ОТ КУНА К КАНОНУ (И ОБРАТНО): БУДУЩЕЕ ЛИТЕРАТУРОВЕДЕНИЯ В МИРЕ БЕЗ УСТОЙЧИВЫХ СИСТЕМ

FROM KUHN TO CANON (AND BACK): THE FUTURE OF LITERARY STUDIES IN A POST-PARADIGM WORLD

Abstract

The article explores the application of Thomas Kuhn’s theory of scientific

revolutions to literary studies, analyzing paradigm shifts in literary history and forecasting the

future of the discipline in the digital age. Kuhn’s original concept—alternating periods of

"normal science" and revolutionary upheavals—is adapted to literary evolution: stable canons

(classicism, realism, modernism) are replaced by crises leading to new artistic systems (e.g.,

the shift from realism to avant-garde). Special emphasis is placed on the "incommensurability

of paradigms," highlighting the impossibility of evaluating new methods (formalism,

deconstruction, digital humanities) through old frameworks.

Contemporary literary studies are described as a "pre-paradigmatic chaos," where

digital humanities, cognitive approaches, ecocriticism, and other methods compete. I predict

that the discipline will become increasingly interdisciplinary, integrating big data,

neuroscience, and VR technologies. For instance, AI-driven text analysis will uncover hidden

patterns, while brain research may explain divergent reader interpretations. Ecocriticism will

assess texts through their environmental impact, and VR visualization will transform literary

analysis into an interactive experience.

The article examines specific examples of paradigm shifts: the manifesto era of the 20th

century, the poetry of Odysseas Elytis, internet-born literature, and neo-avant-garde films. It

argues that the digital age is fundamentally altering literature itself—algorithms generate texts,

social media shapes new formats, and authorship becomes collective. The conclusion outlines a

model for "future literary studies," merging traditional analysis with technological innovation

and philosophical reflection.