The historical development of writerly criticism

Abstract

Various tendencies manifest themselves within the Azerbaijani literary process. In this regard, critics, alongside investigating literary works and individual authors, also conduct research aimed at identifying the theoretical principles of the field. Among these studies, particular attention is devoted to the question of which typology criticism and the critic belong to. Our research encompasses the period from the fourteenth to the twenty-first century. The aim is not to establish a historical classification, but rather to approach the gradual development of writerly criticism from a theoretical perspective. We consider it appropriate to trace the origins of writerly criticism back to the era of Nizami Ganjavi. It is, of course, natural that elements of critical judgment are present in folklore materials. However, since our primary interest lies in written literature, we have deemed it necessary to conduct our investigation through the authorship of the produced works. Taking into account the activities of creative individuals who produce both critical essays and literary works, and undertaking their systematic classification, remains an issue of pressing relevance in the contemporary period. This, in turn, determines the scientific novelty of our study, as the prevalence of ambiguous and unsystematized views is not conducive to rigorous scholarly inquiry. From this perspective, the article examines the views of Arif Ardabili on Nizami Ganjavi and of Samad Vurgun on Huseyn Javid, analyzing them in terms of the principal characteristics of writerly criticism. We arrive at the conclusion that Arif Ardabili and Samad Vurgun cannot be regarded as professional critics. This is due to the presence of impressionistic elements in their assessments, as well as the predominance of subjectivity, which shifts the focus from the literary work itself to the personality of the author. The principal aim of the article is to clarify the controversial issues surrounding the identity and stylistic approach of Mirza Fatali Akhundov and Elchin as
critics within the literary process. From the standpoint of studying and teaching literary-critical thought at a scientific-theoretical level, it is of particular relevance to reveal the creative qualities of critics and literary
figures distinguished by their active positions and intellectual engagement in the literary sphere. For this reason, by examining the position and creative attributes of Mirza Fatali Akhundov - who laid the foundations of literary criticism - and Elchin - who has advanced contemporary critical thought in a methodological direction-we have identified the differences between writerly criticism and professional criticism within the literary process.