Medzi izolovaným a fenomenalizujúcim subjektom: Melanchólia ako estetická kvalita v (spirituálnej) poézii Erika Jakuba Grocha

Clashing tendencies of despair, sadness and spiritual yearning can be observed in the work of the leading Slovak spiritual poet Erik Jakub Groch. The disturbing preponderance of the strained motives in the author’s recent collections leads to reflections on the nature of religious melancholy and its possible integration within the spiritual path and personal growth. Since visualization plays an essential role in the synthetic consciousness of this Slovak poet, the author of the study attempts to give more engaged solutions through the analysis of his viewpoint. In her search for answers, she relies mainly on Søren Kierkegaard’s reflection on despair (Tungsind), the concept of the dark night of St. John of the Cross, and the reversible visuals of Maurice Merleau-Ponty.