Feuilletons are works that combine fiction, journalism and satire. From small notes in newspapers, they have grown into a separate genre. How did it happen? What features characterize feuilletons? We'll talk about that.
The emergence of the concept
The concept of "feuilleton" originated in France in the 19th century and referred to journalism. From French, it is translated as “leaf”, because it was from the leaf that the history of this term began. In 1800, a newspaper called the Journal des débats began to supplement the standard editions with small inserts, which were later called feuilletons.
The main topic of the paper was politics. It opened at the beginning of the French Revolution and published state reports, decisions, orders, statements of deputies and other news in this vein. The extra liners, on the other hand, were clean of politics. They were written in a lively style and had an informal tone.
Newspaper feuilletons were a way to entertain the public, and at the same time draw their attention to the publication. Advertisements were placed on the inserts,riddles, poems, book and theater reviews, charades, puzzles and puzzles.
Development of the genre
Despite the fact that the term "feuilleton" appeared after the French Revolution, it is believed that the genre itself was born a century earlier. Its founders are Denis Diderot and Voltaire, authors of satirical works criticizing religion and politics.
Feuilletons in French newspapers quickly moved to a similar tone. Appearing as charades and reviews, they quickly developed into a separate literary and journalistic genre, close in spirit to Voltaire and Diderot.
First, fragments of literary works began to appear in newspaper inserts, for example, "The Three Musketeers" by A. Dumas. From here originates a new genre - the novel-feuilleton. He belonged to fiction and focused on the mass reader, not having much aesthetics and artistry.
At the same time, European poets and publicists contribute to the formation of a political feuilleton. It is characterized by bright irony and even satire on politics and social problems. The genre was strengthened by Victor Rochefort-Lucet, Heinrich Heine, Georg Werth, Ludwig Börne, etc.
Feuilleton - what is it? Genre features
Now it belongs to small works and can be represented by a short story, essay, verse or story. Feuilleton is a genre on the border between literature and journalism. With a work of art, it is united by the form of presentation and techniques, while the sharpness of the content refers to journalism.
This work is characterized by specificity in images and facts, criticism, irony. The main topic is the topical problems of society and politics. Feuilletons are works that denounce human vices, such as pettiness, greed, or, for example, stupidity.
Feuilleton is sometimes associated with the comic genre. However, he does not set out to cause laughter. Its main goal is to show a specific phenomenon through ridicule, making fun of it and, perhaps, make the reader think.
Feuilletons in Russia
Over time, feuilletons appeared in Russia as well - these were works of a low level. At the very beginning, they were perceived with negativity, compared with the yellow press and low-quality cheap publications. By the 20s of the 19th century, attitudes towards them began to change. So, Baron Brambeus' feuilletons appeared with critical statements about mediocre and vulgar literature.
Alexander Pushkin, Dobrolyubov, Bestuzhev, S altykov-Shchedrin, Panaev, Nekrasov distinguished themselves with sharp notes. The genre gradually gained popularity. Feuilletons were published in the magazine "Crocodile", "Iskra", "Alarm clock". They acquired special ideology and sharpness during the revolution.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Doroshevich and Yablonovsky worked with this genre. Boris Egorov and Semyon Narignani even released separate book editions. In the New Satyricon, Mayakovsky published his feuilletons-hymns ("Hymn to a Bribe", "Hymn to a Scientist, etc.).
