From Impressionism to Sociology: The Institutionalization and Diversification of Literary Criticism in the Republican Era

This article examines the transformation and diversification of literary criticism in Turkey during the Republican era (post-1923). It traces the evolution of critical thought from its initial struggles for legitimacy—debating its own purpose and nature—to its flowering into a complex and varied field of intellectual inquiry. The study analyzes the foundational debate on the nature of criticism between pioneers like Nurullah Ataç (who championed subjective, impressionistic criticism) and figures like Sabahattin Eyüboğlu and others who sought more objective, historical, or sociologically grounded approaches. It further explores how the socio-political climate shaped criticism, especially the rise of the National Literature movement, the ideological debates around "revolutionary literature," and the subsequent emergence of distinct schools, including Marxist and academic criticism. By focusing on the period from 1923 to the 1950s and beyond, the article demonstrates how criticism evolved from a passionate but often polemical activity into a professionalized, multi-faceted discipline, essential for understanding and shaping the trajectory of modern Turkish literature.