Defamiliarization: Detailed Notes
Defamiliarization (Russian: ostranenie, ostranenie) is a literary technique introduced by the Russian
formalist
Viktor Shklovsky in his 1917 essay "Art as Technique." The technique involves presenting common
things in an
unfamiliar or strange way to compel the audience to see them differently.
Key Concepts:
1. Art and Perception: Shklovsky believed that as objects and experiences become habitual, our
perceptions of
them become automatic and less vivid. Defamiliarization disrupts this automatic process, enabling
a more engaged
and conscious interaction with the world.
2. Function in Literature: Defamiliarization forces readers to rethink their perceptions of everyday
language,
actions, or objects by presenting them in unexpected ways. This technique draws attention to the
form of the text
and its construction, making the act of reading itself more dynamic.
3. Language and Form: Language, for example, often becomes so familiar that its meaning is
grasped without reflection.
Through defamiliarization, language is transformed in a way that demands more careful reading,
making the familiar
strange. Shklovsky believed that literary works should not merely be about their content but about
how they alter
our perception.
Examples of Defamiliarization:
- Leo Tolstoy: Shklovsky cites Tolstoy's writing as a prime example of defamiliarization, where
everyday actions are
described as if they were foreign or strange, forcing readers to reconsider their assumptions.
- Poetry: Poets often use unconventional metaphors, syntax, or descriptions to evoke a fresh
perspective on familiar
emotions or scenes.
- Modernist Literature: Writers like James Joyce or Virginia Woolf use stream of consciousness and
unconventional
narrative structures to disrupt traditional storytelling, thereby defamiliarizing the act of reading.
Purpose:
- Renewing Experience: The primary aim of defamiliarization is to allow readers to experience the
world afresh.
By disrupting their habitual perceptions, literature can make the familiar world appear strange and
thus renew
our experience of it.
- Challenging the Reader: Defamiliarization demands that the reader actively engage with the text,
disrupting passive
consumption. In doing so, it heightens the aesthetic experience, making literature an active rather
than passive
encounter.
Theoretical Background:
- Russian Formalism: The Russian Formalists, including Shklovsky, were concerned with the formal
aspects of literature,
arguing that the form of a text was just as important as its content. Defamiliarization was a central
tenet of this
movement, as it represented a focus on the technique of the writer in creating artistic effects.
Contemporary Application:
Defamiliarization remains relevant in modern literature, art, and film. It is a tool often employed to
critique
cultural norms or to explore new ways of expression. In contemporary visual arts, defamiliarization is
seen when
artists use everyday objects in new contexts, altering their meanings and forcing viewers to confront
their assumptions.
Related Concepts:
- Estrangement: In the context of drama, Bertolt Brecht's idea of the "Verfremdungseffekt" or
"estrangement effect"
bears similarities to defamiliarization, where familiar situations are rendered strange in order to
provoke critical
thinking in the audience.
- Alienation: In sociology, alienation describes a sense of disconnection or estrangement from
familiar aspects of life,
often due to structural societal factors. While distinct, this concept shares thematic similarities with
defamiliarization.
