Kirjanduslikes

Kirjanduslikes is a term used in Estonian literary criticism to describe a mode or tendency in literature characterized by emphasis on literary form, stylistic experimentation, and intertextual awareness. The word combines kirjandus ("literature") with a suffix that evokes likeness to English -like, signaling an attitude rather than a fixed genre. The term is informal and descriptive, not a formal critical category, and its exact boundaries vary among commentators.

Typical features attributed to works described as kirjanduslikes include metafictional self-awareness, elaborate diction, experimental syntax, and frequent allusions to other literary works. Proponents argue that it draws attention to writing as a craft and invites readers to reflect on language, genre conventions, and the act of reading itself.

Origins and usage: The label emerged in online literary discourse and criticism in the 2010s and has since circulated in essays, reviews, and social media discussions within Estonian-language literary communities. It is often used to discuss contemporary prose and poetry that consciously foreground style and textuality rather than straightforward storytelling.

Reception: Critics of the term caution that it can be vague or fashionable, risking over-generalization. Supporters view it as a useful shorthand to discuss works where form is central and where writers experiment with traditional boundaries.

See also: literary criticism, metafiction, intertextuality, Estonian literature, postmodernism.