Povilo Višinskio antropologija, fotografija ir literatūros kritika: kaip buvo kuriama modernios Lietuvos realybė

ENIn this article the author examines Povilas Višinskis' anthropology, photography and literary criticism within the framework of 19th century Russian and Western culture tradition. The works of Višinskis are explored as a manifestation of the positivistic worldview and the aesthetics of realism, which proposed a new approach to human body, emphasized social environment impact on person and redefined relations between literature and reality. Višinskis’ anthropological investigation of one ethnical group (Žemaičiai) was based on physical measurement of human body (anthropometry), description of environment, and historical narration. By measuring, classifying, charting human physiognomy, he sought to show cultural and physical differences of the Lithuanian people. Whereas in the Western tradition such investigation helped to chart and discipline the colonial body, the embedding colonial power, Višinskis' anthropology, photography delineated the national identity as exclusive. Višinskis' literary criticism, establishing specific mimetic relations between literature and real life, was set on verifying whether the literary images and narratives are real. Corresponding with the Lithuanian writers and giving them feedback on their work, Višinskis and his fellow critics exerted considerable influence forming the modern literary field. The author of the article comes to a conclusion that all forms of Višinskis' works proposing a spectrum of different images, established the reality of the modern Lithuanian society.