formalism 2

Formalism is a literary theory that focuses on the technical aspects of writing rather than the prose itself. It was used by literary thinkers like Viktor Shklovsky, Roman Jakobson, Boris Tomashevsky, and Boris Eichenbaum. An example of formalism is the novel "La Dispersion" by Georges Perrec, which is a mystery novel written without using the letter E. Perrec uses this technical form to explore the abstract idea of mystery and absence. Formalism was first considered a literary theory, used most prominently by literary thinkers Viktor Shklovsky, Roman Jakobson, Boris Tomashevsky, and Boris Eichenbaum. The literary definition for formalism is form over theme, the theory preferring the technical aspects of writing over the prose itself. For example, the novel La Dispersion, or The Void, by French author Georges Perrec, a novel written entirely without the use of the letter E. It's a mystery novel. Perrec is exploring the abstract idea of mystery and absence through technical literary form.