MISGUIDED STEREOTYPES OF POSTMODERNISM AND THE REPRESENTATION OF UNIVERSAL MORAL DILEMMAS IN CONTEMPORARY FICTION (G. SOSIASHVILI’S SHORT STORY “EXIT FROM THE BODY”)

Abstract

It does not require much observation or effort to notice that modernity, alongside progress, also introduces a certain degree of chaos into art and literature. Boundaries have been dissolved, and both online platforms and bookstore shelves are filled with works by contemporary authors who enjoy popularity and readership. Yet, in many cases, the themes and styles of expression are chosen not according to the relevance of the problem or professional criteria, but rather for their scandalous nature or an undefined sense of freedom. This often paves a shortcut to recognition for authors oriented toward provocation. The essential requirement seems to be fearlessness and shamelessness, which can quickly turn a book into a bestseller and imprint the author’s name in the public memory.

We are far from claiming that restrictions in literature are desirable; on the contrary, breaking boundaries—when done in moderation and with proper context—can be both acceptable and necessary, even when dealing with coarse terminology. However, when this becomes an end in itself, and the author relies solely on such tactics, the result is inevitably weak and unconvincing.

In this paper, we aim to redirect the reader’s attention in the opposite direction, asking whether contemporary authors are compelled to follow such tendencies blindly, or whether it is possible to write without succumbing to them. This path is undoubtedly more difficult: one month or one year is not enough to reach readers—it requires far more time and effort. Sometimes, one discovers a young writer and marvels at their talent, only to realize that the work was written years earlier, accompanied by many other remarkable pieces. Such authors do not shout, curse, or abandon shame; they simply write what they feel compelled to write—what they consider problematic, what reflects both their pain and ours. They write patiently, waiting for the reader to arrive.

Keywords: Postmodernism; Contemporary Literature; Representation, Giorgi Sosiashvili.