At the core of this research lies an examination of trauma, which is conceptualized not merely as a destabilizing experience but also as a generative principle underpinning the symbolic order of existence. Trauma, serving as the driving force behind subjectivation, emerges as a critical reference point for the narrator, who grapples with the desire to confront this experience while simultaneously feeling the need to distance himself from it. The profound intensity of this experience, frequently accompanied by an inability to articulate appropriate responses, results in a compulsive return to the past. Within this temporal revisitation, the recovery of memory assumes dreamlike and memorial qualities, as an endeavor to make sense of a fragmented reality is undertaken.
Concurrently, the research investigates the interrelationship between environmental and social crises through the lens of ecoliterature. Sudden catastrophes – such as hurricanes or nuclear accidents – and forms of "slow violence" associated with land contamination and exploitation highlight the notion that ecological issues extend beyond the realm of nature; they are inextricably linked to human societal dynamics. In this framework, literary narratives function as instruments for reflection and critique, proficient in illuminating the intersections between environmental vulnerability and social injustice. Additionally, the research places emphasis on gender narratives, conceived as both arenas for identity construction and dynamic spaces for the production of knowledge. Within these narratives, the transcendence of rigid dichotomies and the critical interrogation of traditional preconceptions facilitate new visions grounded in fluidity and inclusiveness, thereby enabling a reinterpretation of social structures through a more open and multifaceted lens.
The methodology employed is intentionally interdisciplinary, traversing multiple fields of knowledge, including literary criticism, psychology, sociology, cultural studies, postcolonial studies, and environmental ethics. A comparative approach facilitates the connection of narratives from three distinct regions of Slavia – Eastern (Russia), Southern (Serbia and Croatia), and Western (Poland) – selected for their cultural and social representativeness. While the chronological starting point is identified as 1989, the research extends beyond mere temporal confines, engaging in a dialogue with history and establishing an analytical-descriptive framework capable of modeling literary production during the post-socialist era. Through this lens, the project transcends an exploration of the artistic dimensions of the works, integrating them into a broader discourse on historical and social transformations, thus positioning them as active contributors to the ongoing debate surrounding issues of gender and identity.
