The category of “typical” in the context of Western aesthetics: historical evolution and development trends in the context of modern literature

the expression "familiar stranger", used by Belinsky to characterize literary typical images, is quite applicable to the current state of research on the theory of the typical. "Typical" is one of the most familiar terms in aesthetics and literary theory, which, after undergoing millennia of theoretical exploration and practical application, has had a tremendous impact on aesthetics, literary theory, and artistic creation. Historically, the content of the concept of "typical" has been interpreted differently, and each theory of the typical emerged and developed in unity with the spirit of its time: the "theory of types" is closely linked to the rational rigor prescribed by classicism; the "theory of individuality" resonates with the emotional freedom characteristic of romanticism; the dialectical idea of the "theory of unity" fully aligns with the objective truth promoted by realism. Each of these interpretations has its own justification, but none has achieved perfection or become indisputable. With the development of literary movements, the field of the theory of the typical also requires expansion to meet the demands of modernity. Through an expanded concept of the typical image, more phenomena of modern and contemporary literature can be interpreted, giving ancient literary theory new life.

typical, theory of types, theory of individuality, theory of unity, typical symbolic image