Literary Criticism Module 5

About Viktor Shklovsky and OPOYAZ:

Viktor Shklovsky was a pioneer of Russian Formalism and belonged to the OPOYAZ group along with Boris Eichenbaum, Yuri Tynyanov, and Osip Brik. Compared to the Moscow Linguistic Circle led by Roman Jakobson, Grigory Vinokur, and Petr Bogatyrev, that focussed on linguistic aspects, the OPOYAZ group focussed on literary form. 

The OPOYAZ group's focus was on the medium of literature (literary form, narrative style, literary devices, rhythm, etc.). They gave greater importance to the medium of the literary work than the political or social message the work carries with it. However, this was in direct conflict with the socialist ideals of the USSR. Soviet leadership viewed formalism as anti-socialist, as it promoted the autonomy of art. So the formalists were persecuted under Joseph Stalin's rule.