Tradicija i antitradicija v sovremennoj literature: ob estetike stereotipov v romane Viktora Erofeeva Enciklopedija russkoj duši

Based on the idea of Dawkins that we are built as gene machines and cultures as meme machines, the present paper examines some of «Russian memes» that act as units for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices and can be trasmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures and rituals. The aim and purpose of this article is to analyze the «Encyclopedia of the Russian Soul» of Viktor Erofeev that presents a picture of «collective identity» in contemporary Russia. In exploring the question of «Russian memes», both expressed and deconstructed by Erofeev, we are going to consider the main reason of calling this book a «Russophobe tome» that includes a lot of «blasphemous» statements about Russian Culture.