Diffusion of Style as a Sign of Modernist Poetics: Naturalism and Expressionism in Todosya Osmachka's Poetry

Abstract

  The article deals with the connection of Expressionism and Naturalism elements in the T. Osmachka poetry. According to the scientific data, there is a certain antithesis within these phenomena, respectively, their diffusion in the individual authorial poetics are the study’s objectives. Within the research a strong theoretical basis is applied, that comprises
scientific studies of M. Sloboshhpytskyi, M. Moklytsia, V. Barchan, Yu. Sherekh. In the course of investigation, the structural-functional analysis is used. The findings. One of the key philosophical Expressionism principle is viewed, namely the apocalypse concept and relevant to it eschatological issues. Based on the analysis of the outlined motives the T. Osmachka Thanatos framework, with welldefined horizontal, vertical, symbols and images, is created: gloomy ravine and mountains, sea, river, well symbolize the ways of the Underworld penetration; birds predicting scourge; spooky moon. In the depiction, the red-black coloring prevails. The poet emphasizes the death connotation (its attributes and intentions) as the core image and structural base of the artistic reality. The pictures of bloodshed in the T. Osmachka’s poetry are frequent: either body-realistic or hyperbolic and symbolic. Somatic blood image combines global (Expressionism) and local (Naturalism) contexts of artistic representation. The images of the world’s abyss, irresistible cliff, fatal sun, all-consuming Ocean are occasionally blended in the text with the tiny realities of the world, created by means of modest stylistic means. The poet portrays everyday life, describes the naturalistic pictures while depicting Ukrainian mainland and diaspora reality. Conclusions. T. Osmachka poetic heritage that refers to the Ukrainian Expressionism, has strongly pronounced apocalyptic semantic loading. The poet’s Eschatology stems from the traditional Christian roots and is closely related with his Thanatos-phobia. The main author’s purpose is to globalize evil by means of appealing to the detailing, domestic descriptiveness and negative esthetics in general. T. Osmachka as the other writers uses naturalistic elements to aggravate the prevailing style – Expressionism.