Terrifying projections of soviet childhood

Abstract

In the creative process, the relationship of childhood with the act of writing reveals tangential defining elements, because metaphorically speaking, the writer is a perpetual child (not in the sense of immaturity, but in the sense of permanent search, youthful and playful curiosity, exploring originality), which it allows him to constantly present his world through the prism of a unique aspect. The article highlights the specific features of some examples of Soviet childhood, identified in the novels Din calidor by Paul Goma, Copil la ruși by Leo Butnaru, Grădina de sticlă by Tatiana Țîbuleac or in the story Copii în cătușele Siberiei by Spiridon Vangheli. The system of characters presented in these texts highlights a lesser-known side of the Soviet system, that of deportations/ immigration, abandonment etc. The numerous juvenile characters offer the reader a panoramic perspective on their childhood, as well as on the communist society with all its specific aspects. Among them political dogmas, the cohabitation of patriarchal traditions with communist propaganda, atheism, pioneering, multilingualism (especially Russian terminology) etc. Can be listed. However, this fact does not prevent the writers from presenting us with a sunny childhood, candid and full of age-specific adventures. In this way, the theme of childhood is always based on the idea of travelling in time, often nostalgic, meant to juxtapose the monotonous, complicated, problematic present of a fabulous, paradisiacal, mythical past, capitalizing on the dreams and aspirations of adults through the youthful perspective.

Keywords

• soviet childhood
• (post)modern perspectives
• playful
• narrator
• character
• biography