The Art of the Word as a Phenomenon of Mental Activity

The paper gives a review of the book by A. Voronkevich What is Art? The essential character of the mat- ters in question is obvious, taking into account the process of estrangement of the modern individual from art. The problem of the purposes of art and the definition of artistry are all in the focus of the author's attention. A.Voronkevich develops a multilevel method of fiction analysis based on L.S. Vygotsky's psychological approach to art. The author argues that at the core of art lies the esthetic reaction (conflict of emotions). The method, undoubtedly effective and original, is fully revealed in its application to the analysis of works by Pushkin, Lermontov and Bulgakov. Exploring every significant level in a literary work's verbal structure opens up new possibilities for the comprehension of its artistic contents. The book certainly does not aim to have the last word in the discussion of art, but represents a thorough and up-to-date psychological and philological investigation into the subject.

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