Irzykowski wobec futurystów

Abstract

Karol Irzykowski’s polemic with the Futurists took place in 1921–1924 on the pages of Ponowa, Robotnik, Ilustrowany Tygodnik Codzienny, Wiadomości Literackie, Zwrotnica, Gazeta Polska and Futurist ‘Occaisonals’. Irzykowski’s directly formulated polemical arguments against the Futurists focus on the accusation of plagiarism and abandonment of tradition. This makes impossible, according to the critic, the realisation of the so-called new – a declaration only, by the Futurists of their plans – that in reality was just a sham (originality). A deeper analysis of Irzykowski’s polemic with Bruno Jasieński, Anatol Stern and Stefan Gacki shows that the critic’s intention is not so much as to oppose crossing the line in respect to positioning art against life – a source of Futurists’ irritation – but that of the direction and autonomy of literature.