinking against the background of socio-historical events, democratic processes, and the policy of glasnost (free speech), and also show a certain “stagnation” in literary life, caused by the period of perestroika (restructuring) and the changes associated with it. Along with literary critics, writers and readers actively participated in such discussions.