Фантастика и научна фантастика в учебниците по литература за 7. И 8. клас след 1989 г.: разказите „Дамата с рентгеновите очи“ на Светослав Минков и „В един есенен ден по шосето“ на Павел Вежинов
Fantastic Fiction and Science Fiction in Literature Textbooks for 7th and 8th Grade after 1989: the Short Sories “The Lady with the X-ray Eyes” by Svetoslav Minkov and “On an Autumn Day on the Road” by Pavel Vezhinov

Summary/Abstract: The present research examines how the textbook chapters on Svetoslav Minkov and Pavel Vezhinov in 7th- and 8th-grade literature textbooks after 1989 present and define fantastic fiction and science fiction. Differences and similarities in the approaches of various author teams are highlighted. Some offer detailed genre definitions of the terms, while others almost entirely neglect them, even though the chapters are built around emblematic works of fantastic fiction. The study points out certain significant transfers of genre-related knowledge from Bulgarian scholarly monographs (such as Elka Konstantinova’s The Imaginary and the Real (1987) educational discourse, for instance the structural similarities between the fantastic fiction and the fairy tale. Some shortcomings in the treatment of the fantastic are indicated, such as the lack of a broader literary-historical context for Bulgarian fantasy literature and the absence of information about the place of Minkov and Vezhinov in its development. Certain prejudices toward genre literature also emerge in the lessons. For example, Vezhinov’s fiction is distinguished from entertainment-oriented science-fiction works, as if genre reading requires special apologetics in order to be legitimised in the textbook. Although Minkov and Vezhinov have been removed from textbooks after 2016, the article’s observations may prove relevant for any future inclusion of the genre in school education.

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