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Yriy LotmanLiterary scholar. Professor at Tartu State University, Academician of the Estonian Academy of Sciences
Date of Birth: 18.02.1922
Country:  Estonia |
Content:
Biography of Yuri Lotman
Yuri Mikhailovich Lotman was a literary scholar, professor at Tartu State University, and a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences. Although he was no longer called the "prostitute of imperialism" by detractors, he was often criticized, sometimes with a touch of mockery. This mockery was sometimes justified by the activities of amateur semioticians. However, Yuri Mikhailovich Lotman was no amateur himself.
A Memorable Encounter
Yuri Lotman often fondly recalled his first conversation with his future wife. Zara Mintz, a student, had approached Professor Lotman with a request to draw a portrait of Mayakovsky for an upcoming academic conference. Lotman, known for his ability to quickly sketch large portraits, responded gruffly, stating that he was busy and only drew for money. Upset, the student shouted, "You mustached bastard!" In 1950, such a cry could have had serious consequences...
A Renowned Scholar
Yuri Lotman, a scholar with a global reputation, deliberately chose to live outside the major capitals, residing in the small town of Tartu in the USSR. As a result, he was considered a rare and potentially dangerous individual. Perhaps for this reason, Lotman was closely monitored, and in 1970, his Tartu apartment was subjected to a futile but undoubtedly warning search. The echoes of these state concerns were seen after the collapse of the USSR when Lotman, as a "foreigner," was not elected to the Academy of Sciences. It is unnecessary to mention the other ways in which unconventional and talented individuals were tamed and domesticated – they are uniform and banal.
A Life Devoted to Words
Yuri Mikhailovich Lotman did not invent ballistic missiles or attack helicopters. He dedicated his entire life to working with words. The word, as a material of culture, is the subject of semiotics and, in a broader sense, cultural studies. Through Lotman's work, we have gained a deeper understanding of Pushkin (he authored the poet's biography and commentary on "Eugene Onegin"), Karamzin (the book "The Creation of Karamzin"), and the traditions of Russian culture in the 18th and 19th centuries.
He worked tirelessly, beyond what was acceptable, and continuously. Lotman believed that this was the only way to achieve something in the humanities, where, unlike the natural sciences, everything is based on individual human judgments: "The text is a human being, and a human being is elusive." Despite experiencing a stroke that left him with limited use of his right hand, Lotman continued to dictate, as his mind relentlessly worked in its accustomed direction.
