Jan Błoński : paradygmat postępowania krytyka literackiego

Abstract

The aim of this article is to reconstruct the model of Jan Błoński’s literary criticism and the paradigm of ethical norms he was guided by in each and every aspect of his professional activity. In his meta-critical reflection, he strove for self-awareness of his purpose and reason for all activity. Despite the apparent lightness of expression, Błoński treated the craft of criticism in all seriousness. He was aware of the inseparability of criticism from general social matters. He emphasized that the critic’s duty was to serve the dialogue, thence “to be a literary democrat”. He pointed to critic’s individual, personal accountability for their formulated judgments. Moreover, his stance was dominated by emotional engagement in his readings, his trademark style (revealed in metacritical metaphors), reluctance to be trapped within a corset of methodological rules, and, at the same time, the unimposing, yet high literary competence, which the dutiful and always dissatisfied-with-himself Błoński sought to very much increase.