Што то єст лемківска література і ци тото звіданя ма буд-якє значыня?

WHAT IS LEMKO/RUSYN LITERATURE AND DOES IT MATTER?The article undertakes an intertextual exploration of diverse conceptualizations of Lemko/Rusyn literature, as well as proposals for its study and inclusion within the broader discourse of literary studies. Alongside deconstructive and critical remarks directed against essentialism in literary studies—drawing on Culler’s question, paraphrased in the title—the article assesses the current state of Rusyn literary studies as a domain of internal research and advances methodological approaches capable of accounting for the transformative character and identity of Lemko/Rusyn literature. The vitality and revitalizing agency of this literature are measured by its capacity to respond meaningfully to the political, social, and cultural challenges confronting the community it represents. In relation to the postulates of comparative studies that seek to situate Lemko/Rusyn literature within European literary traditions, the article proposes a model of vertical comparatism: a search for literary figures and imaginaries that are parallel to those abstracted within academic theories, yet are not derived from them. Instead, these figures emerge from an indigenous sensibility, aesthetics, and ethics, shaped by indigenous knowledge and informed by a locally appropriated Eastern Christianity. Instances of such interplay between theoretical reflection and intuitive modes of thought provide a compelling illustration of Lévi-Strauss’s concept of “wild thought.” By identifying the major research challenges facing scholars of Lemko/Rusyn literature while simultaneously emphasizing the dynamic development of internal Rusyn literary studies, the article offers a cautiously optimistic prognosis and suggests drawing on recent trends in the humanities to develop culturally responsive methods for studying—and socially activating—this literature.