'Ostranenie' as an artistic device: the case of Russian post-avantgarde. Aesthetics and pragmatics in Vladimir Sorokin's early oeuvre

The paper is focused on the suggestive concept of Épater (e.g. épatage) in Russian (post)Avantgarde. It draws on Formalist aesthetic device of ostranenie (technique of defamiliarization, a pragmatic strategy of making things look strange exercised in order to enhance perception). One of the legendary conceptualist champions of radical grotesque ostranenie is Vladimir Sorokin whose early texts are analyzed in much detail sub specie the corresponding pragmatic effects of 'shocking the audience'.