Glamorous Prose as Supertext: An Attempt at Linguo-axiological Interpretation

• Main Author: Elizaveta Viktorovna Gertner
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Ural Federal University Press 2019-03-01
• Series: Известия Уральского федерального университета. Серия 2: Гуманитарные науки
• Subjects: сверхтекст; лингвоаксиология; ценности; гламур; гламурная проза; гендер; глянец; образ автора.
• Online Access: https://journals.urfu.ru/index.php/Izvestia2/article/view/3793

This article discusses works of contemporary women’s glamorous prose that constitute a particular supertext. The author refers to novels united by the axiological dominant and end-to-end motif of a planned marriage. Their typical character is a “huntress” girl who manages to win over the heart of a millionaire. In such novels, supertext is also unified by the author, the readership, and the chronotope. The author is a specific person, a young woman, a representative of glamorous culture having the image of a “socialite”. She shares her personal experience with the reader, giving specific recommendations with regard to conquering a millionaire. Aimed at female readership, the novels are monologous: the author is an expert in glamorous culture, which makes her point of view dominant. In some cases, authors use the canons of the genre of practical guide. The didactic constant is motivated by impressive real-life stories, demonstrating women’s superiority. The target audience is girls who want to get married to the “right” man. They get such an opportunity, having examined the “practical manual” to master “professional” competencies which are necessary for a successful marriage. In glamorous prose, the current time is reflected in real space and in real situations. The analysis shows that the supertext of glamorous prose aims to transmit gender values which are different from the traditional ones typical of Russian culture. Spiritual and moral values are replaced by material values. The article points out a tendency for a pragmatic approach to women’s perception of the world. The main goal girls seeking to enter the world of glamour pursue is not family happiness, not “love in a cottage”, but wealth, replacing love, which is the key concept of Russian culture. The author of the article emphasises a direct connection between the glamorous style of the prose and the style of glossy magazines. Similar to glossy magazines, the writers of such prose draw the reader’s attention to the external characteristics of the world of things and the world of luxury.