Krzysztof Krasuski

The article shows the benefits of application – considering the necessary detailed modifications – of the theory of post-colonial studies to the cultural and literary research concerning the area of Central and Eastern Europe, which has been hitherto underrated with regard to interpretation. It used to be so due to methodological barriers, which recently have been effectively overcome by publications by E. M. Thompson, D. Skórczewski, H. Gosk, M. Dąbrowski, B. Bakuła and others. Tools provided by the post-colonial studies can and should be adapted to interpretations of cultures of the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, subdued and colonized by influential empires of this region for centuries. The history of the 20th century provides many model examples illustrating realization of forced cultural doctrines or fashions, such as socialist realism, neo-socialist realism etc. Violent reactions to such aesthetics, but also functioning nostalgia or pop-cultural trivialization, also create the post-colonial style of literary utterances. Examples can be drawn from Polish, German (concerning East Germany), Russian, Belorussian, Ukrainian, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian and Bulgarian literature, as well as literature of the Baltic nations and the nations of former Yugoslavia. Traces of this subject matter can be identified in the area of a subject matter of identity, history, mentality, morality, or forms of social interactions. Every reliable literary history synthesis of these areas of the subcontinent demands these topics to be taken into consideration. The vitality of problems connected with post-colonial aspects of the past and modern literary production is evidenced by opinions of authors themselves and literary critics, especially of the younger generation.