Petr Lobanov

Summary Statement of Research Interests

My research focuses on the intersection of Russian literary studies and disability studies, examining representations of cognitive and psychiatric difference in Russian literature and culture from the nineteenth century to the present day. Drawing on narrative theory and the poetics of the body, I explore how literary texts construct, challenge, and negotiate cultural scripts of mental disability, from the “holy fool” tradition in classical Russian prose to Soviet-era institutional narratives and contemporary Russian fiction. My broader interests include non-conformist literature, the relationship between literature and institutions of power, and creative writing as a practice of critical inquiry. My work is also informed by my experience working with people who have experienced institutionalization in Russian psychoneurological facilities, which shapes my interest in vulnerability, care, and the ethics of representation.

Research Keywords

Disability Studies, Narrative of Vulnerability, Poetics of the Body, Soviet Literature, Non-Conformist Literature, Literature and Institutions, Care Ethics, Creative Writing, Comparative Literature