The Characteristics of Postmodernism in Kazakh Prose

Abstract

This scholarly article examines the emergence and development of postmodernism within Kazakh literature. One of the pressing issues in contemporary literary studies is examining how national literature aligns with major global literary movements such as modernism and postmodernism. The authors explore the theoretical foundations of postmodernism and describe its aesthetic features as they manifest in Kazakh prose, using specific literary works for illustration. In particular, Mukhtar Magauin’s short story “Ekeu" and Didar Amantai’s novella “Men Sizdi Sagynyp Zhurmin" are examined in depth through the lens of postmodernist aesthetics. The article systematically investigates key characteristics of postmodernism, including narrative fragmentation, the disruption of spatial and temporal continuity, inner psychological crises of characters, intertextuality, irony, polyphony, allusion, and collage techniques. It is revealed that postmodernist literature prioritizes an exploration of the human psyche, existential dilemmas, and spiritual crises over traditional moral-didactic content. A combination of psychological, hermeneutic, phenomenological, and comparative methodologies is employed in the research. The findings highlight the unique stylistic traits and artistic experiments of Kazakh writers who engage with postmodernist modes. The complex narrative structures, stylistic freedom, blending of reality and fantasy, and the interactive relationship with the reader in the works of Magauin and Amantai are identified as core elements of postmodern poetics. Overall, this article presents an important contribution to the understanding of postmodernism in Kazakh literature, offering a comprehensive analysis of its formation, development, and distinctive aesthetic dimensions.