Many people are familiar with the word “feuilleton”. But not everyone knows how it appeared. Moreover, few people can write in this genre. The article will highlight these issues and give an example of feuilleton taken from a newspaper of the last century.
Etymology of the term
Dictionaries say that this word came to us from France. Its translation sounds like a “leaf” or a “leaf”. And it meant first a short essay, essay or article. The first example of a feuilleton was published in a newspaper in 1800 on supplementary sheets.
Then, in 1803, the editor of this publication lengthened one of the pages, separating the basement with a white space. It was there that now it became possible to read an example of feuilleton. Usually it was entertaining, non-political or advertising.
That is, the term “feuilleton” itself appeared at the beginning of the 19th century. However, this word had nothing to do with the modern concept of this genre.
History of the feuilleton genre
Literary scholars argue that the first example of feuilleton in its modern sense belongs to Voltaire. Although, perhaps, the founders of this genre were Didro or Freron. In any case, it is known that it was this trinity in the 18th century that began the political struggle with the help of short, capacious, satirical and even sarcastic essays.
The feuilleton first appeared in Russia in 1820. And at first he, as in France, performed an entertaining function in the media. This was the so-called newspaper fiction, the manner of presentation of the material in which had a low standard in terms of artistic performance. That is why in our time, some people sometimes use this word with a derogatory, dismissive connotation in relation to frankly weak literary works.
Nowadays, sharp articles or essays that make fun of the shortcomings of modern life have come to be called feuilleton. They can be analytically abstract in nature or rely on specific facts, name the participants in the event, indicate the time of the incident.
It should be noted such remarkable feuilletonists who created works that can be considered classics of the genre today: Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), A. Averchenko, Sasha Cherny (A. Glikberg), Teffi (N. Buchinskaya). Later in Russia such names of feuilletonists as Mikhail Zoshchenko, I. Ilf and E. Petrov, M. Bulgakov became known.
In the second half of the 20th century, the Crocodile magazine was extremely popular in Russia, in which feuilleton was collected just for the sorrow of the day. Sometimes the satire was so sharp, so saturated with sarcasm, that those to whom it was directed, in the literal sense of the word, were bad.
“The thief and ... the linen turns green!” (Feuilleton)
An example from a newspaper published in a small town in the middle of the last century will clearly demonstrate how notes were written in this genre.
“How many times have the city administration of S. asserted to its fellow citizens that it is ugly to steal hot water from pipes that provide heating to a city hospital in winter. But residents of the nearby private sector did not respond to these calls.
And then the administration went to extreme measures. In the water that circulates in the hospital's heating system, a chemical was dissolved that was almost invisible in the solution. However, when the water dries, the substance acquires a poisonous green color. The city administration informed fellow citizens about this, explaining that unauthorized connection to the pipeline is a violation of the law.
Literally the other day, in the office of the head of the city administration S. comrade Okopenkov A. P., overcoming all the obstacles in the person of secretary Zoyenka and cleaning aunt Marusya, an enraged resident Petrova M.N. burst in with an armful of poisonous green sheets, pillowcases, men's shirts and several items from the female toilet of an intimate nature.
Petrova gave an angry fiery speech to Okopenkov and his ilk, in which she accused the city leadership of all sins, beginning with the unbridled drunkenness of her husband, the father of her husband and the father of her husband’s father, and ending with the linen that had turned green from the terrible ecology posted on drying out into the street.
M. N. did not want to listen to all the arguments of the head of the administration and demanded a written explanation, as well as monetary compensation for damaged things. Comrade Okopenko A.P. was forced to present his explanation to citizen M.N. and ... to take him to the people's court.
Truly right are those who said: "To the thief and the hat is on fire!" Not only the hat suffered in our history ... "
What do feuilleton grow from?
Such humorous or satirical notes for school media of both print and wall newspapers or magazines are in great demand. But how to write a feuilleton? Examples of modern short satirical notes today are massively found in blogs, as well as in statuses, comments on social networks and in various forums. Indeed, on the basis of any, even the tiniest event, you can create a full feuilleton.
Example: about the school and students need a note in the wall newspaper. We take a ridiculous situation: Sergei Ivanov from the 5th grade suddenly began to respond to all teachers' suggestions with the same answer: “Am I Bobik, or what?” Is this not a ready-made story for a feuilleton?
"Am I Bobik, or what?"
"Friends! Be careful: a werewolf wanders among us! It has a completely ordinary appearance, is almost indistinguishable from people. It gives itself out with the phrase “Am I Bobik, or what?”, Which, as it were, is motivated by a refusal to fulfill any offers of teachers. And immediately after these words, he diligently performs the task. Thus, this "nebobik" is trying to hide his belonging to the beings of the other world.
Friends! Be extremely careful! Bobby people wander among us! ”