“Samizdat: Material Texts and Extra-Gutenberg Publics”

20 Jan 2011 - 16:15 / 20 Jan 2011 - 06:15

Munk Centre for International Studies
1 Devonshire Place
Toronto

Professor  Ann Komaromi (University of Toronto)

This talk will explore a new approach to the uncensored Soviet press known as “Samizdat” on the basis of its material texts. Samizdat has been a highly mythologized phenomenon, defined by various groups on the basis of its content. Newer approaches to Samizdat and alternative textual culture challenge conventional binaries and broaden the scope of texts that may be considered part of the history of this period, calling into question what counts as significant social activity. Building on that critical approach, I look at the periodical editions of “Classic Soviet Samizdat” (1956-86) on the basis of material production and distribution in order to explore issues of historical description and archiving of texts that push us beyond Gutenberg paradigms.

 Ann Komaromi is Assistant Professor at the Centre for Comparative Literature. Komaromi’s interests include the avant-garde in literature and visual arts, the Russian novel, Soviet nonconformist art, and dissidence. A significant portion of her research has been focused on late Soviet writing and publishing, especially the Samizdat text and alternative textual culture. Her publications include an article on “The Material Existence of Soviet Samizdat” (Slavic Review, 2004), “The Unofficial Field of Late Soviet Culture” (Slavic Review, 2007), and “Samizdat as Extra-Gutenberg Phenomenon” (Poetics Today, 2009).  Komaromi was awarded a SSHRC (Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council) grant in 2006 for the study of uncensored texts of the late Soviet period. This grant contributed to work on current projects, including a catalogue and history of Soviet Samizdat periodical editions. She is also working on a book manuscript about Samizdat and uncensored novels of the late Soviet period.