Tzvetan Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov, a literary theorist influenced by Russian formalists, initially focused his research on the processes of literary creation, particularly literary discourse itself. His initial goal was to develop a systematisation of fantasy and detective fiction, while establishing a narratology considered to be a 'grammar of narrative'. This approach, inspired by structuralism, views each literary work as the manifestation of an abstract structure and literary potential, separate from the real world and devoid of any ideological content. However, Todorov gradually questioned the emphasis on pure form. He evolved from his early structuralist analyses to an anthropological approach, focusing on the study of human and cultural relations. In this new perspective, Todorov explores concepts such as cultural interaction, disorientation, and the relationship with the Other, often perceived as foreign or barbaric. He seeks to understand the issues and conflicts between Western countries and the rest of the world.