Eugen Simion și rescrierea critică a ideii de modernizare

This paper aims to deduce the main features of Eugen Simion’s criticism in relation to his main ideational models. Emphasis is placed on the permanent shift between identification and critical distancing, these two processes contributing to a certain methodology of the interpretative act. Eugen Simion’s moderate discourse implies a certain mediation of opposites, thus reaching a rejection of univocal postulates and perspectives, considered definitive and unassailable. However, the Romanian critic does not question some ideas just for the sheer pleasure of deliberation, even though, from numerous pages, it follows that this pleasure might be real. He is mainly interested in the practical efficiency of some methods of literary interpretation and valorization through the suitability to the object. Concepts can be empty of essence if they have no practical utility. From this perspective, Eugen Simion distances himself from some of his models, remaining in their spirit, but not in their letter. The paper calls into question the Lovinescianism of Eugen Simion by appealing to the way in which the author of The Poets’ Morning brings into his critical system some concepts existing in the European literary theory of the 60s. And in this case the assimilation / absorption is mediated by the appropriateness to the object. Moreover, assimilation becomes, through this mediation, critical rewriting.