Slovenska Literatura (Oct 2011)
Interpretation, demestication, manipulation (DAVists and R X. Šalda)
Abstract
The study deals with the relationship between the critics from the magazine DAV´s circle and the Czech critic F. X. Šalda. There seem to be three complementary ways of relating to Šalda that can be tracked in the Davists´ approach to him from 1937 (F. X. Šalda´s death), and especially after 1948: they are called domestication, interpretation and manipulation. Šalda´s critical methods were well received and applied by Slovak marxist critics from the magazine DAV in order to solve Slovak culture problems, however his opinions were also significantly reshaped under the influence of ideology. Vladimír Clementis is used as an example to prove the fact. The study also deals with the influence of Šalda´s personalistic criticism as a model and pattern on Slovak cultural enviroment before World War II. and is concerned with opinion adjustments made by some of the Slovak promoters of Šaldaesque criticism after the rise of Communist dictatorship (Alexander Matuška). In conclusion there is given evidence that Šalda as a representative of a certain approach to cultural issues is to some extent still present in the current Slovak literary discussions, e.g. in Július Vanovič´s works.
