Art
Svetlana Alexievich
The Voice of the Small People
2015 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate
Lesson Plan
- Lesson Length : 16 Lessons ㆍ 1 hours 58 miutes
- Language : 한국어, English
Life in Russia and the USSR via testimonies of small people buried in grand narratives
Svetlana Alexievich, an author known for her stories about the reality and lives of the Soviet people, has famously created her own unique literary genre known as the "novel of voices." Her innovative break from traditional grammar to create a new genre was driven by a desire to explore ordinary life rather than ideologically driven narratives. Over the years, Alexievich has interviewed hundreds of people, compiling their stories into non-fiction works where the protagonists are not politicians or heroes but the "small people" we encounter in everyday life.
Her works give voice to those overshadowed by grand narratives: Soviet female soldiers who fought in World War II, young soldiers in the Soviet-Afghan War, people who experienced the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and Soviets navigating life in a capitalist society after the USSR's collapse. These voices have reshaped our understanding of modern Soviet and Russian history.
This lecture will delve into the stories of these "small people" Alexievich met, offering a new perspective on the last hundred years of Soviet and Russian history, and reflect on the role of writers and literature in our times.
Full Bio
Svetlana Alexievich
- Nobel Prize in Literature (2015)
- Médicis Prize for Nonfiction, France (2013)
- International Herder Prize (1999)
- Key Works: "The Unwomanly Face of War", "Last Witnesses", "Zinky Boys", "Chernobyl Prayer", "The Last of the Soviets"
Svetlana Alexievich is a Belarusian author and the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate. Born in Ukraine and raised in Belarus, she graduated from the Journalism Department at Belarusian State University and worked as a journalist for newspapers and magazines.
Alexievich is also renowned for creating her own unique literary genre, known as the "novel of voices." This genre, which she sometimes calls a "novel-chorus," involves interviewing hundreds of people over many years and weaving their stories into a nonfiction format, where individual voices are harmonized, and everyday details are collaged together.
All of Alexievich's works capture Russian history from the time of World War II, exploring how political ideologies manifest in individuals' inner lives and daily existence. Her major works include "The Unwomanly Face of War," "Last Witnesses," "Zinky Boys," "Chernobyl Prayer," and "The Last of the Soviets."
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