The mythological and folkloric component of Andrei Igumnov’s novel “Bubbles of Life”

This paper explores the mythological and folkloric imagery present in Andrei Igumnov’s 2003 novel, “Bubbles of Life.” This classic postmodern novel has its artistic world shaped by a triad of irony, playfulness, and intertextuality. The narrative structure of the text is characterized by an intricate interweaving of elements drawn from folklore, Christianity, and archaic mythology, with literary allusions and sociocultural commentary, all framed within a ludic poetic style. The narrative is structured around three interconnected plotlines. The first is the historical development of a city in the Central Siberian Uplands. The second is the fate of a generation born in the 1990s. And the third is the intrusion of an alternate reality into the life of a person. These threads are unified by the figure of the protagonist, Peter Andreevich Sabashnikov, whose image is encoded in a multifaceted manner. Typologically, the origins can be traced back to the archetype of “the hero of our time.” This archetype is characterized by the preservation of moral integrity, despite the internalization of the inconsistencies prevalent during the given historical period. This image represents an individual who has a genuine personality and who consciously and voluntarily accepts responsibility for the evil happening in the world. In the final scene of the novel, Igumnov presents a utopian “communitas” of seven individuals, evoking Victor Turner’s concept. The writer challenges the prevailing axiological framework of the modern world. A contrast is drawn between the values of modern society (social stratification, materialism, and a focus on pleasure) and the overarching humanistic principles of family, work, and a life integrated with nature.

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