The Construction of Italy in Soviet Travelogues

Authors

  • Anneli Kõvamees

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12697/IL.2013.18.2.10

Keywords:

Estonian travelogues, Aimée Beekman, image studies, Italy, Soviet ideology

Abstract

At the focus of the article is Aimée Beekman’s travelogue Plastmassist südamega madonna (A Madonna With a Plastic Heart, 1963). Using imagology (or image studies) as the theoretical basis, the article analyses the Soviet Estonian author’s image of Italy in order to see what characterises the Soviet travelogue. In the depiction of the other and construction of the capitalist West, Soviet society is also depicted. The Soviet travelogue deals with certain topics from a Soviet point of view using Soviet rhetoric and logic. The Soviet travelogue differs from the earlier travelogue tradition in the manner of Friedebert Tuglas which entwined the history- and art-books the author had read with personal impressions. The Tuglas-like travelogue is both educative and enjoyable to read. The Soviet travelogue tends to remain a onesided description of the places seen; it does not dug deeper into the twists of mind and developments of topics. The Soviet ideology strongly influenced the text written.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

<div class="WordSection1"><p>Bassnett, S. 2003. Introduction. – J. Speake, ed., <em>Literature of Travel and Exploration: An Encyclopedia. </em>London: Routledge, xi–xv.</p><p>Beekman, A. 1963. <em>Plastmassist südamega madonna. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus.</p><p>Beller, M. 2007. Perception, Image, Imagology. – M. Beller, J. Leerssen, eds., <em>Imagology. </em><em>The</em><em>  Cultural  Construction  and  Literary  Representation  of  National  Characters. A Critical Survey. </em>Amsterdam-New York: Rodopi, 3–16.</p><p>Beller, M., Leerssen, J., eds. 2007. <em>Imagology.</em><em> </em><em>The</em><em> </em><em>Cultural</em><em> </em><em>Construction</em><em> </em><em>and</em><em> </em><em>Literary</em><em> </em><em>Representation</em><em> </em><em>of National Characters. A Critical Survey. </em>Amsterdam–New York: Rodopi.</p><p>Eilart, J. 1966. Head reisi, reisikiri! – <em>Edasi</em>, 13.02.</p><p>Fussell, P. 2001. Travel Books as Literary Phenomena. – S. L. Roberson, ed., <em>Defining Travel. Diverse Visions. </em>Jackson: University Press of Missisipi, 105–116.</p><p>Kahk, J. 1967. <em>Alpide taga on moonpunane Itaalia. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.</p><p>Kõvamees, A. 2008a. <em>Itaalia</em><em> </em><em>eesti</em><em> </em><em>reisikirjades:</em><em> </em><em>Karl</em><em> </em><em>Ristikivi</em><em> </em><em>“Itaalia</em><em> </em><em>capriccio”</em><em> </em><em>ja Aimée Beekmani “Plastmassist südamega madonna”. </em>Tallinn: Tallinna Ülikooli kirjastus.</p><p>Kõvamees, A. 2008b. Moscow to Rome: From One Centre to Another. – <em>Back to Baltic Memory: Lost and Found in Literature 1940–1968. </em>Riga: Latvijas Universitātes, Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts, 219–233.</p><p>Kõvamees, A. 2009. Johannes Semperi rännakutest Itaalias. – E. Lindsalu, J. Vaiksoo, eds., <em>Uurimusi 1920.–1930. eesti kirjandusest. </em>Tallinn: TLÜ kirjastus, 175−195.</p></div><p>Laikmaa, A. 1996. <em>Teelt. Maailmakodaniku reisikirjad Viinist, Veneetsiast, Firenzest, Roomast, Caprilt, Sitsiiliast, Vesuuvi tipust, Tunisest jm. </em>Tallinn: Kunst.</p><p>Laosson, M. 1962. <em>Nato-blokk turisti bloknoodis. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus.</p><p>Lepik, P. 2000. Antiikkultuuri fenomen Nõukogude kultuuris. – <em>Akadeemia</em>, 4, 718–754.</p><p>MacCannell, D. 2001. Sightseeing and Social Structure. – S. L. Roberson, ed., <em>Defining Travel. Diverse Visions. </em>Jackson: University Press of Missisipi, 13–28.</p><p>Mallene, E. 1961. Reisikirjeldus ja mõnda, mis seal sees leida on. – <em>Sirp</em><em> ja Vasar</em>, 17.11.</p><p>Panso, V. 1957. <em>Laevaga Leningradist Odessasse ehk Miks otse minna, kui ringi saab. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus.</p><p>Pfister, M. 1996. Introduction. – M. Pfister, ed., <em>The Fatal Gift of Beauty: The Italies of British Travellers. An Annotated Anthology. </em>Amsterdam-Atlanta: Rodopi, 1–21.</p><p>Ristikivi, K. 1958. Itaalia capriccio. – <em>Üle maa ja mere. Matkakirju kaheksalt autorilt. </em>Lund: Eesti Kirjanike Kooperatiiv, 191–265.</p><p>Toomla, J. 1964. Reisirevüü matkast mööda reisiraamatuid. – <em>Rahva Hääl</em>, 2.08.</p><p>Tuglas, F. 1945. <em>Esimene välisreis. Pagulasmälestusi Prantsusmaalt ja Itaaliast 1909–</em><em>1910.</em><em> </em>Tallinn: Ilukirjandus ja Kunst.</p><p>Vaarandi, D. 1970. <em>Välja õuest ja väravast. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.</p><p>Vader, A. 1973. <em>Itaalia päikese all. </em>Tallinn: Eesti Raamat.</p><p>Voestermans, P. 1991. Alterity/Identity: A Deficient Image of Culture. – R. Corbey, J. Leerssen, eds. <em>Alterity,</em><em> </em><em>Identity,</em><em> </em><em>Image: Selves and Others in Society and Scholarship. Amsterdam Studies on Cultural Identity, 1. </em>Amsterdam, Atlanta: Rodopi, 219–250.</p>

Downloads

Published

2013-12-20

Most read articles by the same author(s)