Classics and Postmodernism on Travel to Europe

Abstract

Against the background of modern Georgian political and ideological orientations, of particular importance is the rich historical experience gained in relation to the European world and values which with its diverse genres clearly shows the phenomenon of the best keeper of mental memory - fiction. We consider the relevant material on the example of three “traveling” works which familiarize us with the European impressions of various “characters” at different times and circumstances in three-century period, but at the same geocultural space.

The memoir narrative of Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani who was sent with a diplomatic mission to Europe in 1713, vividly describes the details of his travel and meetings, of what he saw and experience. The scope and character of the writer’s description makes us think that his European mission also included quite a wide range of state and cultural interests.

European impressions are conveyed in N.Shataidze’s autobiographical story “A penny depreciated or travel to Europe” in which, according to postmodern view, the present and past, reality and narrative, legend and anecdote, literature and history, archetype and its new interpretation are mixed and coexist with each other.

Sulkhan-Saba Orbeliani’s memoir composition inspired other travelling and new “postmodern text” which is represented on specially created website "Voyage 300 Years Later" with the space and form natural for the modern digital world as a part of a large-scale project initiated and implemented by the writer and publicist P. Natsvlishvili.