“Abrazok” in the Light of the Tradition of Borrowing: from Zmitrok Biadula to Yurka Maksimchyk

Abstract

The article is devoted to the genre of „abrazok” typical for Belarusian literature, which was formed and became popular in the early 20^th century. The research is based on a comprehensive approach and combines comparative-historical, comparative and historical-contextual methods, hermeneutical interpretation. Historical conditions contributed to the gradual replacement of the term „abrazok” by the term „miniature”, although the concepts they mean are not absolutely identical. The analysis is focused on the continuity in the tradition of the development of „abrazok” in Belarusian literature: against the background of the classical format of this genre created by Zmitrok Biadula, the most recent examples are examined – the works of the representative of the micro-language of the Western Polesie Aliaksei Dzikavitsky. Dzikavitsky's stylistic techniques in many ways approach the classical models of Z. Biadula. As a result of the development of new spheres of communication in social networks, an internet visual „clone” of the literary „abrazok” – TikTok sketch – was born. The „abrazok” and the sketch share common features: minimalism in content and plot, curiosity, brevity and an emotional component; both types record unforgettable, emotional moments of life and portray them in a certain tone through psychological state of mind. The considered tradition of small-format artwork is a unique Belarusian national product and at the same time it is a part of broader, worldwide tradition of small prose forms.